Unwelcome Herons!

[Poglet]

If I had a gun.... i know its illegal BUT ... for gawds sake, my two ghost coy were eaten year before last so bought 2 new ones and now they've been eaten. From a pond of about 50 fish I now have 2 plain looking old gold fish and my green tench left. Spent the day cleaning it out cos I thought is was totally empty but discovered these hangers on.... so ba&%d heron didnt get them all-hah- but just in case he comes back i have now put a length of string with cds hanging on them right across the pond. It is surrouned by criss crossing bamboo sticks by the way cos someone told me they couldnt bend their legs a certain way and wouldnt be able to get my fish!!!!

[NORMANTHEDOG]

i shot the two ******* herons that used to come to my garden

[vehelpfulguy]

And how many animals like chickens, pigs etc have been killed so you can eat this year ?

What gives you the right to kill a bird that just wants to stay alive.

One of our biggest problems as a race, thinking we can kill any other creature that gets in our way.

[noxlumos]

[edited by AB] I very rarely agree with vehelpful, but he's spot on, your arrogant and unpleasant and clearly have no idea that you are doibng anything morally wrong. A fish is a Herons natural food, you just killed the Herons because they screw up the aesthetics of your gardens, pathetic.

[Poglet]

actually noxlumas, if you had read the start of my post properly,it says, IF I had a gun. I have never killed anything , except a mitsy bunny for its own good and I live a mile from a reservoir in the country and my garden is huge and not twee so get your facts straight before posting abusive replies, you dweeb!

[Buenchico]

I hope that Norman's neighbours had the good sense to report him for committing an imprisonable offence. (Wildlife & Countryside Act, 1981).

Poglet, take a look at this page. (It's only an introduction. You need to click the links, down the left side, to read the whole thing):
http://www.rspb.org.uk/gardens/advice/heronsan dfishponds/index.asp

Chris

[noxlumos]

I did read your post poglet, and I stand by everything I said.Twee has nothing to do with size, it's just the pretensious nature of the thing that irked me, dweeb that I clearly am. I realise that you have not killed a Heron yet but you stated that you wished to, or are you in the habit of posting things that aren't true? I don't care if you live in the town, in the city, in the country or if you have a postage stamp for a garden or a country estate, it was the whole bloodthirsty Hycinth Bucket type post that got up my nose and if you don't like it either don't post such stupid drivel in the first place and give stars to someone whose killed a ( most likely breeding) pair of protected birds or learn to live with the fact some people really don't like it. Aside from which what exactly is your question? It's just a rant about your flaming fish pond.Makes me glad I'm a dweeb.

[tinkertontom]

ever thought of putting chicken wire across your pond at least then the herons would have to find somewhere else to find fish ,and still be alive after all it is in their nature to catch fish

[bluesilver]

Hi Poglet... Herons won't eat if they think it's the territory of another heron. Putting a plastic heron by your pond will probably work.

[smudge]

How could anyone contemplate killing a Heron because it doesn what comes naturally - search for food!

We have been lucky enough so far, not to have Herons swooping down on our fish pond, however our neighbour across the road has. After losing a couple of fish, he simply bought some soft netting material & placed it over his pond, leaving enough room at the bottom for the frogs & toads to get in & out.

We have a family of resident squirrels in the nearby Churchyard who visit our garden every single day. They have dug up several of our bulbs & constantly bury their nuts in our garden, but we wouldn't dream of harming them. I know they're 'vermin' & can be very destructive, but it's nature. Besides, we enjoy watchig their antics, chasing each other around the garden!

[smudge]

*does

[zipadeedodah]

Although I'd never contemplate killing any animal that was just doing what nature intended, I can understand how frustrating it is. We have a pond, and although we've seen a heron on several occasions landing close by or circling in the air, I don't think they can get to them through the soft net on top of the pond. We also have had a problem with badgers, where one cleverly got into a very secure hutch thing just outside with several ducklings in.

I wouldn't for one minute condone killing the animal, but know how easy it is to get angry when they've killed something that you've spent time and effort looking after and you can be quite attached to. That's life!

[WendyS]

I can understand you being upset about losing your koi fish, but herons have to eat too and like other wildlife at the moment they have their own babies to feed. Why not contstruct large wooden frame or a series of frames and put wire or plastic netting on them to protect your fish. And then if you're feeling really magnanimous you can do down to your local fishmonger and buy a couple of cheap mackerel and lay them out for Mr.Heron at the edge of the pond. Live and let live !

[Poglet]

Right everyone, I am going to put my last comment on this subject and then I am never going to mention it again. EVER. Not only did said protected, beautiful, graceful bird of paradise (oh no, sorry, poxy heron) kill (sorry) eat all of my fish which I had paid hard earned cash for but said bird also pierced our pond liner which was of the highest quality and also paid with by hard earned dosh. Also plants around pond trampled. Therefore if we are all to allow nature to follow its own path, there would not be necessary to manufacture pond liners, pond plants, pond netting, plastic herons oh yeah, and fish so loads of peeps would be out of jobs..... bye bye everyone, no more fish/heron related posts EVER... sorry to have had an opinion....! oh yeah and noxolumos, is your name something to do with obNOXious

[kovac]

Poglet - I feel for you! I think lots of people are giving you a very hard time here! I too have a pond with many fish, and many absent fish thanks to the local Heron. We have tried string, netting, and more recently we have placed a MOCK HERON by the side of the pond. Apparently, Heron's are very solitary, and wouldn't dream of feeding from an area where another BIG BIRD is feeding. Its just a shame people don't applaud you for caring about your magnificent fish. And shame on you for being able to afford a pond and fish!! Best Wishes Dani