Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Do birds move fish to other ponds?

I am one to believe that the eggs are on plant life that is wrapped up around the water fouls feet and is moved from pond to pond. The eggs are not stuck to the birds feet but the plants they have moved. Some ducks when fighting (like seagulls do at the beach over a fry) will take off with a mouth full to land in another pond to eat it or even fight in the air and drop it.

It may take time but persistence pays off more often then not.

Cheers Don.

Muskrats, beaver, raccoons, etc may get things trapped in their fur and transfer it if another pond is close enough. There are probably other unlikely vectors as well, but as a whole at some point something will get some viable fish eggs in there. The most likely culprit has to be the two-legged type.

For the naysayers, explain this one.
This happened in my new excavated pond with no water source inflow other groundwater and 3 or so acres worth of yard runoff. A year after completion and the pond was a little over half full, nothing had been stocked yet, I saw what looked like cat fish rolling at the surface. My daughter and I set out some lines with catfish bait and caught several 8-10" CC. No one has access to the pond without a visit by my two bullmastiffs that roam the property so I doubt they were put in by people.

drumz, were they definitely Channel Catfish or could they have been bullheads?

That is what I thought they were at first so I posted pictures here and yall quickly educated me in how to determine catfish species.



here is the post on it:

http://forums.pondboss.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=302072

BTW: My memory's timeline was off a little, this was not even 3 months after I stocked my 1.5-2" CNBG. I would have definately noticed one of these guys mixed in with all those little fish.

In my opinion, catching several catfish rules out a bird carrying fish....drop one?, maybe, but several?

Eggs transported by an animal or wading bird? From a fish that tends to cavity spawn, in water that in many instances is deeper than what normal wading animals would encounter?

My money is on human intervention, or a high water event.

Here's a wild thought: if we're even remotely open to the possibility of an animal, or bird transporting viable eggs from one BOW to the next, why not consider that the fish we stock from a hatchery are introducing eggs from another species also? If they can stick to a bird's leg and remain viable, could they be stuck on the side of a fish, or in the transport water from the hatchery?

As long as we're considering all possibilities....

SHARKNADO

You know come to think of it I have a lake nearby that doesn't have sand or gravel for spawning beds for bluegills. The bluegills nest right on top of the submerged vegetation. Apparently they prefer the vegetation over the marl bottom.

Or walking catfish?

Watched this with my own eyes.

My pond was about a year old and still had a large population of FHM. A heavy rain early in the day created a puddle in the yard about 6' in diameter. I kept seeing a Belted Kingfisher going back & forth between the pond & puddle about 30' apart. The repetitive activity seemed very peculiar to me so I walked down to investigate. There was 12-15 FHM in pristine condition in that puddle.

It dried up by the next day with almost 20. There was no connection at any time between the puddle & pond. I watched this bird stock the puddle without any doubt in my mind.

Have you ever seen what a kingfisher does to a minnow when it plucks it out of the water? It's not a pretty sight. Kingfishers don't have beaks lined with felt. When the swoop down on a minnow and nail them with their beak, I don't think they're gonna be gently moving them to a new body of water for release but I could be wrong. Doesn't take much water for a fish, especially an FHM to swim in...

Kingfisher was collecting them as it stood in or near the shallows of pond. Not dive bombing. One by one was transported and released unharmed.

Maybe the fatheads were supposed to be for training young? I know it sounds crazy but we do know a green heron will bring fish into range by probing a stick into the water.

I trust you, Blaine. You big Freak.

Over the years I've read a number of stories like these:

Texas A&M -- Can It Really Rain Fish and Frogs?

Where Fish, Frogs, and a Cow Fell from the Sky -- The Weather Channel

It's Raining Fish

Very interesting Blaine. I've watched kingfishers at my pond many times. I've often seen small fish still wiggling in the beak as the bird flies away. Who knows how the creator actually programed His animals. They certainly have to have a certain amount of intelligence, or they would not survive. Maybe humans have the problem of understanding?

Squirrels, and chipmunks hide seeds for later use.

I know the horizontal pipes on the boat hoist at the lake are usually covered with fish scales during the summer. Kingfishers land there after catching a fish and slam the fish into the pipe to stop if from flopping around.

I think it was starting a new fishery for itself. Forage fish first! Only saw it happen the one time but if it ever happens again, ya'll can rest assured that I'll be recording.

I know you believe me Sunil. I'm sure you've heard that story at least 3 times from me. Takes one to know one.

Word, Mabro! Word!

Its not unusual for animals to be multi-talented. A simple example: A dog can tear you apart with it's teeth, and then pick up a young pup ever so gently.

Interesting story with the kingfisher, much like a dog buries bone or tree rats store nuts.

One of my dogs will not bury a bone if you're watching him. He does not want you to know where he's buried it.

Luna was the same way. She caught on the first time I tried to trick her by walking back inside and peeking around the corner. Never, ever saw where she buried anything. No poo to step in either!

After a bit of training, I just let her run free so she could have some fun.

Yes, we've always trained our dogs not to crap in the yard.

It's the only way to go.

Our dogs go to the very edge of our property to take care of business. Also, sometimes they stay in the house but they were never house trained. No accidents in the house.