Ponds attract birds and other wildlife. A backyard pond brings life to a garden in so many ways including bringing in migratory birds and even “staycation birds” that are always here. But we’re hearing waterfowl may bring unwanted germs like the Avian Bird Flu. Here are a few ways to keep your water safe, and possibly deter birds and other wildlife without causing them harm.

If you just need a few quick ways to safely keep birds out of your pond, here are a few things we’ve tried.

1. Motion detector sprinkler– We put this in place after a heron ate our fish while we were on a canoe trip to the BWCAW. The herons did not come back but we did occasionally get a shower, too! This has worked for others with mixed success.
2. Fishline is thin and almost invisible, a few lines of stretched over an area can keep larger birds of prey away.  (We’ve also used this idea over chicken runs to keep hawks away as they need room to dive down.)
3. Pond Netting, the basic black mesh used to keep leaves off in fall, can be stretched over a pond to keep birds out. It probably won’t keep mink or racoons away though.
4. Plant Skydd or other organic animal repellents will work until the rain reduces their potency too much. Reapply after a rainstorm or after irrigating the area heavily. Natural repellants will help repel chipmucks, squirrels, racoons etc. (Another option would be to have your dog pee on the plants or mulch near the pond.)
5. Plants! Plants can help deter animals but you will need to know which animal species you are keeping out. Trimming back plants reduces cover which deters some animals like rabbits and small birds. If you need to deter larger birds like Canadian Geese, then you should increase plants around your pond as the geese favor smooth, open lawn.

Unfortunately, waterfowl can transmit the virus through feces and saliva. This is going to be most prominent where the birds eat and nest. Fortunately birds don’t often nest in ponds, but use it for drinking and taking baths in. The moving water draws away any of the dander from the birds which reduces the concern even more. You could take it one step farther and spray your rocks down daily to make sure the area is cleaned for the next batch of birds moving through.

REMINDER!! Using bleach in an ecosystem pond will kill all of the living organisms, good and bad, including making the water toxic for the birds that could drink the water! Bleach sterilizes well when used repeatedly (think pool) but it also kills the good bacteria, plants, and anything living leaving a void in nature. Once the bleach breaks down, all the nasty stuff rushes back in to fill the void making the problem worse!

I Want a Safe, clean pond. How?

Your water feature should be built as a mini ecosystem We build waterscapes so they contain varieties of plants, bacteria, insects, fish, and yes, “visitors” like herons, mink, or racoons. If the ecosystem is balanced and running efficiently, the water should be clean and clear. Toxins, germs, feces, feathers, and junk are generally filtered out with a properly sized filtration system! A good filtration system will give you the following benefits:

*A good filter generally circulates all the water every hour or two in a pond.

*A good filter system will remove unwanted particles like leaves, feces, feathers, and junk.

*A good filter system will contain places for beneficial bacteria to live. Bacteria does the heavy job of breaking down all the unwanted things in pond water, giving you clean, safe water. Here is a link to a good beneficial bacteria. This is pet safe and human safe, too.

Oxygenating your pond will also help keep the water cleaner by providing extra oxygen for the bacteria to thrive and eat toxins from birds and other sources.

Pond plants help clean and filter the water by pulling out extra nitrogen/nitrates.

If your pond has a filtration system, gravel covered beneficial bacteria, and plants, you will have a really low chance of germ transfer from wildlife to yourself. Washing your hands with soap and water after working in or around your pond (or garden) could be a final step in protecting yourself if you have concerns.

Here is a video from Aquascape Inc, a leading pond manufacturer and installer in America. They helped revamp an animal & bird sanctuary pond from black sludge to toxin-free water! In this video, Ed The Pond Professor, calls the water “toxin-free”. By using their techniques, you can also have a clear, clean backyard pond!