Down to three fish and today I think I figured out why

Spotted a rather large redtail hawk perched on a post, watching the
pond. Over a year ago I saw one swoop down and hit the water with it's
talons but miss.

Maybe I need to get some really BIG fish that he couldn't lift out of
the water.

Mike Patterson
Please remove the spamtrap to email me.
"I always wanted to be somebody...I should have been more specific..." - Lily Tomlin

Too bad raptors are protected.

Jim

On Sun, 27 May 2007 20:05:33 CST, Mike Patterson
<> wrote:

>Spotted a rather large redtail hawk perched on a post, watching the
>pond. Over a year ago I saw one swoop down and hit the water with it's
>talons but miss.
>
>Maybe I need to get some really BIG fish that he couldn't lift out of
>the water.
>
You mean bigger than the ordinary rabbit? It'll certainly take
squirrels and rabbits. I think you'll have to get your fish better
places to hide.

Even if you do get a humongous fish, it might still try and might
injure the fish badly in the attempt.

Netting is iffy. If you do netting, be sure that the hawk will be
easily able to see it. You don't want a dead hawk tangled in netting
in your pool.
--

r.bc: vixen
Minnow goddess, Speaker to squirrels, willow watcher.
Almost entirely harmless. Really.

http://www.visi.com/~cyli

Jaws...!
Make lunch out of the problem.

k :-)

>Too bad raptors are protected.
>Jim

Not too bad, as we wouldn't have any if they weren't. What's too bad is
they don't have more a taste for herons and water turkeys (as Brett use to
call cormorants).

Fishing line with metallic orchard tape should discourage it I would think.
~ jan
------------
Zone 7a, SE Washington State
Ponds: www.jjspond.us

Mike Patterson wrote:

> Spotted a rather large redtail hawk perched on a post, watching the
> pond. Over a year ago I saw one swoop down and hit the water with it's
> talons but miss.

Yeah, Redtails aren't _good_ at fishing, but they do catch some.
--
derek
- Unless otherwise noted, I speak for myself, not rec.ponds.moderated
moderators.

I had a raccoon terrorizing my pond for 3 weeks and I netted the whole
thing (I also caught and euthanized him, which is legal, according to
fish and game). I also have a heron sculpture. I am told most birds
of that type only travel solo and if a bird sees another, he won't go
there. Owl sculptures are also supposed to work. Worth a try!


On May 27, 7:05 pm, Mike Patterson
<mikepatter...@spamtrapmindspring.com> wrote:
> Spotted a rather large redtail hawk perched on a post, watching the
> pond. Over a year ago I saw one swoop down and hit the water with it's
> talons but miss.
>
> Maybe I need to get some really BIG fish that he couldn't lift out of
> the water.
>
> Mike Patterson
> Please remove the spamtrap to email me.
> "I always wanted to be somebody...I should have been more specific..." - Lily Tomlin

>>You don't want a dead hawk tangled in netting
in your pool. <<

And you certainly don't want a live one trapped
in netting.
My mom works with birds of prey and one of her
fellow workers became very, very ill after getting
scratched by one of their raptors. The raptor in
question had come in contact with a mouse who
had something transmittable and it infected the
worker. Very ill for a long time.

Just for general purposes never handle a bird
of prey. If you find one (or get one wrapped up
in your netting) contact Fish and Wildlife asap.

k :-)

"Cyli" <> wrote in message
news:...
>
> Netting is iffy. If you do netting, be sure that the hawk will be
> easily able to see it. You don't want a dead hawk tangled in netting
> in your pool.
==========================
My ponds have been netted with fine black bird netting for years. I never
found a bird of prey snagged in it. It's pulled tight about 18" over the
water. If they hit it at full speed they'd most likely get bounced back or
rip right through - depending how large they were and how hard they hit the
net. If we didn't net everything we wouldn't have one fish left.
--

RM....
Frugal ponding since 1995.
rec.ponder since late 1996.
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://tinyurl.com/9do58
Zone 6. Middle TN USA
ISP: Hughes.net
~~~~ }<((((*> ~~~ }<{{{{(ö>

Ak!
No, I don't think a bird of prey will bounce off
a net. They come down with talons out to grab
their prey. More than likely you've never had one
visit. They are pretty smart birds.

I found this bit of info ~
>>Care must be taken when selecting and designing both temporary and permanent exclusion systems. Failure to do so can result in systems that are ineffective, cumbersome to work around, and a hazard to either the birds or the fish enclosed.
Selection of proper materials is of critical importance. Use small (1-
to 2-inch mesh) wire or net to exclude all birds, but avoid finely
textured netting that may entangle birds on contact.<<

Personally I would never net my ponds. Too dangerous for the dogs and
neighborhood cats and any bird, mouse or snake who stops by. My pond
is structured so that is not that easy for the neighborhood heron or
visiting kingfishers.
Also we don't have the big water snakes like in some parts of the
country and only one raccoon visit and they got treed much to their
dismay.

k :-)