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The Great Blue Heron Problem

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If a heron gets any where near to your pond, it will terrify the fish. They will seek out places to hid and won't reappear again for hours!! So, if you go to your pond and don't see any fish, either they are all hiding, or the heron is full! I strongly recommend that you build many hiding places into the bottom of your pond. Things like large flat slate stones suspended over smaller, round stones are ideal. Also, you can "allow" your plants to grow "wild" and produce lots of over-hanging foliage for the fish to hide under.	Very scary picture of a Great Blue Heron... they stand about 25" high! They are huge! They will eat your little fish on the spot. The bigger fish, they spear with their beak and fly off with them. These birds have over a 3-foot wing span!
This shot, of a Great Blue Heron, and the picture to the right, are compliments of my friend Bill Carson Bill has a flock of them that visit him regularly! (I've offered to share my recipe for Broasted Heron with him)
Here is a Great Blue Heron photographed by my friend, Paul Miller, a professional photographer here in Lancaster County. Notice how BIG this bird is! And he is usually EMPTY until after he visits your pond!! I live pretty close to Paul (as the heron flies) so this could be the same guy that visited my pond a few weeks ago.
December 20, 2003 - Well our heron returned today for a look-around. He walked slowly all around the pond and gave it a good look-over.... and then flew away!! I'm hoping that he saw our fake 'gator and decided not to take any chances... but, I honestly don't know. This picture was taken from inside the house, so I don't think he knew we were watching. Also, all the fish were on the bottom in hibernation so, I doubt if he was able to actually see any fish. My Lord! what a great rifle shot if only I had the window open and the screen removed!!
Fish with nylon netting spread over the water surface	3-piece Fake 'Gator (small size) To Buy one, CLICK HERE

October 2003

Well, it had to finally happen.... a blue heron flew in for breakfast one day a few weeks ago. Luckily, we just happened to see him when he first arrived and were able to chase him off. But, in about 15 minutes he was back. Again, we chased him. And, again, in about 30 minutes this time, he came back. After that we didn't see him any more that day.

So... we immediately rigged some nylon netting over the pond to protect the fish. Then we started researching the problem.

While the prevailing wisdom is that heron are very territorial and will not invade another heron's feeding area, I have also heard stories of heron flying down to sit next to a fake heron decoy, presumable to mate with it! So, I decided to NOT install a heron decoy.

Instead, we started looking at fake alligators. There are two types being offered. One is called Gator Guard and is available from many pond supply houses for about $70.00. It consists only of a floating alligator head, about 25" long - life size, I suppose.

Instead, we found a 3-piece floating, whole, alligator. If you'd like to buy one of these fake alligators...... CLICK HERE.

The 'gator comes in three sizes. We got the small one (32"). It was more in keeping with the size of our pond. The three pieces are held together with a heavy nylon cord, so the 'gator can float around on the pond and sort of "stay together". I suppose it is possible to "anchor" the 'gator if you wanted to, but we've allowed him to float free.

Of course, the big question is... does it work? As of right now, 4 days into displaying the 'gator, I really don't know. We have not seen the heron since we put the 'gator in the pond. But, I'll feel better about it if we can go several weeks without having him return.

Up-Date (October 2003): It's been 3 weeks since we put the 'gator in the pond and so far, no more herons. I know the heron has not been back because I have installed a closed-circuit TV camera to watch the pond and record ANY movement out there. The only thing the video camera has caught near our pond has been a squirrel and a stray cat!

Up-Date (February 1st, 2004): A few weeks ago we had another visit by our local heron. He flew in, walked around the pond a few times... left HUGH tracks in the snow, but apparently didn't try getting into the water after the fish. I honestly don't know if it was the fake alligator, or he he just couldn't see any fish since they were all on the bottom hiding under weeds and stuff. We've let the alligator in the pond all winter.... he has gotten frozen into the ice a few times, but then the weather warms up a bit and he thaws out and floats around.

