Grey Heron tries again !Hogmanay 2010

gav22 · #1 (**permalink**) 31-12-2010, 02:52 PM

Just had a visit from Old Grey Heron again this afternoon. Same heron been visiting my pond since about 1985 without a good Koi Carp lunch since 1998.
My first encounter was when he was caught fishing around dawn one day by my daughter who'd been awakened by carrion crows who were spooking the Heron.He /she got 2 Koi that day. About a fortnight later he was caught again , but on this occasion I observed him standing in pond waiting for his next catch but to my horror there were already 4 fish maimed and lined up on the side of pond.
Ive long since put a netting mesh across the pond, but he still appears every so often ( usually in the winter months /spring ) Just to check things out ?
Put net over pond in 1987 approx.
The loss of fish in 1998 by the way was when I removed the netting for pond cleaning and left it off thinking he wouldn't be back !More fool me !
How long do Grey Heron live ?????

~T~ · #2 (**permalink**) 31-12-2010, 03:13 PM

The heron is just taking advantage of a food source where/when available. They are very adaptible birds and have to be. As much as it's annoying having ponds raided by herons its just doing what comes natural to it. I wouldnt have thought it would be the same bird though as I dont think they are usually very long lived, I could be wrong though as I read an article about a pair of escaped night herons from Edinburgh zoo turning up again at the zoo 20 years on.

nightshade · #3 (**permalink**) 31-12-2010, 03:38 PM

We have a Heron visiting here over about 25 years, if it is the same one. (Which would seem unlikely) It has stood on the net to fish it has crouched under the net to fish. I planted trees which broke up and reduced the landing area. It (or a Heron) landed just off the porch/patio when we had a houseful of people and only a couple of us saw it as it landed,stretched and raised then lowered its crest. We have a problem with gulls but they do attack the Heron whenever it appears now, but it is just replacing one predator with another potential predator.
Apparently Herons can live for around 20 years

aeshna5 · #4 (**permalink**) 31-12-2010, 04:31 PM

One was observed last week (+ certainly not for the first time) last week consuming a Water Rail at the London Wetland Centre. As well as major predators of fish + amphibia they also take a lot of small birds (especially wildfowl/wader chicks) + mammals when the opportunity arises.

Kayleigh · #5 (**permalink**) 31-12-2010, 07:51 PM

You can use trip wires they seem to work well..my friend down the road from me had a kingfisher in her pond taking the goldfish how lucky is she lol
She didn't see it like that though..

I had a kingfisher on the garden fence it was wonderful seeing it in the my garden..

earthdragon64 · #6 (**permalink**) 31-12-2010, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kayleigh

You can use trip wires they seem to work well..my friend down the road from me had a kingfisher in her pond taking the goldfish how lucky is she lol
She didn't see it like that though..

I had a kingfisher on the garden fence it was wonderful seeing it in the my garden..

I'd love to see a Kingfisher anywhere, never mind in my garden.

It's one I'm hoping to see next year.

Regards, Audrey.