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  1. #1

    Question How much protection is needed?

    Hi there. I spent last summer building my pond and added the fish at the end of the year once I had also built a winter cover, so as yet they've not been exposed to the threats of herons. Also wondered if sunburn was a real issue in UK ponds?
    I'm planning to run some wires around the edge of the pond but with the slates I've finished it with these might not go right to the edge of the water.
    I might be being paranoid but am concerned that this might not be enough to protect them from herons and other birds. We live on the edge of a small town in the Midlands so plenty of countryside around. We're attached to the koi now!
    How many people build pergolas to cover their ponds from view or use another method? Sure there are lots of open ponds out there.

    The pond is raised above ground although raised plant beds on three sides will bring the level up here. It's 1.2m deep



  2. #2
    Senior Member Rank = Mature Champion dbs's Avatar
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    I have had loads of trouble with herons in my previous pond which in the end I had to net, with my new one I have a shade sail above and hoping the jump guards on the copings stop them approaching the water from the sides... time will tell I guess

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    Senior Member Rank = Grand Champion samp09's Avatar
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    I have an open pond and live about 1/4 of a mile in a straight line from water meadows but have so far (thank god) not had any heron issues. I do have 2 extremely yappy Pomeranians though, as well as the washing line cutting across the pond. Both my neighbours also have dogs so I wonder if this has kept the Herons at bay. My current smallest koi is 26cm,then 30cm then the rest are over 40cm so I hope they are mostly a bit too big to interest a heron now?

    The risk you have with herons is once they find a food source they will return unless they are scared away, and they often visit in the ultra early hours of the morning on first light. I also have a mosaic glass donut bird feeder thing about a metre away from the pond, so I often wonder if the reflection of that is also enough to put off the Herons as some people use CDs to reflect light around and it supposedly spooks the herons but who knows.

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    Senior Member Rank = Mature Champion dbs's Avatar
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    Size of fish didn't matter to my herons, once they ate the small ones they started stabbing the big ones... bloody birds

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    Senior Member Rank = Supreme Champion Ajm's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by dbs View Post
    Size of fish didn't matter to my herons, once they ate the small ones they started stabbing the big ones... bloody birds

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    Think that's one of the problems with netting your pond as well unless you can keep the net say a foot off the water they just kill your fish by stabbing them not be able to get them out

    Had one one day ran out side scared it away but it was backed in a corner which they normally don't do as they like to feel safe with plenty of escape routes. Never came back yet touch wood
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  10. #6
    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Supreme Champion john1's Avatar
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    Will have to do something when I take the covers off soon as I lost two small ones last year to a heron and others were damaged.

    Not sure what as not too keen on a full net over the pond.
    John

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    Senior Member Rank = Supreme Champion Ajm's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by john1 View Post
    Will have to do something when I take the covers off soon as I lost two small ones last year to a heron and others were damaged.

    Not sure what as not too keen on a full net over the pond.
    You have a pergola aswell don't ya John

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    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Supreme Champion john1's Avatar
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    Yes I have a roof over,havnt had problems with herons before then two small ones went missing and some of the bigger ones were getting mark's on them.

    Then one morning saw the heron on the garage roof so watched it fly to the ground then jump up onto the wall,was out there in a flash and off it went.
    Came back a few times but I put fishing line round the edge which seemed to work.
    John

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    Moderator Rank = Supreme Champion Feline's Avatar
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    I’ve never had a heron visit my raised pond (and I do have a camera over the pond that notifies me of movement).

    Having no plants to land in and vertical sides with deep water certainly helps, as they cannot wade. I think my jump guards would also create quite a barrier for them. I’m only yards from a reservoir and I know there are herons in this area as I had one visit a previous ground level natural planted pond.

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    Senior Member Rank = Grand Champion samp09's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Feline View Post
    I’ve never had a heron visit my raised pond (and I do have a camera over the pond that notifies me of movement).

    Having no plants to land in and vertical sides with deep water certainly helps, as they cannot wade. I think my jump guards would also create quite a barrier for them. I’m only yards from a reservoir and I know there are herons in this area as I had one visit a previous ground level natural planted pond.
    Sounds similar to my garden, little cover for them and the walls are vertical with a deep pond of 6ft all the way round. Undecided about a pergola at the moment as I don't really want to make the garden seem smaller or block the sun out but a sail shade might be erected for summer to lose the reflection of the sky.