Up-Date (February 19, 2004): Well the heron has returned and this time he had a quick bite to eat!! Our poor alligator was frozen into some snow and ice at the edge of the pond, so he really wasn't scary enough to chase the big bird. I've decided that maybe I should help the 'gator to do his job a little better. So, with a few friends, I have embarked on a project to animate the ol' 'gator! We are planning on using IR detectors, a little electronics, and some little motors with propellers attached... to cause the 'gator to swim TOWARDS any warm-blooded thing that gets near the pond. That ought to be enough to scare the ol' heron!! If you're interested in following the progress of this adventure.... CLICK HERE!

As you may already know, all birds (except English sparrows and starlings) in the USA are "protected" by Federal law, which means that you may not kill them or destroy their nests (if there's eggs or hatchlings in them) without obtaining special Federal permits (available for ducks and geese, etc during hunting season). While I have no compunctions at all about shooting any heron feeding on my prize koi, I also don't want to shoot a hole in the rubber liner of my pond! So, for the time being, we're trying the 'gator decoy and a nylon net. We'll remove the nylon netting in the spring when we once again want to sit out by the pond and enjoy its beauty.

And, for those of you with more creative methods of dealing with these creatures, I offer the following:

Heyroun

PERIOD: England, 14th century | SOURCE: Utilis Coquinario | CLASS: Authentic

DESCRIPTION: Roasted Heron

ORIGINAL RECEIPT:

13. Þe heyroun schal be diyht as is þe swan and it come quyk to kechen. Þe sauce schal be mad of hym as a chaudon of gynger & of galyngale, & þat it be coloured with þe blood or with brende crustes þat arn tosted.

- Hieatt, Constance B. and Sharon Butler. Curye on Inglish: English Culinary Manuscripts of the Fourteenth-Century (Including the Forme of Cury). New York: for The Early English Text Society by the Oxford University Press, 1985.

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GODE COOKERY TRANSLATION:

The heron shall be prepared as is the swan and it comes quickly to the kitchen. The sauce shall be made of him as a chaudon of ginger & of galingale, & that it be coloured with the blood or with bread crusts that are toasted.

And, one more for the adventurous gourmet:

Broasted Heron

1 Troublesome Heron, dressed out.
1 Cup shallots
4 6" rosemary sprigs.
1 cup white wine
1/4 cup virgin olive oil
1 cube butter
1 carrot
1 stalk celery

Fill the cavity of Heron with the shallots and rosemary. Coat the bird with 2 TBS salt and freshly ground pepper to taste. Brown Heron, carrot and celery in a roasting pan over a medium high flame, constantly turning, for ten minutes. Add the wine and butter and cover. Place in a 400 degree oven for 45 minute to an hour (The legs should feel loose) basting every 15 minutes. Remove Heron and reduce the sauce. Serve with wild rice and steamed vegetables.

If you've got a favorite Heron recipe you'd like to share, send it along! While it is certainly illegal to kill the beasts, I don't believe that sharing recipes is illegal... yet.

Calling all lawyers. Calling all lawyers. Here's the makings of a Federal Class Action suite if I ever heard one!! Conspiracy to eat! Endangered species my ass! You bet it's in danger if it gets near my koi pond!!

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Return To Aqua Club Home Page	Visit The Nicholas BAT Pond (Pops Log Cabin Web Site)
The Egyptian Blue Lotus	Starting From Seeds
Dealing With Herons	Starting Moon Flower Seeds
Water Hyacinth	Starting Carnation Seeds
Nicholas Tree Trimming	The Famous Nicholas RoboGator
Vickie Bair's Pond	Carl & Louise Harnish's Pond
Joe Pye Ponds	How To Pot A Lily
Bob & Sue Diller's Pond	Growing The Egyptian Blue Lotus
Darryl & Faye Nicholas' Pond	USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map
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Ziegler's Green House and Aquatic Nursery	Lamar & Melenie Lutz's Pond
Melvin Pankuch’s Home & Water Garden	For Future Use
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