Herons amaze with their majestic elegance on land and in the air. Unfortunately, the graceful natural beauties are far too often reduced to their undesirable food preferences. Get to know the most common heron species in Germany in brief, informative 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.

Gray herons are beautiful but not always welcome birds

Table of Contents

Show all
  1. the essentials in brief
  2. Appearance and profile
  3. heron hunting behavior
  4. Heron arrival when?
  5. How to deter herons?
  6. Heron Scare application
  7. Heron Defense Instructions
  8. What enemies?
  9. Heron under protection?
  10. frequently asked Questions

    11. the essentials in brief

    • The best-known heron is the gray heron, which is 95-98 cm in size and has grey-white plumage, closely followed by the equally large great egret with white feathers.
    • On the advance as herons are the little egrets with white plumage and night herons with predominantly black plumage, which are smaller at 55-65 cm.
    • Scaring off herons is possible with water jets, reflectors, ultrasound, pond nets, dummies and scarecrows.

    What does a heron look like? - Characteristics

    The gray heron lives up to its name with its gray plumage

    The well-known gray heron has competition in Germany. In recent years, white or black herons are no longer uncommon. As a result, there are several answers to the question of appearance. From the diverse heron family, the following 4 species are commonly seen in our regions:

    Gray Heron egret night heron little egret
    size 90-98cm 85-100cm 58-65cm 55-65cm
    Weight 1-2kg 1-1.5kg 0.7-1kg 0.3-0.7kg
    feather dress off-white to ash gray White black-white-grey White
    shape slim willowy stocky slim
    beak yellowish pincer beak yellowish, dagger-like black, thick black, dagger-shaped
    special feature 3 long, black crested feathers emerald green eye rings very long neck feathers yellow feet
    botanical name Ardea cinerea Ardea alba Nycticorax nycticorax Egretta garzetta

    We present the winged beauties of this overview in more detail below, including meaningful heron pictures.

    Gray Heron - Short Portrait

    The gray heron is a species of heron that is widespread in Central Europe. Due to its special fondness 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 the standing resting position, the natural beauty presents itself with a long, slender, grey-white neck. Forehead and skull are white, marked by black eye stripes and three black feathers. Its ashen back plumage is adorned with white bands. On long, thin, grey-black legs, the heron gracefully strides through a lifespan of up to 25 years.

    Great Egret - Short Portrait

    Great Egrets live up to their name with brilliant white plumage from head to legs. For this reason, the species is often called the white heron. The only touches of color in the painterly appearance are yellow eyes and a yellow beak with a dark tip. During the breeding season, a great egret wears emerald rings under its eyes and its dagger-shaped beak turns black. The long, stalked legs are black with black toes. For several years, 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 tendency to search 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 crest, black back and black shoulders have led the vernacular to the middle 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 ornamental feathers on the back of its neck.

    Little egret - short portrait

    The Great Egret has bright white feathers

    The little egret is increasingly enjoying Germany's shallow water regions and wetlands. For this reason, the beautiful migratory bird in white silk feathers rounds off our list of common species. Only legs and beak are black. When a male Little Egret is courting his sweetheart, his dark circles under his eyes light up bright crimson in courtship zeal. Because of its silky white feathers, the Little Egret is often confused with the Great Egret and is also referred to as the White Heron.

    tips

    Are you curious how the song of the heron sounds? 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?

    For herons, social life in the colony ends where foraging begins. When the hunt for prey is on the agenda, gray herons and their white and black counterparts become loners. 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, flood plains and swamps. Ever since pesticides and liquid manure ruined the water quality, herons can be found at garden ponds because healthy fish can still be found here. The following sequence is typical for hunting behavior:

    1. Landing in the shore zone
    2. slow stepping into the shallow waters
    3. calmly wading through the shallow water with bowed head and watchful eyes
    4. alternatively, remain motionless in shallow water until the prey comes swimming
    5. flashing beak to catch a fish

    Herons hunt according to the motto: Strength lies in calm. Wading or standing for hours does not bother the patient birds. Of course, the thread of patience does not 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 and strike like an arrow. When herons hunt depends on the bird species. Gray Heron and White Heron fish during the day. Night herons stick to their name and hunt from dusk onwards.

    Gray herons show a lot of patience when fishing

    Gray herons outwit great egrets

    At the beginning of the settlement of white herons in our regions, gray herons attacked the food competitors in a rage and tried to drive them away. After some time, the clever birds thought better of it and developed a cunning strategy. Gray herons leave the time-consuming, tedious search for food to great egrets. To this end, a gray heron stays on the heels of its white mate. If a white heron finds it, the gray heron will use the surprise effect and fly at the unsuspecting great egret from behind. In his fright, he drops the loot right in front of the gray bandit's feet. Exciting pictures of this tricky hunting variant can be admired on the website of the well-known nature conservationist and animal photographer Gerhard Brodowski.

