Heron

[Dogghound]

Originally Posted by sbeau66

one time the heron was sleeping at the side of the pond at night, its not a sight i look forward to, i wouldn't mind if it took the fish to eat but it just fishes the out and stabs them, or leaves em on the grass to die, thats not fair on the fish, its welcome to take some for food but it took out a really pregnant one last week and it died on the grass, if it had benn allowed to spawn the fish would have provided babies and therefore more smaller fish for the heron, so i think they must be stupid too!

The first point I would like to make is herons almost always sleep in tree's so its likely it was hunting not roosting. Secondly its highly unlikely that it would leave fish to die, herons suffer from cold winters and need all of the help they can get there is no chance they would do this. Have you got cats? Also a third point your fish was not pregnant pond fish do not breed at this time of year so if it was bloated it was either ill or had a parasite, most likely the reason it had been caught.

[Cowgirl]

I understand what you are saying sbeau as I have a largish pond with Koi.

I get a bit panicky when I see herons, once looked up & saw 3 flying overhead aaargh, but, I have false herons plus a water scarecrow which in the summer goes off anytime there is movement near the pond. Unfortunately I keep forgetting it's on when I'm pottering around l! Like aeshana says you have to accept that they're only trying to survive & it's up to us to protect our fish.

[sbeau66]

believe you me it was pregnant and unless the cats been in the knife drawer and learned how to stab open a fish to reveal a belly full of eggs/roe, then the fish done it itself, couldn't have possibly been a heron, which visits my pond up to 10 times a day in the winter, thats why i hate herons!

[Dogghound]

Originally Posted by sbeau66

believe you me it was pregnant and unless the cats been in the knife drawer and learned how to stab open a fish to reveal a belly full of eggs/roe, then the fish done it itself, couldn't have possibly been a heron, which visits my pond up to 10 times a day in the winter, thats why i hate herons!

What species of fish is it? There is absolutely no way a cyprinid (carp, goldfish, roach etc) which im presuming it is would breed in winter, they require a steady warm water temperature, the eggs would not not develop, the fry would have no food etc. The insides are likely its organs. Eggs at this time of year internally would be unlikely and if they are they will be undeveloped from last year which would be very abnormal as a fish failing to lay is likely to have either died or taken the eggs back into their body. How do you know a cat/ other predator hasnt taken it out and a crow has opened it up to feed on it? herons swallow fish whole so unless they are disturbed and drop the fish which is unlikely as you say it happens alot it is other predators.

[Harold Smith]

I agree with most of the comments Dogghound has made. It is very unlikely fish would be mating or breeding at this time of year. The water would be too cold and fish would be lethargic and conserving energy. The main breeding season for most fish is between March and June/July. That is why the closed coarse fishing season is between March and June. (Not that I am suggesting that you fish your pond). The other point that Dogghound makes is that a Heron would swallow its catch not discard it unless it was seriously disturbed. They are not like some other animals that will kill for the sake of it or for stashing away for some other time. I suspect that it is other animals (domestic or otherwise) that is causing havoc with your pond.

One other thing? Where do your interests lie? In ‘wildlife’ or the contents of your pond? You say you hate Herons yet they are part of our natural world. Why should you hate them? After all the garden pond, to them, is no different to lake or stream. They’re doing what ‘comes naturally’. They are interesting birds along with many of the other birds and animals that visit gardens. Yes! Sometimes wild animals can be garden nuisances but that is no reason to hate them. Every year I battle with House Sparrows as they feed on my Beetroot foliage. Despite that I don’t hate them for it, though I curse them now and again. Sparrows are great birds to observe.

Become a proper WABer and enjoy all of wildlife regardless of its ups and downs.

Harold.

[sbeau66]

I did say i didn,t mind it having the odd fish to eat, the fish in question is a carp and was far too large to be swallowed whole, some people dislike grey squirrels, magpies, moles etc, i can live in peace with them all, and I have heard that a local trout fishery shoot herons! so should i join them as it seems i am not truly a wildlike lover?

[aeshna5]

If you do shoot them, you will be breaking the law as they have full legal protection!

[sbeau66]

Tell that to the fisheries that kill herons and otters, see the romsey advertiser from about 3 weeks ago, i.ve never killed anything, i was only expressing an opinion, also i,ve seen that the local golf course is spraying the orchids with weedkiller again, sad eh

[Harold Smith]

The Romsey Advertiser does not suggest that fisheries are killing Herons or Otters which is illegal anyway. Also, I could not find anything about Herons in the Advertiser though there was a lot about the culling of Otters as they are suspected of killing fish in commercial fish ponds. Oh dear! Here is the same old argument! Something is eating my hobby/livelihood so let’s kill it! Whether it be Heron or Bird of Prey eating the Grouse or Otter or some other wild animal. When are people are going to learn! If you want to make a living from ‘farming’ then put in the measures to protect your livelihood, do not take it out on or blame it on the wildlife if it doesn’t work! To me that is just an excuse for not being able to manage it or adapt as things change.

Also, Nobody is suggesting that you have killed anything. You are entitled to express an opinion as I am, which is what we are doing. However, I do go back to my original question where do your interests lie? In ‘wildlife’ or the contents of your pond?

Harold.

[Claire Fifi]

Calm down chaps..it IS annoying when a Heron eats your fish .. give the chap a break for expressing an opinion!!

Please don't get so hot under the collar I think it is a bit much of you all to jump to the conclusion that the person in question is not a "proper" wildlife lover"! I HATE wasps!