Herons delight with their majestic elegance on land and in the air. Unfortunately, the graceful natural beauties are far too often reduced to their unpleasant food preferences. Get to know the most common heron species in Germany better here in informative short portraits. Tried-and-tested tips and tricks will tell you how to keep the noble wading birds away from the garden pond as uninvited guests.
How do I get rid of the heron?
Stretch a net over the fish pond or install a light fence on the edge of the pond to keep the herons away. Reflective foil and a nylon wire with a bell are just as effective. Alternatively, place a dummy heron next to the fish pond.
- The best-known heron is the gray heron with a size of 95-98 cm and gray-white plumage, closely followed by the equally large great egret with white feathers.
- As herons on the rise, the smaller 55-65 cm species are little egrets with white plumage and night herons with predominantly black plumage.
- Deterring herons can be done using a water jet, reflector, ultrasound, pond net, dummy and scarecrow.
What does a heron look like? – Profile
The gray heron lives up to its name with its gray plumage
The well-known gray heron has faced competition in Germany. In recent years, herons in white or black are no longer uncommon. As a result, there are several answers to the question of appearance. From the diverse family of herons, the following 4 species can often be admired in our regions:
| Heron/Grey Heron | Great Egret | Night Heron | Little Egret | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Size | 90-98 cm | 85-100 cm | 58-65 cm | 55-65 cm |
| Weight | 1-2 kg | 1-1, 5kg | 0, 7-1 kg | 0, 3-0, 7 kg |
| Feather Dress | gray white to ash gray | white | black-white-gray | white |
| Shape | slim | slender | stocky | slim |
| Beak | yellowish pincer beak | yellowish, dagger-like | black, thick | black, dagger-shaped |
| special feature | 3 long, black crested feathers | emerald dark circles | very long neck feathers | yellow feet |
| botanical name | Ardea cinerea | Ardea alba | Nycticorax nycticorax | Egretta garzetta |
We will introduce you to the winged beauties in this overview in more detail below, including meaningful heron images.
Heron – short portrait
The gray heron is a species of heron that is widespread in Central Europe. Due to its particular preference for fish, it is usually referred to as a heron. With a wingspan of up to 195 centimeters and an S-shaped neck, the majestic bird is hard to miss in the sky. In a standing resting position, the natural beauty presents itself with a long, slender, gray-white neck. The forehead and top of the head are white, characterized by black eye stripes and three black feathers. Its ash-gray back feathers are decorated with white bands. The heron strides elegantly through a lifespan of up to 25 years on long, thin, gray-black legs.
Great Egret – Short Portrait
Great egrets live up to their name with bright white plumage from head to legs. For this reason the species is often referred to as the white heron. The only splashes of color in the picturesque appearance are yellow eyes and a yellow beak with a dark tip. During the breeding season, a great egret has emerald green eye rings and the dagger-shaped beak turns black. The long, sturdy legs are black with black toes. For several years now, the white heron has also been on the rise in Germany, where it likes to mingle with the colonies of gray herons.
Night Heron – Short Portrait
The night heron owes its name to its penchant for searching for food at night. During the breeding season or when food is scarce, the small heron species can also be observed during the day. Black hood, black back and black shoulders have given rise to the second name black heron. Ash gray wings, light gray belly and a white face don't change that. The night heron strides around on pale yellow-green legs and displays its distinctive decorative feathers on its neck.
Little Egret – Short Portrait
The great egret has bright white feathers
The little egret is increasingly taking a liking to German shallow water regions and wetlands. For this reason, the beautiful migratory bird in white silk feathers rounds off our list of common species. Only the legs and beak are black. When a male little egret courts his beloved, the circles under his eyes shine bright crimson in the heat of courtship. Due to its silky white feathers, the little egret is often confused with the great egret and is also referred to as the white heron.
Tip
Are you curious what the song of the heron sounds like? Then listen to the hit parade of gray herons, great egrets and night herons at deutsche-vogelstimmen.de or Wikipedia.
How does the heron hunt?
