Heron Culling My Shiro's

[cmungo]

I have (had) 4 shiro's. I just paid for 3 more in the grow out contest. That's too many and I have to cull some. I only have one that is show quality so I know which ones to cull.

I have trouble with one named Oreo. My wife picked him out because she liked him even after I told her it was not show quality. She loved that shiro.

Saturday evening about 5:00 I go to check on the fish. I have been seeing a heron hanging around for a couple of days. As I approached the pond, I see this dark red stuff on top of the cap stone and along the pavers. It took me a moment to figure out it was blood. I felt sick. I didn't want to look any more. I followed the trail of blood till I see Oreo lying there not moving. He was still warm but not breathing. I took him to the inside QT and worked with him for over an hour. He finally starting breathing just a bit, but it was stop and go. He was cut to pieces. Had a big stab right through the gill. He finally gave up the ghost after about two hours and I could not get any more movement from him. I think he just bled to death.

This is not the way I wanted to cull them. My wife was so upset she would not go to the Christmas Dinner Theater we already had tickets for.

[Russell Peters]

Quote: Originally Posted by cmungo I have (had) 4 shiro's. I just paid for 3 more in the grow out contest. That's too many and I have to cull some. I only have one that is show quality so I know which ones to cull. I have trouble with one named Oreo. My wife picked him out because she liked him even after I told her it was not show quality. She loved that shiro. Saturday evening about 5:00 I go to check on the fish. I have been seeing a heron hanging around for a couple of days. As I approached the pond, I see this dark red stuff on top of the cap stone and along the pavers. It took me a moment to figure out it was blood. I felt sick. I didn't want to look any more. I followed the trail of blood till I see Oreo lying there not moving. He was still warm but not breathing. I took him to the inside QT and worked with him for over an hour. He finally starting breathing just a bit, but it was stop and go. He was cut to pieces. Had a big stab right through the gill. He finally gave up the ghost after about two hours and I could not get any more movement from him. I think he just bled to death. This is not the way I wanted to cull them. My wife was so upset she would not go to the Christmas Dinner Theater we already had tickets for.

I am sorry for your loss, it is a terrible way to lose a Koi. I hope you and your wife will still enjoy the Holidays.

[luke frisbee]

You got a cool wife...
now onto this attack. It doesn't seem to be a heron.

[Russell Peters]

Quote: Originally Posted by luke frisbee You got a cool wife... now onto this attack. It doesn't seem to be a heron.

I'll bite, why don't you think it is a heron?

[cmungo]

Quote: Originally Posted by luke frisbee You got a cool wife... now onto this attack. It doesn't seem to be a heron.

Well then I may have scared the life out of the wrong killer. This afternoon I was setting in the sunroom watcing to see if the killer would return. They always do. About 3:30 a heron few in and landed right beside the pond where the blood was found. He crossed over the bridge like he owned the place.

I ran out to scare him away. I noticed as he cleared the row of trees he seemed to take a dive. I went out beyound those trees and sure enough he lay there dead, dead alright. I think he was so scared he flew into a tree and broke his neck.

[luke frisbee]

Quote: Originally Posted by cmungo Well then I may have scared the life out of the wrong killer. This afternoon I was setting in the sunroom watcing to see if the killer would return. They always do. About 3:30 a heron few in and landed right beside the pond where the blood was found. He crossed over the bridge like he owned the place. I ran out to scare him away. I noticed as he cleared the row of trees he seemed to take a dive. I went out beyound those trees and sure enough he lay there dead, dead alright. I think he was so scared he flew into a tree and broke his neck. and that's my story and I am sticking to it.

I totally understand

[luke frisbee]

but herons have a very high transfer rate...as in bill to gut..and if they can't eat it they take it with them to a safer place..and they don't leave a blood trail and scales in a path.
the only thing that leads me to a heron attack is th epresence of a heron and the stab wound..
the stab wound is much more forward of what is ideal so this is either..( I mean, "was") a young bird or a bad shot.
if the bird could swallow it whole it would have gone like this..
Sight
Stab
flip
swallow

[cmungo]

The fish was 14-15", so too big to swallow.

The pond is a raised pond that is 5' deep. Sides are straight down made of reinforced blocks. I never thought a heron could get one out of this pond.

Looking at where the blood is here is what I think happened. I believe the bird was sitting on top of the pond where it is 30" high and 36" wide. He grab Oreo who was swimming along the top of the water enjoying the warm sun.

When the bird saw it was too big to swallow he dropped it on the top of the wall and stabbed it. The blodd starts here. Then Oreo flopped down the 30" from the top to the walk. There is blood here. Then the trail of blood runs about 5'. I believe he was flopping along the walk. I don't believe the bird tried to attack him again after he stab him. The cuts on the fish are along both sides where you would expect the bird grab him with his strong beak.

[luke frisbee]

Now I believe the heron did get it but ...
a heron won't "grab" a fish outta the water. it will spear it...and then struggle to get it down...so you may be right...but the spearing came first

and just exactly how did you scare that bird?

[Russell Peters]

Quote: Originally Posted by luke frisbee Now I believe the heron did get it but ... a heron won't "grab" a fish outta the water. it will spear it...and then struggle to get it down...so you may be right...but the spearing came first and just exactly how did you scare that bird?

Could be with a gun. It is no longer with us.