Heron
Great blue herons and night-herons raid ponds and leave heavy droppings at nesting rookeries.
How to identify
Tall wading birds. The great blue heron stands up to about 4 feet tall with blue-gray plumage and a long, dagger-like bill. Black-crowned night-herons are stockier, with black caps and backs.
Why it is a problem for commercial facilities
Herons take fish from ornamental, stormwater, and aquaculture ponds. Nesting colonies, called rookeries, leave heavy droppings that kill vegetation and foul structures below.
Protected status
Federally protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA). Birds, active nests, and eggs cannot be harmed or disturbed without a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service permit. Deterrents and exclusion installed before nesting do not require a permit.
How BSI controls it
- Pond and open water netting to protect fish and water features
- Grid wire over ponds and pools
- Cleanup and decontamination of rookery areas
Where we see it most
Municipal and government, Commercial and industrial.
Common questions
How do I protect a fish pond from herons?
Netting or grid wire over the pond physically prevents herons from wading in to feed.
Can heron nests be removed?
Not while active without a federal permit. Exclusion is planned outside the nesting season.
Dealing with this species at your facility?
Send two photos and the project location. We will come back with a recommended system and scope.