Social life in the colony ends for herons where the search for food begins. If hunting for prey is on the agenda, gray herons and their white and black counterparts become solitary creatures. Hunting grounds are bodies of water with shallow water zones that do not freeze over. For this purpose, gray herons fly specifically to reed belts, lake shores, floodplains and swamps. Since pesticides and manure have ruined the water quality, herons have been found at garden ponds because he althy fish can still be found here. The following sequence is typical for hunting behavior:
- Landing in the shore zone
- slowly walking into shallow water
- calm wading through the shallow water with head down and attentive look
- alternatively, remaining motionless in shallow water until the prey swims up
- lightening-quick darting of the beak to catch a fish
Herons hunt according to the motto: There is strength in peace. Wading or standing for hours doesn't bother these patient birds. Of course, patience doesn't last forever. If no fish can be seen at all, gray herons change their strategy. Then they run through the water with flapping wings, scare the fish away and strike as quickly as an arrow. When herons hunt depends on the bird species. Gray herons and white herons are out fishing during the day. Night herons stick to their name and hunt from dusk onwards.
Herons show a lot of patience when fishing
Grey Heron outsmarting Great Egret
At the beginning of the settlement of white herons in our regions, gray herons furiously attacked their food competitors and tried to drive them away. After a while, the clever birds changed their minds and developed a cunning strategy. Gray herons leave the time-consuming, arduous task of searching for food to great egrets. For this purpose, a gray heron stays on the heels of its white counterpart. If a white heron was found, the gray heron uses the surprise effect and flies at the unsuspecting great egret from behind. In his fright, he drops the loot right at the feet of the gray bandit. Exciting pictures about this tricky hunting variant can be admired on the pages of the well-known conservationist and animal photographer Gerhard Brodowski.
When is the heron coming?
Depending on its location, the heron is a migratory, partial migrant or resident bird. As a short-distance migrant, the bird does not travel more than 2000 kilometers. Gray herons prefer to live in colonies high up in treetops and maintain monogamous partnerships that last lifelong. For this reason, herons arrive here in large flocks. Under normal weather conditions, your stay will follow this schedule:
- Arrival: End of February/beginning of March (after the last hard frost period)
- Courtship and nest building: early to mid-March
- Rearing: Clutch with 4-5 eggs, breeding season 25-26 days, nesting trip in mid/end of June
- Departure to winter quarters: September
In temperate regions of Germany, herons are now a familiar sight in winter. Since progressive global warming has taken the form of mild winters without bitter frost and thick blankets of snow, herons have been overwintering in the immediate vicinity of their breeding grounds.
Deterring herons – How does it work
Pond nets keep herons away
Have you ever caught a heron in the act at the garden pond? His reaction provides important conclusions about how you can successfully drive away the fish predator. For a fraction of a second, the surprised intruder freezes into a feathered pillar of s alt, fixes you with his attentive eyes, recognizes an overpowering opponent and flees for safety. To effectively deter a heron, the method should withstand its lightning-fast scrutiny. Defensive strategies that suggest to the fish thief that a raid on the pond is pointless promise good results. The following table gives an overview of how to keep herons away from the pond:
| Heron fright | Heron Defense |
|---|---|
| Waterjet | Pond net |
| Reflector | Dummy |
| Ultrasound | scarecrow |
An individually strung fishing line against herons is frowned upon by nature lovers. The birds do not recognize the tripwire or recognize it much too late. The fatal result is serious injuries to the sturdy legs. The same applies to thin nylon cords that criss-cross the pond. An attempt to land often costs the gray heron its life.
Heron fright – tips for use
An effective heron fright attacks weak nerves, irritates perception or triggers the escape instinct with acoustic stimuli. Responsible hobby gardeners select from all conceivable methods those methods that will not harm the hungry fish thieves. The selection results in the following three procedures, the competent application of which promises the best results:
Water jet with motion detector
The heron deterrent with water jet has a motion detector that reacts to larger animals. A load of cool water shoots out of a nozzle towards the bird, which then gets quite frightened and runs away. The animal-friendly method is well suited for a garden with a water connection. Batteries or an integrated solar module provide the necessary energy supply. Positive side effect: The garden guard with the spray nozzle also repels four-legged intruders, such as martens or cats.
