I've battled probably the same heron for about 3 years. He comes in during winter through early spring. Always in the AM. I tried the fishing line, watched him circle and circle, army crawl through it and finally he flew up and crashed down in the middle of the pond in the deep water, like a duck. a big duck. They are persistent nasty things. I named mine Smaug, after the Hobbit dragon. This winter I went with a green house plastic over the main pond area, to keep him out and to keep the sub tropical fish alive. it worked. The day after I removed the plastic this spring, he showed up. The effective deterrents for me have been: 1. Me. Any movement in the house, the drapes open, I get up off the sofa, he sees me through the window and he's gone. Every time. The pond is about 50 feet back from the house. If i want to watch him, i HAVE to sit perfectly still inside the house; they have amazing eyesight. 2. Truck netting. I buy truck bungee netting on Amazon and stretch them out over the main pond. It works pretty well and is a compromise from full fish netting, this way I can let the birds and the frogs in and out, the big birds have a harder time. This year I got the alligator head. It looks really good, moving with the current, like the real thing. Not sure it'll work for long but anything helps. I also put out a cheap radio on batteries, talk radio. I am also this year going to capitalize on movement. Since he always leaves when he sees anyone moving in the house, I bought a wemo device. I can power on or off, either from my smart phone or on a schedule, any electronic device. I hooked up a circulating fan to it, aiming it at my drapes. From the outside, it appears to be someone moving the drapes. Someone suggested going with one of those tube dancing things, the kind you see for advertising. I think it would work for a while. What I really want is a halloween witch i see on Amazon, its a motion or powered activated full standing prop. Its crouched down, and when activated stands to full height, makes noise, etc. that is something I could use on the back porch or in various places in the house where it would be seen. I also have a Foscam camera, with audio. I've yet to catch the heron on the motion sensor, but having the ability to tie in anytime, anywhere is very powerful. I would not go without having an IP based camera to monitor, even if its just a passive device, knowledge is everything.

What cute owls Nancy. Yes, our little screath owl is cute,BUT! Let me tell you all a little story. We have a pond,the summer before last,we had about 18,very large Koi fish, raised from little guys, they were so tame, when the front door opened,they would come running,to the side of the pond to say hi,they ate out of my hand,and one had a very special way about him.I had these wonderful fish for about 5 years,then.last winter,they were still there in December,we had a few nice days, and they came up to say hi. I never gave them another thought,til spring-NO KOI! We thought maybe they got spooked by something and were hiding under the crates,but no,as time went by, there were no Koi to be seen. I was just heartbroken,still am,the only thing we can think of, is that an owl got them, we would have seen if it was any thing else,no rements left behind at all. So, my thought is, that an owl got them in the early morning,other wise we would have seen something. I can't say for sure,that it was even this little screath owl,it may have been a different one,all i know,is our beloved Koi are gone. This year, i think i am done with Koi,i will just keep the pond for frogs and plants,and the sound. We still enjoy the owl,and get all excited when we see him,he just found a great place to live and eat,can't blame him for that eh? I watched him fly away last night,quite a wing span on this little guy,i will try to get a picture tonight. Carol

Thank you. The brugmansia is one of my crosses from a few yrs ago that just finally bloomed this fall before it froze here. It is one of those that likes to get tall first I guess. It had a few darker blooms after that one, so I think (and hope) it will get darker blooms on it in the spring. eloise I didnt know you had finches. Those babies are sneaky that way. I used to have zebra finches and lovebirds. They all kept having so many babies that I finally gave them all to my mother LOL! I still have our parrots though. I always wanted to get some of the Lady Gouldian (sp) finches. They are so pretty. Hey Will, guess what? I have guineas too lol. They sure are some characters! Wild, crazy and super wierd but also loveable. I think they make good watchdogs. They let us know the second anything out of the ordinary is going on. Bill your (or shall I say your wife's) friendly chickens sound like some of mine. I have this one blue ameraucana female who I named nasty Nellie because she wants all the attention and sticks to you like glue once you enter her pen. She is nasty to the other chickens who try to get attention. Alot of ours are sweet and want to be petted...even the roosters. I go outside and yell, "Hey Babieeeesss" and all these big ol evil looking Roosters come running up to get petted lol.

Wow....what an amazing list of people.... too many of them no longer with us or active here. It is nice to remember some of their names and their struggles that we shared. Thanks for the memories.