Preventing Herons Stealing Your Koi
Herons are very attractive, majestic birds and enjoyable to watch in the right surroundings but unfortunately they love Koi and where better for herons to find groups of Koi than in an unattended pond.
There is no way that you can completely stop Herons trying to eat your Koi population, but there are a few things that you can do to try and make it as hard as possible for them.
There are many different types of technical equipment that you can purchase to try and stop Herons but you will quickly find that these will only work for a short while.
Some pond owners place a fake plastic Heron into their garden in an attempt stop real Herons from landing there. This will work for some of the season, but when mating time comes you will find that it will attract Herons that are looking for a mate.
There are other types of deterrent that work by causing discomfort to the Heron, but you will probably find that they work for a short while until the bird gets used to it and finds a way around it.
The only real way to protect your Koi is by watching out for them. A few simple things will not prevent Heron from visiting your pond, but it will greatly reduce the presence of them.
1) If you find a Heron trying to make off with your Koi then make as much noise as possible to frighten the Heron as much as you can. You can shout, throw things or do anything you feel will scare the bird away. The more frightened it is then the less chance there is of it returning to your pond any time soon.
2) Keep changing your routine. Herons are intelligent birds and will quickly learn when you are most likely to leave your pond unattended. If you visit your pond frequently then you will have a greater chance of catching the Heron in the act. If you are unable to vary your routine then you may want to consider asking older family members or trusted neighbours or friends if they wouldn't mind checking on your pond every now and then.
3) If you do lose some of your Koi due to a Heron then do not restock straight away. If you do then you are just telling the Heron that there is a continual supply of food. By waiting to restock, you will send the Heron looking elsewhere to feed.
4) When you build your pond consider creating a place where your Koi can hide if they need to. After a Heron attack, many Koi pond owners may think that the bird has managed to get all of their fish until they notice them starting to appear from various places around the pond. By creating a natural hiding place, then you will considerably reduce the amount of fish that a Heron can get away with. You need not worry about your Koi hiding from you as they should know and trust you enough not to hide from you.
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