This winter a small group of Merganser Ducks has taken up residence on my 8 acre pond. I know these to be fish eating ducks.
I'm concerned about what affect they may have on my Bass, Bream and Catfish. My fish population is a mature one with a good balance.
I've read the Merganser can be beneficial in thinning smaller fish, allowing larger fish to flourish.
My concern is a drop in overall fish population.
Any advice? Let them stay? Move them out?
Personally I wouldn't want any fish eating bird to have free reign of my pond(s). At least I have nonlethal means to deal with the herons.
It's possible even if fish are too large for the mergansers to eat they may still stress them.
More than likely they will leave in spring, I'm thinking they nest up north an migrate south.
Pat
Personally I wouldn't want any fish eating bird to have free reign of my pond(s). At least I have nonlethal means to deal with the herons.
It's possible even if fish are too large for the mergansers to eat they may still stress them.
Cecil,
What do you do to control GBH?
Bill D Cecil answer should be in older post. Running a fish line fence or fine wire a foot or so deeper 8n the water than the birds don't get too deep or something to that effect
Stakes made of cheap furring strips. Then cheap Omni 20 to 30 pound mono bought at Chinamart from stake to stake attached with dry wall screws. Don't need many stakes and it's not as visible as you think.
I usually run two lines: one low enough the heron can't get under and the other high enough it can't step over. Herons are a wading bird and prefer to wade into the pond. They rarely land in water unless they know it's shallow as they can drown. The trick is to set this up at the edge of the water and block their ingress.
On my trophy pond where there is no reproduction I only protect the areas where the males bed. The female perch are usually to deep for the herons. Other then bedding time the bluegills are too.
How do you get rid of Herons. I have one that camps out on my pond in the morning.