Help! The birds are eating my fish!

[AquaQueen]

We have a 2,000 gallon pond in our backyard with a bridge and a couple big rocks. We bought about 7 fish (don't remember the name) they are kinda like coy but hardier. Anyhow, we have found 5 fish dead up on one of our waterfalls over the past month or so. They are totally gutted but the rest of the fish is still intact. I now have tons of babies (can't even count all of them) and want to give them the best chance possible. Any ideas? We are going to make some more hiding places in there, and we are floating water plants on top of the pond also.

Nep

 

[impur]

My parents have a problem with deer eating their plants because they live in the mountains. A device they use to scare the deer away might help with your bird problem. They have motion activated sprinklers they set up in the middle of the garden or wherever the problem is. I bet you could use this like putting a few around your pond. That way when a bird lands near or on the pond, the sprinkler goes off and shoots a stream of water at them.

 

[aquamanis]

Hi there, my brother has a 30 foot pond full of big Koi. He used to loose a lot of fish to the birds. You could put shadecloth over the water but it dosen,t look good and its hard to see the fish through it. He now has enclosed the whole pond inside an aviary like setting (made with shadecloth) with enough room to stand underneath. He hasn,t lost any fish for years and the plants love it, stops the water evapourating so quick too. It takes a bit to set it up but it looks good and has quite a few advantages. Just one warning though, if youre in an area which is likely to get snow or hail, the enclosure must be strong enough to hold the extra weight.

 

[macky1]

place some fine mesh netting across the pond surface to keep out birds and other animals
and it wont obstruct your veiw of the fish either

 

[aernympha]

if i was u i would just use the natural method of lilly pads!! or any other floating plant.... thats what my gran has in her pong liilys but there pond is small an dthe babies survive quite well!!!

 

[William]

If herons are the problem and you have no pets then place fishing line around the pond at about 1 foot and 2 foot of the ground, just on pegs. Herons never land by the waters edge but usually walk up to it from a distance and this line will prevent them getting access to your fish. Was once told this by someone - haven't tried it, but its cheap and easy to try?

 

[macky1]

william

a freind of mine tried that with the fishing line
the herons tripped a few times but soon wised up to it and jumped over it

the only way he could stop them was with a net

 

[nishikoi]

We have a 2,000 gallon pond in our backyard with a bridge and a couple big rocks. We bought about 7 fish (don't remember the name) they are kinda like coy but hardier. Anyhow, we have found 5 fish dead up on one of our waterfalls over the past month or so. They are totally gutted but the rest of the fish is still intact. I now have tons of babies (can't even count all of them) and want to give them the best chance possible. Any ideas? We are going to make some more hiding places in there, and we are floating water plants on top of the pond also.

Nep

I had the same problem.
I bought a nifty scarecrow device that got the message to the birds. In principle its a pulsating garden sprinkler activated by an infrared receiver. As birds (or for that effect anything alive, cats, dogs, deer and even myself) move in front of the receiver the sprinkler goes off with a sudden clicking noise. The device is made to look like a mean birds head and the birds don't like the looks of it. Now they just sit up in the trees and watch. The Crows have worked out that it's safe if the garden hose is not connected to the scarecrow. I just keep it connected all the time. Small birds like sparrows and alike will not set the device off so they still come over for a bath and a drink.
Costs £69 available from most watergarden centres.
Search for "scarecrow sprinkler" in google

 

[impur]

Thats the same thing i suggested!! LOL

 

[spanky_pp_]

Three things i would do is, def use lilly pads or pond soilders as they are pretty too! Dont plant them in too deep two foot depth.

Bull rushes and other taller reeds are good at not letting the herons get near enough to the water.

Add more plants to provide more cover, and def use the very fine plastic mesh over the whole of the ponds water. Make sure its not in contact with the surface of the water as the herons will still pick the fish out or just stab and kill them.. sorry to be brutal.