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Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 2
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OP
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 2 |
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?
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Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 20,043 Likes: 1
Hall of Fame  Lunker
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Hall of Fame Lunker
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 20,043 Likes: 1 |
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.
If pigs could fly bacon would be harder to come by and there would be a lot of damaged trees.
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Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 3,952 Likes: 184
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Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 3,952 Likes: 184 |
More than likely they will leave in spring, I'm thinking they nest up north an migrate south.
Pat
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Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 6,080 Likes: 1
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Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 6,080 Likes: 1 |
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?
Last edited by Bill D.; 02/01/15 04:29 PM.
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 733
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 733 |
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
Water is the basis of all life, by design!
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Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 20,043 Likes: 1
Hall of Fame Lunker
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Hall of Fame Lunker
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 20,043 Likes: 1 |
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.
Last edited by Cecil Baird1; 02/01/15 10:18 PM.
If pigs could fly bacon would be harder to come by and there would be a lot of damaged trees.
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Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 2
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OP
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 2 |
How do you get rid of Herons. I have one that camps out on my pond in the morning.
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Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 20,043 Likes: 1
Hall of Fame Lunker
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Hall of Fame Lunker
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 20,043 Likes: 1 |
How do you get rid of Herons. I have one that camps out on my pond in the morning.
See my post above.
If pigs could fly bacon would be harder to come by and there would be a lot of damaged trees.
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 733
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 733 |
Water is the basis of all life, by design!
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