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Post by pollcat on Feb 2, 2008 1:27:31 GMT -8
A kingfisher appears to have taken up residence over our pond, which has several koi, and goldfish. It appears around breakfast time for a while and then moves on. Can I anticipate the decimation of my fish? Will it stay forever or move on to cooler climes in summer?
It is an impressive bird, but I cannot help but fear for the fish. Is this a fairly common occurrence in Vancouver? I would love to know more about the bird.
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Post by Gord on Feb 2, 2008 20:42:21 GMT -8
Hi and welcome!
For your questions about the fish in your pond, it depends on how big the fish are. If the Koi are full size, the kingfisher wont go after them. The smaller goldfish may be targeted. Ive seen Belted Kingfishers take fish up to about six inches in length. However, I dont think it will take too many as one good sized fish will fill him up for some time. A kingfisher has an interesting way to digest long items such as a fish. His stomach is not big enough to contain many of the items (minnows, frogs etc) that a kingfisher eats. So just a portion of the prey sits in the stomach with the rest of the food waiting in the throat so to speak to be walked slowly in as the part in the stomach is digested.
I dont know how common Belted Kingfishers are in your area. Im pretty sure they are not as common as out this way where they are fairly common. Id expect that this guy might move on in the spring unless suitable nesting or mates are nearby. Hard to make a guess on you having a long time visitor or just for a little while. But for now, you wont have to worry about others coming as they are pretty strict about defending feeding territory. Just to set your mind at rest so you dont have to worry about looking out the window tomorrow morning and seeing half a dozen going after the goldfish.
You might also find it neat to know that kingfishers nest in burrows often 6 feet deep that they dig in the sides of banks near water.
Let us know how things work out!
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Post by tuchp on Feb 3, 2008 16:09:12 GMT -8
hello pollcat,
Yikes, I think you have a problem. My neighbour had a Kingfisher visit her fishpond daily, nearly wiping out her entire goldfish population. The only way she ended it was to net her pond.
I had a similar problem, last May, with a little Hooded Merganser, dining on my goldfish - 3 or 4 times daily. After installing coloured wire back and forth over the surface of the water, the visits stopped. The wire isn't very attractive, but it did the trick.
These birds are so neat and only doing what comes naturally. The fish however, have nowhere to hide and are thoroughly traumatized.
Wow Gord, interesting Kingfisher info.
-Pat
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