Was tun gegen Reiher am Teich? Maßnahmen zum Schutz vorm Fischreiher
Reflector
Herons have sharp eyes that allow them to spot potential prey even from the air. A reflective object takes advantage of this advantage and uses the good eyesight against the winged poachers. Reflective surfaces reflect sunlight, confusing the heron's peering eyes. Alarmed, the predatory bird turns away in the air or immediately flies away again after landing. The implementation allows various variations that fit decoratively into the pond design:
- Stainless steel balls
- Pyramid of mirrors
- floating pond decoration covered with mirror foil
Permanent movement plays a key role in ensuring that pyramids or stainless steel balls help against herons. The object must be placed on the water surface.
Ultrasound
An acoustic heron fright emits sound waves that humans do not perceive. In the heron's ears, however, there is a loud noise with a lasting frightening effect. The ultrasonic method is known to be effective at driving away annoying pigeons and cheeky sparrows. The disadvantage is that it doesn't take long for the birds to unmask the sound waves as harmless.
Heron Defense – How to do it
For a heron defense to fulfill its purpose, it should withstand the scrutiny of trained heron eyes and be convincing. As the table above shows, there are three effective methods to choose from that do not cause any harm to the thieves. The following instructions explain the correct application:
Pond net
The pond net against herons is a convincing and effective protection. It prevents the fish predator from landing in the water in order to prey. Furthermore, the stretched pond net thwarts the gray heron's plans when he tries to catch a fish from the air. In contrast to individually strung lines, the bird recognizes the defensive structure from a distance and turns away in time. The following aspects are important for an optimal effect:
- cover the entire pond area with the net and not just the shallow water zone
- Use a close-meshed net with mesh sizes of 12×12 mm to 15×15 mm
- pay attention to tear-resistant, UV-resistant material, such as polyethylene
A pond net has further advantages. Autumn leaves are collected before they contaminate the pond. In the family garden, the net makes an important contribution to safety and prevents curious children from sinking if they fall into the water.
Dummy
The portrait shows that a heron prefers to hunt as a solitary predator. If a conspecific already claims the pond as a hunting ground, gray herons usually avoid a confrontation and continue to fly. A dummy takes advantage of this fact and suggests the presence of a heron. In order for the clever birds to fall for plagiarism, this application is important:
- lifelike dummy with a size of around 100 cm and authentic body shape and plumage pattern
- Change position every few days
- ideally combine with a stainless steel ball or pond net on the water
So that the obligatory change of location can be carried out without much effort, we recommend a dummy heron with a ground spike.
scarecrow
Herons are afraid of people – and convincing scarecrows
Human figures at the garden pond set off alarm bells for the heron, so that he decides to make a U-turn. Traditionally, the scarecrow is useful to keep gray herons and other poultry away from the garden and pond. Savvy pond owners appreciate that you can make the classic bird deterrent yourself. The following tips may inspire you to build a creative, self-made scarecrow:
- Frame: Nail 2 wooden slats (2 m and 1 m long) together in a cross shape
- Form the head and hands out of straw and colorful, weatherproof ribbons and secure with twine
- Pull burlap over your head with 2 large buttons as eyes
- Dress the scarecrow with old clothes
Stuff clothes with straw to add fullness. A frayed straw hat on the scarecrow's head gives it horticultural charm. Stylish accessories complete the decorative appearance, such as old glasses, a tie or bow tie and some dried flowers. The more colorful ribbons flutter on the scarecrow, the more frightening the effect on bold gray herons approaching. By implementing the figure regularly, you can prevent the habituation effect.
Excursus
From fish thief to beneficial creature
Destruction of its habitats, draining of wetlands and rigorous pond protection have caused the heron to expand its diet. Fish, frogs and aquatic insects are no longer its only food. The prey pattern also includes mice, rats, snakes, larvae and other small animals. Numerous herons can be observed hunting for voles in the extensive green areas on the Lower Rhine. They cleverly seek proximity to wild geese, which eat the grass short and optimize the hunting conditions for small mammals for gray egrets and great white egrets. Nature-oriented gardeners with a pest problem, such as water voles or rats in the garden, warmly welcome herons as a beneficial insect instead of fighting them.
What enemies does a heron have?
