Herons Eat $200 Koi from Homeowner’s Pond

A Brockton, Massachusetts homeowner was recently stunned to discover a great blue heron hulking over her Koi pond. The large, long-billed bird was sizing up its prey, ready to strike. One of her neighbors said that the heron had raided 10 of his fish. The birds often invade backyard ponds during the warmer months looking for a quick meal, a meal that cost pond owners upwards of $200 each. The pond owner decided to build a PVC cover with chicken wire to protect her investment from the winged culprits, which stand over 4 feet tall, with an imposing 6-foot wingspan. Ornithologists note that herons often attack Koi ponds, even in urban areas.

Herons area skilled and patient hunters, stalking their prey slowly through the water, then remaining motionless until a fish swims by. A quick stab with its sharp bill and the Koi is history.

Initial steps to protect costly Koi from becoming a Heron meal include adding floating vegetation and underwater structures for fish to hide under, and to provide enough water depth for the pond. Of course, the best way to keep fish safe form herons and cranes is to bird-proof the pond. Here’s what the bird control experts at Bird-B-Gone recommend:

Pond Defender™

A plastic disc that floats just below the water’s surface, Bird-B-Gone’s Pond Defender™ provides a safe haven for fish, protecting them against herons and cranes. The Pond Defender installs in a snap and consists of 12 interlocking plastic discs to create an aesthetic geometric shape, one that effectively blocks out fish predators. The discs virtually disappear below the water’s surface and fit easily into any shape pond. Installation is easy using the supplied clips, and discs can be arranged to fit most ponds or water gardens.  For best results, use two rows of Pond Defender discs to prevent large birds from reaching into the pond and attacking your fish. The discs can be easily removed for cleaning. The Pond Defender is built to last and made of a UV- protected plastic (polypropylene) that will permit your plants to grow through its geometric openings.

Bird Scare Visual Deterrents

Easy to use and install, Bird Scare Visual Deterrents create an “Optical Distraction Zone” that keeps birds away from ponds and other water features. Choose reflective foils that crackle in the breeze, shiny tape banners that crinkle in the wind, or balloons with huge predator eyes that bob and weave. These deterrents can easily be attached to fence posts, tree limbs, patio covers or any elevated area. Balloons can also be partially filled with water and allowed to skim the surface of your pond to keep pest birds away. Visual Bird Deterrents like these are designed to make pest birds feel threatened and uncomfortable. You'll need to move these deterrents around from time to time to keep birds from getting used to them.

For additional advice on how to keep birds away from your pond or water feature, consult an expert like the folks at Bird-B-Gone.

When Winterizing, Bird Proof Your Home

Winter is here and it’s time to winterize your home. This is typically when you seal all the cracks between wood and stucco, wood window casings, etc.  It’s also the time when you need to check your rain gutters and spouts, and when you check around chimney areas and vents. It’s also the time when you should be thinking about bird proofing your home. Bird, after all will be looking to settle in for the winter and if your home isn’t protected with bird deterrents, they’ll gravitate to your home and you know what that means: nests, feathers and bird droppings.  Nests in your rain gutters, patio covers, gazebos and all those nooks and crannies in your home’s exterior. 

The good news is, you can prevent birds from flocking around your home by implementing an effective and humane bird control strategy. Here are several bird deterrents that you should consider installing when winterizing your home:

Sonic Bird Deterrents

You can blast air horns and set off firecrackers to scare birds away. But they’ll come back as soon as you go backing the house. Sound Bird Deterrents have been proven effective because they emit distress and predator sounds that frighten birds. The best sonic deterrents will emit sounds that birds can hear (unlike ultrasonic deterrents which emit sounds birds can’t hear).  If you had crows, starlings, swallows, gulls, woodpeckers, sparrows, grackles, cormorants last year, you might want to consider using the sonic system many have turned to: it emits distress and predator calls for as many as 22 types of birds. By the way, sonic bird deterrents only create sounds that resemble normal birdcalls, so they won’t annoy your neighbors and pets.

Balloons and Banners

Easy to install and quite effective in deterring birds from your home and backyard, Banners, Flash Tape and Balloons make pest birds feel too uncomfortable to stay. These deterrents rattle and reflect sunlight as they twist and flap in the breeze. Balloons have the added advantage of large, predator eyes that spook birds, making them think a large predator is eyeballing them. For best results, these visual bird deterrents should be moved around occasionally to keep the threat looking alive and real.

Bird Spiders

Easy to place on rooftops, patio covers and other elevated areas, Bird Spiders boast long spindly arms that prevent birds from landing. Spiders come in 2-, 4- and 8-foot diameter arm lengths to protect increasingly wider areas. A variety of mounting bases allow for easy positioning on most flat areas.

Bird Slope™

Angled, slippery PVC panels, Bird Slope deterrents are easy to install in all those 90-degree nooks and crannies where birds tend to nest. The panels come in a variety of colors to blend in with your home’s aesthetics. The best panels are made of UV-stabilized polycarbonate to last longer in tough outdoor weather.