Heron attacks koi pond!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 22 มี.ค. 2020
- 😿KOI DISASTER! 😿There’s always a dilemma about whether I should share the downsides of koi keeping, but if it serves as a reminder and warning to others then maybe it has value. I have to admit I’ve been complacent about herons... it’s been 2 years since one visited and that one was deterred by the fishing line around the edge. This one unfortunately wasn’t! I actually thought initially that it hadn’t taken anything but after further viewing of the security camera footage I realised it actually ate three (all under 15cm)! 😿 My pond isn’t without protection... as you can see there is a net at the front and fishing line around the perimeter along with a mass of fishing line above the pond that is above the camera line. You can see just how much the heron inspects all the fishing lines around and above the pond before it goes in for the hunt, it’s morbidly fascinating to watch. I suspect as there are less people heading out at the moment as we’re all in self-isolation... there is less to spook the herons. So everyone take note. Needless to say the pond is now cocooned in netting, but I’m sure it will visit again in the next few days. 🐟
Oh mate I feel your pain, I’ve lost many down the years (£200 sanke my biggest loss) I tried all sorts, from water scarer which didn’t always sense the bird if it landed up the top of garden and walked down, to a fishing line fence which it just fished through the lines, sometimes killing but not able to lift out. What I’ve found to work is a heron fence (easily found on line) about £20,they’re plastic rods that stand about 3 ft angling in at top, and use black netting cable tied to till tight.Herons hate things touching them when fishing plus have to walk in as wont land on water.. so the top of my ponds still open so I can see my fish, he just can’t access water from the edges..3 years and counting with no losses and I still get regular visits...
If a heron ever attempts its on my pond it wouldn't get a 2nd chance
Sorry for your losses Sir R.I.P 😥🙏⛩️🈂️ KC #stayhome
Sorry to see this! We had a heron grab a 10” koi last week and eat it on our neighbor’s roof - just to rub it in. The “open” part of the pond is protected by an electric fence, with obstacles and construction features (slopes, rocks, potted plants) existing to deprive the heron of a fishing spot; however, he found a small area where I cleared some old in-pond dwarf papyrus two days before he could use as a fishing spot (I could tell from some blood in the area). We corrected this, and added extra defenses, but two days later a 5” koi could not be located. He’s still coming back, so even more barriers are being erected…
Not enough aerial fishing lines? The heron saw you in the end?
Sorry about your loss mate, but loving your pond and channel. And thanks for sharing.
KoiRun Thanks. Yes he saw me banging on the window!
Had my pond emptied of koi and goldfish (25/30) while away in new York about two years ago, my neighbour told me a few weeks later they’d seen a heron visiting and after I’d spent all weekend draining my pond trying to work out what had happened. Anyway just to say I netted my pond and Ive never had another problem although I have seen a heron visiting rarely, also I don’t find it ugly any more and I’ve mounted lots of small hooks all the way round so it’s really easy to remove when cleaning etc.
Brett Bailey I went for a canopy effect in the end, so I feel like I’m inside an aviary 😂... but they’re safe now 🐟
Sorry to see your koi go but a good video for all us pond lovely to see this is action and how it's not worried about anything. Think the only real way is to keep then out is like what you have done and net the pond. Good luck.
I put a concrete paving slab across a narrow part of my pond and decorated it with nice stones. Now the fish have a safety tunnel to hide in when the heron shows up. It's been about three years now and I don't think any more of my gold fish have gone missing.
Just watched this and i feel gutted for you mate, ive built my pond above ground with a low roof covering it to stop them getting my koi. Hopefully that works. Anyway a net will do the trick on yours i wreckon so hopefully you wont lose any more koi. They are nice birds like but a pain when they eat our pets.
Heron: Boy what nice HOOMANS to build me a buffet
Rolls up like an all you can eat buffet 😂
Sorry for your loss, but a stark reminder for us all about the danger of Herons. Hope it doesn't return.
Lovely adult heron, who will return. There’s only one flight path in to your garden, over the fence, that’s the area you need to protect. I’ve had a few herons over the years and if you cut down there in and out route it will stop them, without covering your pond with nets and fishing line. I’ve been fortunate to have a rookery move in to the woods next door and chase them away. The fish I lost were close to 30cms so I share your pain.
Thanks, they are beautiful birds, but less so when they're on my pond. We have a lot of red kites and buzzards which often do a good job of chasing them, although not as good as rooks! I have increased the fishing line on the left hand side, but I've also gone with elevated netting over th whole pond for now.
@@KoiintheUK hope it works, we’re not allowed to go and get any replacements. I was looking forward to adding a Gin Matsuba this year. Stay safe and well.
I love the fact you still respect this majestic and beautiful bird . I feel the pain but they have to eat what's yours needs prevention . So cage over the top
Once caught, it's a wrap!! No getting lucky and slipping from the beak
We had the same problem now have 4 strand electric fence so far so good should keep out the otters as well.
