Sandi - we have loads of Blue Herrons around here. My sister could not figure out where her koi were disappearing to and she thought maybe her crazy neighbor had stolen them. One day she peeked over the fence to see the fish the lady had in her pond (she waited until they had left the house). She saw what she thought was a statue of a blue herron but then the bird reached down, grabbed a koe, threw its head back and downed the koe in just a few seconds. She was able to scare off the birds and after feeling guilty for thinking bad about here neighbor she went to the pond store and got some kind of netting to put over the pond. So far she has not lost any more koi. I think it is against the law to hurt those birds in Florida, but I might be wrong.

PF, I believe it's against the law all over the US to harm a blue heron, but it's NOT against the law to use a motion detector sprinkler (Scarecrow) to scare them off. I couldn't harm it, but I can sure scare it. I have koi and sarassa comets and they follow me around the ponds when I'm working out there and most of them will take food from my hand. I have netting that will work over the 3 smaller ponds, but I'll have to sew it together to be big enough for my large pond. Sounds like a weekend project for me.

I live in Arkansas and this is the first year that I have seen a heron around our kio pond. One day, he actually had one of my fish in his mouth and was ready to take off and I ran outside yelling. He was up in the air but dropped the fish. Fish survived. DH thought I was crazy so I watched for him the next day and took a picture.

There's a big bird (not sure if a heron or not) that visits my neighbor's pond every year. This one is white and made me think of a heron. Last year when I saw him on the wall, I called my neighbor and he ran out to scare it away. Guess they just think you are leaving out a snack for them Sandi! LOL Glad you were able to scare it away before it got your fish. Luvs

I know just the scene in Signs you're talking about, and the comparison IS really funny. I don't think I'm going to see either-- the heron, or that scene in Signs-- quite the same way. :-)

--Jenn

gagesgranny, we live in TN, and just started seeing heron here in the past 2 years or so. We used to have to visit LA to see them. We have a friend here who has successfully used a net to protect her koi, also.

I spent quite awhile out around the ponds this afternoon and my fish were still coming to the surface following me around. Either the heron didn't have time to scare them or they are just too trusting. I worry for them though.

And gagesgranny, you were so lucky to have scared him off before he hurt your fish. I have my camera sitting on my comp desk and never even thought about taking a pic of him. I wish I had because the image of the alien and the heron are blending together now. Jenn, I called DH and told him about looking out the window and thinking I was in the movie "Signs". Knowing him, he will want to watch it tonight. LOL

Sandi, that scene in Signs is the one thing that creeps me out. I actually really like scary movies, and have a pretty good tolerance for that sort of thing, but... that scene...

(So as you say, of course, you have to watch it a bunch of times. :-)

Have a good, alien-free evening. :-)
-Jenn

Sandi, gosh I am sorry to hear you had one of those birds "visit you". When I had my pond full of goldfish, there was no problems for about 2 seasons, but a heron found it one day and just like that over the week cleaned out my pond except for 4 or 5 fish. My neighbor had seen it after I left for work, I asked them why they didn't yell at it to get away, they replied it was "interesting" UGH, but yes, once they discover you, you have to take measures to protect your fish. I don't have fish or a pond now (never got to finish it, and probably won't now). But, I sure know how much fun the fish are and how much you can get attached. I sure hope that the heron will be deterred with the "water scarecrow"!

Funny you should mention the movie Signs, I love that movie, but you are right, that was one spooky alien. LOL

We now have a cover over our Koi pond to keep that ole heron at bay. It was kinda funny the first time I noticed him there after we put the cover on, he seemed puzzled at the cover. He continues to check out the pond often. My mother is so silly, she is afraid the heron is going to hurt us!!!!! Ha/Ha She said we should shoot it and I told her I would be in jail if I did.

Luvstocraft, a white bird that reminds you of a Heron might be an Egret.

We have a Great Blue Heron that visits. We like watching him catch fish in our pond, but our pond is a natural one with bass, not Koi. It is illegal to keep Koi in Maine. I didn't know that before, but there was a big seizure case recently. If we do a small pond I'll have to do goldfish.

Jenn, My weekend television (and as far as I know, my backyard) was "alien" free! LOL

Judith, Glad you're feeling up to posting a little. Sorry to hear you've probably decided to not build a pond. Right now since it's below freezing I dread going out to do any work on my ponds, but come warmer weather I'll sure enjoy the benefits.

Gagesgranny, Some type of cover is the best way to protect the babies. I have used the black plastic bird & deer netting in the past, but only in the winter to stop leaves. Looks like it will be become a more permanant fixture around here.

Sue, I don't understand the banning of koi and not goldfish in a lot of places as I thought one was as potentially as much a hazard as the other, but I'm no expert either. I read about the koi being seized from a restaurant and was also happy to read they had been given back to the owner. My goldfish are just as special to me as my koi are so both are fun to have.

"Sue, I don't understand the banning of koi and not goldfish in a lot of places as I thought one was as potentially as much a hazard as the other, but I'm no expert either."

My opinion on why goldfish haven't been banned (but Koi and other fish have) is that too many people will complain about it if they do. I read recently that they have to de-fish an entire pond to get rid of the goldfish, and then restock it.

Sandi,
As you can see you are not alone. A few of our neighbors have koi pond and have used the netting to keep out the heron that visit our neighborhood. I have a natural pond but I have never seen fish in it, only crayfish. So we laugh that he comes to our pond for the shell fish appetizers and the other 2 ponds for his main courses.

Other than he is stinky bird, he is kind of cool. In fact we bought a sculpture of one for our back patio. He is keeper.

I on the other hand have to deal with a family of river otters who have eaten most everything out of the pond, crayfish, frogs and what ever else is in there. Can't figure out to deter them. We use to hate hearing the frogs at night, now we miss them.

Good luck with that pesky bird.

My son looked out the side window and there he was...sitting on the neighbor's roof looking towards my ponds. I tried to take pics, but they didn't turn out. I sneaked out the back door and with a big pot and metal spoon ran screaming and banging towards the side yard and he took off really fast. I scared the neighbor's dogs so bad they didn't even bark. LOL My son said he was glad all of the neighbors were at work.

flamingo, I think I may survive a heron better than river otters so thank goodness nothing like that has found me yet. We have hundreds of toads and quite a few frogs all summer long now that use the ponds as mating grounds. It gets way too noisy sometimes, but far better than not having any at all.