    When is the heron coming?

    Depending on its location, the heron is a migratory, part-migratory or resident bird. As a short-distance migrant, the bird does not cover more than 2000 kilometers. Gray herons prefer to live in colonies high up in tree canopies and maintain monogamous partnerships that last a lifetime. For this reason, herons come to us in large flocks. Under normal weather conditions, your stay will follow this schedule:

    • arrival: late February/early March (after the last hard frost period)
    • courtship and nest building: early to mid-March
    • rearing: clutches of 4-5 eggs, incubation period 25-26 days, migratory nests mid/late June
    • Departure for winter quarters: Sept

    In temperate regions of Germany, herons are now a familiar sight in winter. Ever since the progressive warming of the climate has had an impact in the form of mild winters without biting frost and thick layers of snow, herons have been spending the winter in the immediate vicinity of their breeding grounds.

    Scaring off herons - how does it work

    Pond nets keep herons away

    Have you ever caught a heron in the act at a garden pond? His reaction provides important conclusions on how to successfully chase away the fish predator. For a fraction of a second, the surprised intruder freezes into a feathered pillar of salt, fixes you with his attentive eyes, recognizes an overpowering opponent and seeks his salvation by fleeing. To effectively deter a heron, the method should stand up to its lightning scrutiny. Defense strategies that suggest to the fish thief that forays into the pond are futile promise good results. The following table provides an overview of how to keep herons away from the pond:

    Heron Fright Heron Defense
    water jet pond net
    reflector dummy
    Ultrasonic scarecrow

    A single taut fishing line is frowned upon among nature lovers to keep out herons. The birds do not recognize the trip wire or much too late. Fatal results are severe injuries to the poled legs. The same applies to thin nylon cord that criss-crosses the pond. A landing attempt often costs the life of the gray heron.

    Heron Scare - Tips for Application

    An effective heron scare attacks the faint of heart, irritates perception or triggers the flight instinct with acoustic stimuli. Responsible hobby gardeners select those methods from all conceivable methods that do 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 scare with water jet has a motion sensor that reacts to larger animals. A load of cool water shoots out of a nozzle in the direction of the bird, which then gets a real shock 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. A positive side effect: the garden guard with the spray nozzle also fends off four-legged intruders such as martens or cats.

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    reflector

    Herons have keen eyesight, which they use to spot potential prey even in the air. A reflective object takes advantage of this advantage and uses good eyesight against the winged poachers. Reflective surfaces throw back the sunlight, which confuses the peeping eyes of herons. Alarmed, the predatory fowl turns away in the air or flies away immediately after landing. The implementation allows different variations, which are decoratively integrated into the pond design:

    • stainless steel balls
    • Pyramid of mirrors
    • floating pond decoration covered with mirror foil

    Permanent movement plays a key role, so that pyramid or stainless steel balls help against herons. The object must be placed on the water surface.

    Ultrasonic

    An acoustic heron scare emits sound waves that humans don't hear. In heron ears, on the other hand, there is a loud roar with a lasting deterrent effect. The ultrasonic method is known to be an effective way of repelling annoying pigeons and cheeky sparrows. The disadvantage is that it doesn't take long for the birds to discover that the sound waves are harmless.

    Defense against herons - how to do it

    For a heron defense to serve its purpose, it should withstand the scrutiny of trained heron eyes and be persuasive. As the table above shows, there are three powerful methods to choose from that don't cause the thief any harm. 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 go on a prey hunt. Furthermore, the stretched pond net throws a spanner in the works for the gray heron when it tries to catch a fish in the air. In contrast to lines that are stretched out individually, the bird recognizes the defense construction from afar and turns away in good time. The following aspects are important for an optimal effect:

    • span the entire pond surface with the net and not just the shallow water zone
    • use a close-meshed net with mesh sizes from 12×12 mm to 15×15 mm
    • pay attention to tear-resistant, UV-resistant material, such as polyethylene

    A pond net scores with further advantages. Autumn leaves are caught 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

    In the portrait it can be read that a heron prefers to go on a foray as a loner. If a conspecific already claims the pond as a hunting ground, gray herons usually avoid a confrontation and fly on. A dummy takes advantage of this fact to suggest the presence of a heron. So that the clever birds fall for the plagiarism, it depends on this application:

    • Lifelike dummy with a size of around 100 cm and an authentic body shape and plumage markings
    • Change position every few days
    • ideally combined with a stainless steel ball or pond net on the water

    In order for the obligatory change of location to succeed without much effort, we recommend a dummy heron with a ground spike.

