I visited the pond today and noticed a belted kingfisher flying around. Are they considered a threat to fish populations in ponds? As bad as cormorants? I would imagine they are too small to eat bigger fish.

I don't think I'd worry about him. Like you said they can only eat small fish. The one I have just passes through. He is on his way somewhere else apparently migrating.

Now if you had trout fry or fingerlings in an open raceway that would be a different story.

We have two or three belted kingfishers every year and they do not cause any problems, they eat mostly small BG under 3". We also usually have one Great Blue Heron and one Green heron too that seem to be harder on our YOY frogs than anything else.

Same as CB1 and Shorty here but IIRC they are a host in the grub reproductive cycle.

I believe the herons are in involved in the yellow grub cycle and the kingfishers are part of the black grubs. Or is it the other way around?

I've never seen the black grubs in any of my fish. (Black pepper like spots on skin and fins).

I can't remember off the top of my head, either, but it's in that great big NCRAC Sunfish Culture .pdf file you linked a week ago or so.

Cecil you were right the first time. Yellow Grubs <=> Herons, Black Grubs <=> Kingfishers

Cecil you were right the first time. Yellow Grubs <=> Herons, Black Grubs <=> Kingfishers

Don't you need snails to complete the life cycle of the grub/fluke? I don't plan on introducing snails to the pond - should I expect them to show up anyway?

Yeah, you need the snails. They will probably show up all on their own (or rather, with the help of the bird portion of the parasite life cycle).

OTOH, I have already stocked snails in my new pond in preparation for next year's RES stocking.

RobA,

Yep snails will show up just like aquatic plants. Not sure of the mechanism but birds sound pretty plausible.

For whatever reason, this is the first time in a week, the forum has allowed me to login so I'll make this quick. I have a question pertaining to yellow/black grubs, BG and YP. (If this steals from the original kingfisher title, moderators please move this to the appropriate area)

Does anyone know if BG or YP are more or less susceptible to becoming final hosts for yellow/black grubs?

Here is the reason for the question. Last month my neighbor caught a couple of nice looking BG from one of my ponds and decided to invite them to dinner. Unfortunately, the first one he laid open had some yellow grubs which ruined his appetite. One of my goals in raising fish is to be able to harvest some for an ocassional fish fry. My ponds are visited by kingfishers and herons and I doubt I could prevent there presence. Would YP be a better species to raise as opposed to BG when it comes to these grubs??


NY Eric, have you had any problems with grubs in your YP?

Thanks

Russ

Russ,

I have seen the grubs in both species. But from my experience the perch seems to eat more of the snails than the bluegills, which would reduce their numbers (they don't get the grubs from eating the snails).

If you can't eliminate the herons or kingfishers your only other choice is to eliminate or reduce the snails (break the cycle). Do you have access to any redears (shellcrackers)?

Only other possiblity is to set up some heavy braided line on stakes around the pond to keep the herons from wading in. Not as difficult as it sounds. Or an electric fence.