Bird Control
Posted on: Wednesday, November 01, 2006
Is your pond plagued by Herons, Kingfishers or other birds visiting the pond and eating your fish?
Here are some ideas to discourage birds from visiting your pond
Provide Cover for the fish:
- Put some Floating Island Planters (we have a detailed handout on Floating Islands for the asking) and are an excellent choice for Koi ponds where you can not grow water lilies.
- Build an underwater cave or hidey hole for your fish. Cinderblocks* make great cover for small fish.
- Waterlilies provide excellent cover for gold fish and goldfish varieties such as Fantails, Orandas, Shubunkins etc.
Scarecrow Techniques
- Hang dangly, mirrored artwork in your yard, they tend to distract and scare the birds.
- Buy a fake Blue Heron; herons are territorial and will not invade another birds territory. The Blue Heron Decoy will have to be moved around from time to time.
- Buy a Scarecrow. This is a device that hooks up to your garden hose and has an motion sensing eye. Every time something crosses in front of the eye it will spray water. There is a delay on the spray mechanism so that the spray doesn't always spray immediately and thus train the bird to anticipate the spray. Also has a sensitivity adjustment which controls the range of the eye. This device is extremely effective. The Scarecrow's only drawback is that it is an equal opportunity douser and will spray anything (including you, your guests and your pets) that cross its path.
Bird Barriers (or a better term if you can think of one)
- If you have a Koi pond consider building an arbor or some type cover for your fish pond. This does not always work. Often birds become emboldened and will fly or walk under the cover to feast on your fish.
- String monofilament (fishing line) in a criss cross pattern over the pond. When the bird dives down to the pond it hits the monofilament which it can't see and it scares them away. Herons wade into ponds from the sides so be sure create a barrier of fishing line 12" to 18" high around the pond.
- Lay Bird Netting over your pond. While unsightly it is effective and can usually be removed after 2-3 weeks of use.
Other ideas
- Avoid feeding your fish at the edge of the pond. If you feed your fish at the same spot everyday they will quickly learn to swim over to that area every time there is movement. This makes them sitting ducks for crafty birds, who could potentially eat all of your fish before the fish figure out to avoid the area. Make a habit of throwing the food out towards the middle where the birds cannot land and grab the fish.
- Put in an Add-A-Sphere this clear sphere is designed to sit on top of the pond surface. The fish can swim up into the sphere. If you always feed your fish by putting fish food in the sphere (the sphere comes with a tool that puts the food into the sphere) your fish can eat safely protected by the Add-A-Sphere. Not to mention that it's really fun to watch your fish (which are magnified) swimming in the sphere.
If all else fails get an energetic dog!
*Brand new cinderblocks must be soaked in a solution of 1 part distilled vinegar to 3 parts water for 2-3 days before using in a water garden.
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