    scarecrow

    Gray herons are afraid of people - and of convincing scarecrows

    Human figures at the garden pond set off alarm bells for the heron, so that it prefers to turn around. Traditionally, the scarecrow is useful to keep gray herons and other poultry away from the garden and pond. Saving foxes among pond owners appreciate that you can make the classic bird deterrent yourself. The following tips may inspire you to build a creative scarecrow brand yourself:

    • 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 colourful, weatherproof ribbons and fix them with string
    • Pull burlap over head with 2 large buttons for eyes
    • Dress the scarecrow with old clothes

    Stuff clothing with straw for fullness. A frayed straw hat on the head gives the scarecrow gardening charm. Stylish accessories round off 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 regularly implementing the figure, you prevent the habituation effect.

    digression

    From fish thief to beneficial

    Habitat destruction, wetland drainage and rigorous pond protection have prompted 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 on the extensive green areas on the Lower Rhine, chasing voles. They cleverly seek proximity to wild geese, which eat the grass short and optimize the hunting conditions for small mammals for gray and great egrets. Natural gardeners with a pest problem, such as water voles or rats in the garden, therefore warmly welcome herons as beneficial instead of fighting them.

    What enemies does a heron have?

    The heron faces a whole armada of enemies. This list is headed by people with road and air traffic, wind turbines and 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. Ever since herons evolved from ground nesters to tree nesters, they have avoided foxes and wild boar as enemies.

    tips

    The heron spirit animal impressively demonstrates the advantages of level-headed composure. The majestic bird patiently looks out for its food with a clear gaze and complete peace of mind. Instead of demonizing the gray heron as a fish thief, we should take its powerful calm as a model in our stress-ridden everyday life.

    Are herons protected?

    Herons are under nature protection

    According to § 7 of the Federal Nature Conservation Act, herons are among the particularly protected species as European bird species. Disturbing, catching or even killing the birds in their habitat is prohibited under penalty of punishment.In the 1970s, gray herons were still threatened with extinction in Germany. 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, the heron is still considered game in the sense of the Federal Hunting Act. Fortunately, a hunting season is only fixed in Bavaria. From mid-September to the end of October, the birds are allowed to be shot within a radius of 200 meters around artificial fish ponds. In all other federal states, herons are protected all year round. An individual permit from the lower hunting authority is required for shooting. Likewise, a special permit is mandatory 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, water insects, newts and small snakes provide variety on the menu. If the water bodies are frozen or contaminated with pesticides and liquid manure, herons seek out extensive green areas. Here they look out for field mice and insects. Since gray herons discovered human living areas with garden ponds as hunting grounds, the range of prey has expanded to include rats, voles and small invertebrates.

    Can herons swim?

    Gray herons can only swim very briefly, preferring to wade through shallow waters

    The heron is a talented hide hunter. In slow motion he strides into the water or through the wet meadow with his head bowed. If it has spotted a prey animal, it strikes at lightning speed with its beak. Only in exceptional cases can a heron land on the water, swim for one to three seconds, catch a fat fish and then take to the air again. Gray herons are unable to swim for long periods of time.

    What helps against herons?

    Herons are skittish creatures. In order to protect the pond, a motion detector with a water jet has proven itself in practice. Reflective objects that reflect the sunlight and irritate the eyes of peeping birds 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 stock.

    Do herons hunt at night?

    The most numerous herons hunt in daylight. These include gray herons, great egrets and little egrets. That doesn't mean that fish, mice and toads can feel safe in the dark. When gray and white herons are sleeping, a black heron, aptly named night heron, goes on the prowl.

    What is the best method to scare away herons from the garden kingdom?

    From the heron fright category, the affected pond owners attest the water jet with motion detector to be the most effective. 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.

    Does a low-voltage fence make sense to ward off herons at the pond?

    The use of current traps against herons has numerous negative side effects. First and foremost, experiments with electricity are a risky undertaking for hobby gardeners, even if they are low-voltage. A low-voltage fence surrounds the pond and the paradisiacal water world becomes a painful experience for children, pets and inattentive adults when they come into contact with the wires. Last but not least, fending off herons with an electric fence can hardly be reconciled with an ecologically clear conscience and the Federal Species Protection Act.

    What can you do against a night heron?

    Because night herons search for food in the dark, various defense methods that are effective against diurnal gray herons are in vain. So that a black heron avoids the garden pond at night, we recommend a variant of the water jet. A powerful spotlight with a motion detector chases away nighttime intruders with immediate effect. Furthermore, a net stretched over the water surface serves to protect the pond day and night.

    tips

    Did you know that there is an unmistakable difference between cranes and herons? As the giant birds soar through the air, please keep your eyes on the neck. A crane flies with its neck stretched out. A heron, on the other hand, sails through the air with its neck curved in an S-shape.

Category:

Animals in the garden