These stories have made me sad but very much aware of the danger from the birds. My hubby built and now we are beginning to enjoy the pond in the back yard. I was fearful of placing fish due to the fact that we live on a lake and the pond is in the back. I have seen the herons here on the lake side dive off the dock into 5-8 ft of water and jump back onto the dock with a fish in his mouth. They do eat rather large fish, mostly brim or the shad. We bought 12 goldfish at the baitshop just to see how nature would react, and so far, about one month, we still have the fish. Pond is about 18" deep and we used a cement block with two holes to hold the pump and the first set of plants. We plan to add lots of plants before we spend money for fish. I am very amazed at myself for how attached I have become to fish I usually would have used to catch bigger fish for eating. So wish me luck with trying to have nature on both sides of the house!

I have a red-tail hawk that visits regularly and bathes in my filter pond--quite a sight. Too skitterish to get a clear picture yet. I have no fish so the hawk is a treat, not a threat. Nice pics and pond Mike

Reply to: "pondmaninal" You asked.. "Have you tried feeding them from the side of the pond?" and How long have I had the fish?... From my first post - "I throw the feed pellets down to the pond from a window far above"... Which means I am not disturbing them in any way except for the food pellets hitting the water. I can watch them for long periods of time and they just stay at the bottom. and "I cleaned the pond out about 2 months ago. I filled it and got 5 goldfish."... SO, the fish are 2 months old. As for the parrot feather, they are also a few months old, and yes they had roots, about 1-2 inches in length all along the stem. The roots were not bushy and full. I suspect, they need to be potted to establish. That is my answer... The fish are alive so I guess they are eating something. Thanks, L

Debbie, it could easily be a formal tropical water garden with its rectangular look. It would require a pump and some simple filtering, but that could be made to look formal. Many water plants have that tropical look, like taros (colocasias), and tropical water lilies are so beautiful. Submersible pumps don't cost much, and your first job could be to pump almost all the muddy water out and refill with fresh. Leave just enough water in for the fish. Then set up a skippy filter in a large fake old-fashioned looking flower pot and put it in. Then go all out with the tropical plants! These pics from the Singapore botanical garden. :) Mary