The great Blue Heron

ducks4you

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We see herons in our ditches (some ditches are 12 feet deep) all of the time. One even took up residence in a pond by a WalMart parking lot. I understand that they WILL try to peck at your eyes, so don't get too close!
 

Carol Dee

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Oh I don't think I would worry about them trying to poke you in the eye! They are just over 3 feet tall. And pretty timid. They would fly off before you could get real close. But like any other animal you probably do not want to corner them.
 

seedcorn

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Here they destroy ponds as they eat all the small fish along the edges that feed the larger fish.
 

curly_kate

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Gorgeous! We have one who hangs out at our pond. Drives DH crazy because the bird is eating "his" fish, but he has to put up with it, being married to a bird nerd and all!
 

Smart Red

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Oh, seedcorn!

I was about to say that I could never do that when I realized that I certainly could under the right conditions. Probably tastes a bit like chicken used to taste back in the good old days (or here on the farm).

The pond fish need more hiding spaces. Big ponds: downfalls, rocky outcrops, weedy areas and little ponds like mine: old pots tipped on their side. In nature, fish and fowl manage to get along together. Ponds need to be more natural.
 

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