The heron faces a whole armada of enemies. This list is headed by humans with road and air traffic, wind turbines and the ruthless destruction of their habitats. Numerous predators follow, targeting eggs in the nest, chicks or weakened gray herons. These primarily include cats, raccoons, martens, weasels and squirrels. Since herons evolved from ground-nesting to tree-nesting, they have avoided foxes and wild boars as enemies.
Tip
Heron spirit animal impressively demonstrates the benefits of level-headed calm. Patiently, with clear eyes and completely at peace, the majestic bird looks out for its food. Instead of demonizing the gray heron as a fish thief, we should use its powerful calm as a role model in our stress-plagued everyday lives.
Are herons protected?
Herons are protected
Herons, as European bird species, are among the specially protected species in accordance with Section 7 of the Federal Nature Conservation Act. Disturbing, catching or even killing the birds in their habitat is punishable by law. Gray herons were still in massive danger of extinction in Germany in the 1970s. Only strict protection regulations have saved the beautiful birds with impressive success. Today the gray heron is one of the most widespread heron species in Germany.
Conservationists complain that despite this, herons are still considered game within the meaning of the Federal Hunting Act. Fortunately, a hunting season is only set in Bavaria. From mid-September to the end of October, the birds are allowed to be shot within a radius of 200 meters from artificially created fish ponds. In all other federal states, herons are protected all year round. To shoot, an individual permit from the Lower Hunting Authority is required. A special permit is also required if you want to build a heron trap to catch the bird and release it far from the garden pond.
Frequently asked questions
What does a heron eat?
His name refers to his favorite food, fish. Frogs, aquatic insects, newts and small snakes provide variety on the menu. If the waters are frozen or contaminated with pesticides and manure, herons seek out extensive green areas. Here they keep an eye out for field mice and insects. Since gray herons discovered human habitations with garden ponds as hunting grounds, the range of prey has expanded to include rats, voles and small invertebrates.
Can herons swim?
Herons can only swim for a short time, they prefer to wade through shallow waters
The heron is a talented hunter. He walks in slow motion with his head bowed into the water or through the wet meadow. Once it spots a prey animal, it pounces with lightning speed with its beak. Only in exceptional cases can a heron land on the water, swim for one to three seconds, catch a fatty fish and rise back into the air. Gray herons are unable to swim for long periods of time.
What helps against herons?
Herons are skittish creatures. To protect the pond, a motion detector with a water jet has proven to be effective in practice. Reflective objects that reflect sunlight and irritate peeking bird eyes are recommended. Floating mirror pyramids or stainless steel balls are good protection against herons. In the short term, ultrasonic devices act as a heron deterrent, but lose their effectiveness after a while. As an effective defense in the garden kingdom, stretch a net over the water surface to protect the fish population.
Do herons hunt at night?
The most numerous herons hunt in daylight. These include gray herons, great egrets and little egrets. This does not mean that fish, mice and toads can feel safe in the dark. When gray and white herons sleep, a black heron goes on the prowl, aptly named night heron.
What is the best method to drive herons away from the garden kingdom?
From the heron fright category, affected pond owners attest that the water jet with a motion detector has the best effectiveness. Compared to other methods, there is no risk of getting used to it. From the heron defense category, the pond net is recommended because it effectively prevents fishing from the air and on the ground.
Is a low-voltage fence useful to ward off herons at the pond?
The use of electrical traps against herons has numerous negative side effects. First and foremost, experimenting with electricity is a risky undertaking for hobby gardeners, even if it involves low-voltage electricity. If the pond is surrounded by a low-voltage fence, the paradisiacal water world becomes a painful experience for children, pets and inattentive adults when it comes into contact with the wires. Last but not least, defending herons with an electric fence can hardly be reconciled with an ecologically clean conscience and the Federal Species Protection Act.
What can you do about a night heron?
Because night herons search for food in the dark, various defense methods that are effective against diurnal gray herons are ineffective. To ensure that a black heron avoids the garden pond at night, we recommend a variant of the water jet. A strong spotlight with a motion detector chases away the nighttime intruder with immediate effect. Furthermore, a net stretched over the water surface serves as pond protection day and night.
Tip
Did you know that there is an unmistakable difference between cranes and herons? As the giant birds soar through the air, please focus your attention on their necks. A crane flies with its neck stretched. A heron, on the other hand, sails through the air with an S-shaped neck.