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    Senior Member Rank = Hassai arceye's Avatar
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    Although unusual Herons will dive for food though if doing so they prefer to dive from the side rather than fly in, but they can be resourceful and "usual" behaviour such as wading is not an absolute rule. Obstacles such as wire around the pond edge or better still an electric fence may well do the job, but there have been sightings of Herons diving into water from the air, not common but do you take the chance?

    I'm netted due to having one visit from time to time and also because I get a pair of ducks come and try to take residence in the pond. Not only do the ducks wreck the water quality but they can bring parasites with them. As already mentioned even a net is no guarantee as herons can stab through it and damage fish.

    My last pond was in an area with very few houses and surrounded by wetland full of wading birds and a few herons yet I never got a problem, now I'm in a town but with some woodland and old marl pits about half a mile away I cant let my guard down. Every time I start to get complacent either the Heron or ducks will pay me a visit. We are also coastal so there is some interest from gulls too.

    Part of my problem is the birds used to visit an old goldfish pond that was here when we moved in, and once they have found somewhere they are next to impossible to clear away permanently.

    So for me its a net, a movement sensor triggered water jetter, and sending the dogs in the garden as often as possible.

    The absolute best option (short of a fully enclosed structure over the pond) I think would be metal mesh, as you also have to consider otters / mink in some areas....

    Its quite scary how endless the potential risks to the pond are isn't it.
    Last edited by arceye; 14-03-2021 at 07:25 PM.

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  22. #12
    I’m just over five out deep, half in half out but as the stopped the Heron, I’ve watched him go in the pond and use his wings as paddles, he doesn’t need to wade.

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    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Supreme Champion john1's Avatar
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    Vertical sides and deep water will not stop them but jump guards or a guard round the pond will deter them a lot.

    I watched one land on the ground jump 3 ft to the top of the raised wall and stand on the edge watching the fish so he doesnt necessarily need to wade in.
    John

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    Senior Member Rank = Supreme Champion Ajm's Avatar
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    The one at mine was on the coping stones just waiting for a fish to swim by. Wasn't gunna get his feet wet like

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  28. #15
    Thanks for the replies. Had ruled out the net as a visual thing and as someone said, unless I raised it above the pond chances are the herons could still kill or injury the fish.
    Does anyone have pictures of a jump guard you can post to give me some ideas?
    Same for any pergolas, particularly if you've got a big span without pillars. Had thought about building a wooden pergola myself but unless I put pillars in front of the pond (from the house view), then it'd be around 5.5-6m between the pillars which might be too much and risk sagging. Metal ones solve this but couldn't build that myself and they same pretty expensive

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    Senior Member Rank = Jussai Spongebob's Avatar
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    We’re surrounded by herons, they come mobhanded sometimes which is odd as that’s not supposed to happen! For this season once the covers are off I’m just going to use a net which throws over the jump guards and sits 250 mm above the water, easy to throw on and off and hopefully enough to stop the evil water vultures. I wouldn’t trust the jump guards alone.

    Last edited by Spongebob; 18-03-2021 at 04:03 PM.
    Fibreglassed/5000 gals/4.5 m Tunnel/Spindrifter/Twin drums/Bio chambers/Beads/Showers/Remora ASHP

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  32. #17
    Senior Member Rank = Supreme Champion Ajm's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Spongebob View Post
    We’re surrounded by herons, they come mobhanded sometimes which is odd as that’s not supposed to happen! For this season once the covers are off I’m just going to use a net which throws over the jump guards and sits 250 mm above the water, easy to throw on and off and hopefully enough to stop the evil water vultures. I wouldn’t trust the jump guards alone.

    Thought ya jump guard was melting in that picture at the back lol.. Should do the tick like mate

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  34. #18
    Spongebob - where did you get the jump guards from? Like the look regardless of what I do for the main cover

  35. #19
    Can anyone recommend where to buy jump guards from? Or material suggestions for making your own?

  36. #20
    Senior Member Rank = Supreme Champion davethefish1's Avatar
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    i'd never seen a heron near my current house in 20 years.... until i built a pond...

    then even though i'd well netted the pond.
    it was always doing a flyby now and then. i checked the CCTV regularly but it never landed in the garden.
    i think that due to the small size of the garden close proximity the house and garden buildings it thought it was too risky, but theres always the chance one will drop in...
    if i take the covers/netting off its just during the day, and back on at night.

    at my old pond and house that did get a visit from herons (pond was safely netted)
    it was always very early mornings... 5 to 6am.

    first time i saw one, i legged it down the garden to scare it off....
    it's then you suddenly notice just how bloody BIG they are
    ...and you start looking around for something to protect yourself with LOL!

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