Unlucky man, i have fully netted my pond not ideal but it gives me peace of mind i may make removable net frames once movement restrictions are lifted
Martin Chandler I went for an elevated net, so it doesn’t obscure my view when I’m stood by the pond. It’s not ideal but I can put up with it more than a net on the surface 🐟
Who said “ There’s no such thing, as a free meal” 🤔
I’d be livid 🤬 Theres expensive Koi in that pond. 😔🏴
Sorry for your loss :-(
Thank you 🐟
Had the same issue with my pond , however I bought a metal ornamental heron, doesn’t look to bad , apparently they only like feeding on their own , well it seems to have done the trick.
I actually saw a Heron eat a juvenile Grebe , I took him about 20 mins to eat , he drowned it first , but took ages to swallow him 🥴
The Heron has to be One of the cleverest birds I have seen, you can put netting or electric wires down and they will learn were every part is that they can get to the fish. Shame this One managed to get some of the fish
Automatic motion turrets from the Alien's movie will sort this bugger out. Beautiful bird but its diet is bloody heartbreaking.
The best method I use is building fish caves into the bottom of client ponds so they can hide when Mr Heron shows-up.
that wont protect them , the Heron has infinite patience , dont forget , its life and death to him , he aint playing a game , he will wait until the koi feel safe enought o come out the cave
Hi mate, so sorry to see what it did to your koi. I want to do a bit on heron's in one of my videos. Would you mind if I used a couple of clips from your vid. They'll only be a few seconds long. I understand if you don't want me to mate. thanks, Terry.
Wrighty No worries, appreciate it if you share a link back to the original video in return 👍
Hi mate, thank you. I will give you a shout out and also put a link to your channel in the description. Thanks again mate, Terry.
Oh well. Mr Heron have to eat too 😂
Mate that’s horrible seeing the koi still alive in its throat wouldn’t mind if they killed the fish before swallowing🙈. Thanks for sharing👍
what do Heron's taste like??? ...does anybody have any good recipes???
I've got the same battle, once they know there's fish there they'll keep on come back unfortunately
go to the box store and get some 5/4 grey electric plastic pipe and some fittings and net with some zip ties and form out a net....all good
Just brought a house with a koi pond about 6 weeks ago and absolutely loved the fish, 5 of them. Came home from work tonight and just 1 in the pond, the biggest one. So upsetting. Poor little things. The weirdest thing is the fish have been in there for a good 10 years then suddenly this
Sorry to hear that! I wonder if there was a change in routine. Maybe the previous owners were around during the day or something. 🐟
@@KoiintheUK Thank you. A great point. He was an older gent that only worked a couple of days a week, different days every week I think. We are out more than we are home. Absolutely gutted.
they probably had a dog , Heron wont come if theres a dog in the garden
Hi, I'm planning a video on my channel about pond predators, and wondered if I could use some of this video in it? I would obviously give credit, both during the video and in the description. Best regards, Andy
Yes no problem
@@KoiintheUK Thank you, much appreciated
Mad thought but if one was to grab the bird at the right time and cut it open, would there be any chance of the swallowed fish surviving ?
It's like an 80s slasher movie. Just waiting for the killer to strike. Awful losses of some beautiful fish. Must be heartbreaking.
A couple of months ago I was trout fishing in a stream deep in the woods and had already caught 5 trout that were on a steel stringer tied to a 12 ft rope stringer. A blue heron lands and grabs one of my trout on the stringer and takes off. He got about 13 ft off the ground when he reached the end of my stringer it whipped him around and he let go. Too funny. If my stringer hadn't been tied down he would have taken my entire catch.
Also seen one hit a tree branch while flying and fall into the water. Seen a mallard do the same thing. Birds are clumsy.
fish still flopping around in its esophagus starting at 12:59 !!
All pond lovers koi or goldfish need to make there pond cat proof and have a cat. End of heron problem.
Dave Southall Ha! My cat wasn’t much use that morning! Think she fancied a lie in. I may have to upgrade to a puma🐟
I’ve added fishing wire in 4 rows like and invisible fence on 4 Post 3ft high and netted bottom and height of post. Yes it does not look nice but Egret can’t find way inside. He’s been coming almost daily and can’t figure way inside, but as soon as I see him/her I run outside and shoo them away.
Sorry for the loss the bugger will be back and back till he's got all he can take as said looks like only that point the fence to get in fishing line that up and you should stop the bugger
DevonKoi Pond I’ve gone back to a full net covering, it has been back yet...
Great Blue ate every one of mine in the mid winter 10-12" long 6 of them gone he left a piece of each one of them
Gus Ferrachi Luckily we only get smaller Grey Herons which are bad enough... I think Great Blues are much bigger right?
