12 Ways To Prevent Birds From Eating The Fish In Your Pond

There are all sorts of beautiful fish you can add to a pond on your property. There are pond options as well. Whether you want a simple pond with goldfish, an intricately designed koi pond, or even a larger body of water with trout, the opportunities are seemingly limitless. 

Fish ponds are a great way to have a water feature while keeping bugs to a minimum, but they require some upkeep. Sometimes the most complicated aspect of maintaining a fish pond is keeping hungry birds away.

To effectively keep birds away from your fish pond, you can install statues of predators. Alternatively, install a pond net or strategically place a fishing line across the pond. You can also add a fast-moving water feature, pond lights, or shiny wind chimes to keep birds away. To frighten away all birds, allow your dog to roam the area, dig a deeper pond, or invest in bird deterrent technology. 

Birds are the enemy of all fish ponds, large and small. They can significantly reduce your fish population in a matter of days with minimal effort. The good news is there are many methods you can employ to keep birds from eating even a single fish out of your pond. Below is a list of the most effective methods to keep birds far away from any pond on your property, so your fish can thrive.

12 Ways To Keep Birds Away From Your Fish Pond

1. Purchase Pond Netting 

One of the most effective and popular ways to keep birds out of a fish pond is to use pond netting. This netting is easily purchased and comes in a variety of sizes, colors, and materials. The point of pond netting is to keep all sorts of pests and predators out of your fish pond.

Pond netting can keep your cats and dogs away, and is sure to prevent any birds from diving into your pond. While this is not the most aesthetically pleasing solution, it is an effective one. You can purchase pond netting at home improvement stores or online.

2. Incorporate A Fast-Moving Water Feature

A more dramatic and beautiful way to keep birds away from your fish pond is to add a fast-moving water feature. Fast-moving water tends to keep many species of birds away. If you can incorporate a fountain, especially in the middle of the pond, this is a great way to keep many predator birds out of the water.

The constant cascading water is likely to scare birds away, as they don’t want to get wet while flying. Moving water also helps prevent mosquito larvae from forming.

3. Dig A Deeper Pond

Many birds can only dive a few inches to one foot deep to peck at your fish. Others wade in the water, which makes fish easy prey when the pond is shallow. One way to give your fish more space to hide is to create a deeper pond.

If you make the pond, or at least parts of it, much deeper, then birds have minimal opportunity to reach fish when they hide. Deeper ponds also have other benefits. They can help keep fish alive when the weather is quite cold. The deeper portions are also cooler in the summer months, which prevents your fish from overheating.

4. Install A Predator Statue

One great way to keep birds away is to buy a statue of a predator. Owls, other large birds, and other predator statues are highly effective at keeping birds from landing. Just as these statues can prevent birds from pooping on your patio, they can also keep them from hanging out near your lake.

The key is to find a predator statue the birds are afraid of and move it around from time to time. If you leave the statue in the same place for months, the birds may eventually catch on.

5. Let Your Dogs Roam The Area

Nothing keeps birds away better than a natural predator. If you want to keep your fish pond safe from birds, then allow your dog to roam the area. Most dogs love to chase birds, as it is in their nature. 

This means your dog can get great exercise, and your fish can stay safe. Just make sure you have a fenced-in yard or a way to keep the dogs safe and within your property limits.

6. Use Floating Decoys

Another interesting way to keep several species of birds away is to use floating decoys. Duck and swan decoys are quite popular. Swan decoys are known to keep geese and herons away. Herons are one type of bird that can quickly eat fish in your pond.

Geese can poop a lot in a small pond, and cause lots of damage to the water and land around it. If these two types of birds have been problems for you in the past, then swan decoys might help keep your fish safe and keep your pond clean.

7. Install Pond Lights

Automatic lights, including strobe lights, not only make it easy to see your pool in the evening, but it will keep birds away. Most birds are easily startled by artificial bright lights, especially when they first turn on.

Adding lights that change colors or flash from time to time is a great way to enhance your water feature, and also keep the birds away and your fish alive.

8. Plant Water Lilies In The Pond

If you want to take a holistic approach to saving the fish in your outdoor pond, consider planting some beautiful water lilies. Water lilies and lotus flowers grow mostly above the water. They have large leaves that form a natural green barrier between birds and the fish in your pond.

Water lilies are also beautiful plants that can add stunning pops of color when they bloom. This is a great natural way to keep your fish safe, without sacrificing the picturesque view that a pond can offer.

9. Add A Cave To Your Fish Pond

One clever way to help prevent birds from eating your fish is to incorporate a cave into your artificial lake or pond. You can purchase a cave system, or easily build one using man-made materials or rocks. Caves allow your fish additional hiding places where they can stay safe when birds lurk in the pond.

10. Install Strategically Placed Fishing Line

If you like the idea of a pond net but want something less invasive, then consider creating your own net-like system using a fishing line. By placing several pieces of clear fishing line across your pond, you can keep birds away. Consider adding a few shiny objects like metallic streamers on these lines to scare birds away. Shiny movement scares most birds and will keep them from sticking around for too long.

11. Hang Shiny Wind Chimes

If you are a fan of the soothing sound window chimes offer, then you’ll be happy to know this outdoor musical accessory can also help keep birds away. Wind chimes provide noise and movement, and both of these attributes are known to spook birds. 

If you can find a wind chime that has lots of shine, then this will likely work even better.

12. Buy Specialized Technology Designed To Keep Birds Away

Lastly, if you like making everything inside and outside your home high-tech, you can always purchase bird-deterrent technology. There are several types of bird deterrents on the market. 

The two most popular types involve lasers or high-frequency sounds. Both methods are known to significantly decrease the number of birds in the immediate area without causing harm to the animals.

Summing Up How To Keep Birds From Eating Fish In Your Pond

A fish pond is a lovely and unique water feature to add to your backyard, especially if you have a lot of land. You can grow therapeutic koi fish, bright goldfish, or even edible fish like trout. When you add fish to a pond, however, you need to find ways to keep nearby birds from eating them. Use a pond net or fishing line to keep birds far away from your fish. 

You can add a water feature, bright lights, or even a shiny wind chime. If you want to take a natural approach, plant lily pads, as they provide a beautiful natural barrier.

Related Guides:

• Tips To Stop Birds From Nesting On Your Property
• How To Tell If Your Fish Are Happy
• How To Winterize A Pond With Fish