There is a heron who comes to our pond and eats our fish. Five years ago my dad created a pond to control the water that was flowing down our hill. We put 12 koi into the pond and now we have more than 50. The heron has been coming to our pond for three years. We see it in the fall and the spring. Lately, the heron has been coming a lot and it is very dangerous for the fish. We put a net over the pond but the heron pierced one of the fish through the net and then flew away. Also, to keep themselves protected, the fish hide under the lily pads in the ponds so that the heron can’t find them.

It’s unusual for the heron to be around still at this time because most herons migrate south for the winter. Usually herons migrate because they rely on fish for food and when the water freezes they cannot eat them anymore. However, the water in our pond is always running and never freezes and that’s why our heron stays. Some herons will stay in the same place year round if the weather is warm enough. Herons also eat frogs, salamanders, lizards, snakes, young birds, small mammals, shrimp, crabs, crayfish, dragonflies, grasshoppers and many aquatic invertebrates.

Koi are the most popular fresh-water ornamental pond fish and are often referred to as being “living jewels” or “swimming flowers”. Koi are a variety of the common carp, Cyprinus Carpio. Carp fossils have been discovered in South China dating back about 20 million years. Some varieties are known for their hardiness, which records claim can live for long periods of time if simply wrapped in wet moss continuously kept damp. Some authorities believe Koi originated in Persia and spread throughout the ancient world. Our smallest Koi are 2-3 inches and our biggest one are 19 or 20. We have orange and white fish and now that they mated we have mixed colors.

Information on Great Blue heron

Great Blue Heron

By mikebaird

 from flickrcc

                               

Koi at the surface

by Martin Lopatka