Love the way he tippy toes up to the pond you've gotta love nature, I've got a pond the heron visits every so often but he can't get my fish.
We tamed our fish but sometine not going well, i dont have issue like this accident but a cat always walk around my pound
Do you happen to have any tips on how to breed koi
how about using a motion activated sprinkler system.
dnvsrz dnvsrz It’s pretty much encased in netting like an aviary now, so it doesn’t obstruct your vision whilst you’re at the pond, but it would be tricky for a heron to catch any.
I have 8 koi and every time a heron drops down they all bunch together in the shape of a big fish ...this scares the heron away
Take the feeding ring out when not in use the fish see a shadow and head to the feeding ring expecting food not expecting to be food
Circle of life
try a sprinkler with a motion sensor to scare it away.
I’ve pretty much covered half the garden in a net! Should do the trick 🐟
Hi mate iv subbed. Herons n otters r my major concern as iv had family who have had ponds wiped out by these predators. Iv built a removeable net out of 32mm piping. When im in the garden i take it off in seconds. You could maybe do the same but because of the size of your pond build three seperate removeable frames to make it easier for you to move them 👍
Ric koi Ah man, I feel sorry for anyone that has to deal with otters! They are in a league of their own! I am thinking of covering the entire area in an elevated net... a bit like a reverse aviary.
A net is your best hope mate as they are smart birds. As long as your pond is safe, still looks nice n that you can gain easy access then its well worth it for the protection 👍peace of mind
Pistol crossbow is cheap and effective, these things are vermin no better than rats in my opinion.
Sorry for your loss. Had a big egret eat 4 of our fish. I bought a motion activated sprinkler but the egret hasn’t come back since. Planning to construct a frame like that of a batting cage & put a net over it that would go over the whole pond/deck. Maybe that would work for you?
I have gone for something like this now, I used the bamboo to help create an elevated netting, so I can stand under it and it doesn’t obscure my vision of the fish 🐟
Did someone mention a BB rifle just a little sting he may not come back and not to harsh!
Should have a net. My friends have & they suffer no losses
he will be back
my fish got murdered and beat up the net stopped it eating them.
You need a dog, the best defence 😉
That's horrible luck for you. Just had a heron visiting my pond, so far it's not caught anything, although I've found it standing on the marginal plants. I've since added netting all the way round, which has seemed to put it off. See photo: ajayhomer.tumblr.com/post/617039376019570688
They're quite put off by cats, even tho' only one of ours wouldn't run away ;)
What I found interesting watching your video, was that the koi appeared to carry on as normal in spite of the fish being taken. I have two carp (mirror and common, not koi) and some rudd and tench, and they hid for days after the heron's closest visit.
Andy Simpson It is weird how oblivious the other fish were. I guess they’re very used to me banging around the edges and the heron is pretty fast.🐟
Nice pond btw. Hope the netting is working 🐟
Are your big koi safe from it ? build a fish cave to offer more protection.
Technologyadvisor1 I don’t think they’d use a fish cave, they’re too focused on trying to find food at the surface! A heron will struggle to get to the pond now with the net cage 🐟
This was one reason why I keep electrical wires to keep predators away
caught one in my garden let the terrier out cosmic justice
That’s cold bro nice
aha best breed for bird issues
Get yourself an electric fence and you won't be watching anymore fish lost gives them a belt no return whatsoever
While your video is informative I find it hard to believe you’d sacrifice any koi. With everything I’ve done absolutely nothing but nothing works like a higher domed net. Must be high enough so they can’t spear on. Too low they can’t get one out but you’ll still loose it from the attack. It’s sad that we have to look at a net that takes away the natural beauty , but better than loosing thousands of dollars worth of Koi.
A .22 Calibe air rifle will sort this problem out easy
U would be lucky tae get ur hands on a bb gun in the UK never mind a air rifle
.22 is a snap back, you can get one at the sports shop down the road from me for £75, its not difficult just take ID.
Don’t do that man, they’re protected because they need protection. Sure it’s not nice that they eat koi but they don’t know the difference between the fish that are wild and someone’s pets.
This makes me angry
Me too!
nice pond and video. time for a net? newest subscriber to your channel. check out my small pond on my channel cheers mate
A POND NET FOR THAT POND SIZE ONLY COST $18 IN AMAZON STOP BEING CHEAP ,LMFAO!! BETTER YET GET A PELLET GUN AND WAIT FOR HIM
If I had to wait all day with an air-riffle I would.
you have to hunt that heron down and put it down before it does anymore damage
Shoot it next time it comes,my dog caught the last herons in my garden and he killed stone dead
Don’t do that man, they’re protected because they need protection. Sure it’s not nice that they eat koi but they don’t know the difference between the fish that are wild and someone’s pets.