Trout Home Hits Stride

[Phil Lilley]

But is it a new problem?

[laker67]

But is it a new problem?

I definately say "yes". In the past 9 to 10 years populations have soared. Prior to that, kingfishers and a much smaller wading/fishing bird were all that you saw. I do not know the name of the smaller bird, but there are still several in arkansas. It's about 1/4 the size of the heron. I first noticed the increase in herons on the Norfork in the late 90's. It seems they have migrated north from that point in time to Taney and other waters in missouri. We now have hundreds of them at LOZ. Right now on the Norfork, I bet you can't walk from goats bluff to rip island without seeing 30 herons in addition to the smaller wading birds. Taxidermist stated that they are in abundance on the white as well. I think that they are well on their way to being out of control in the near future.

[laker67]

Murdoc came up with this blue heron formula. It would be safe to say that there could be 200 blue herons between Taney, Crane creek, and lower Roaring River.

200 blue herons eating 2 trout, each, per day, times 365 days, equals 146,000 trout eaten by blue herons each year. In perspective, that would be 20% of the total number of trout stocked in Taney each year. That's also enough trout to finance the urban trout program for 3 years. It might be safe to assume that all of the other trout streams, outside of the trout parks, are losing fish at the same percentage rates. I'd say we already have a problem.

[jjtroutbum]

now I really don't know weather this is correct but, I believe that Blues are a fuderally protected bird much like the eagle.

No possession of any part anywhere any time kinda deal... ie feathers for tying some classics

but like I said I don't really know for sure.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Migratory_Bir...aty_Act_of_1918

[NoLuck]

now I really don't know weather this is correct but, I believe that Blues are a fuderally protected bird much like the eagle.

No possession of any part anywhere any time kinda deal... ie feathers for tying some classics

but like I said I don't really know for sure.

Yeah its a shame they don't quack or honk. At least then the blind duck hunters would shoot them on accident.

[Murdoc]

One thing I remember when I was bass fishing several times a week at night I could have killed those dumb birds and it would have been justified from destruction of my property. I messed up lots of underwear from those dumb birds squawking and flying off the bank!!!! I hate those dumb birds!!!!!!!

One other thing you need to look at is the costs that they cause with the cages and everything else that we have to pay for to keep them from eating everything at the hatcheries!!!!

[Gavin]

Glad the new hatchery is up and running..I couldnt care less about the herons because there doesnt appear to be a shortage of trout in Missouri's trout water. I haven't been down to the dam at Taney in a long time..Do you still have to kick the trout out of the way to make room to wade fish, or has the giant squid thinned em out to more manageable numbers?

[bigredbirdfan]

now I really don't know weather this is correct but, I believe that Blues are a fuderally protected bird much like the eagle.

No possession of any part anywhere any time kinda deal... ie feathers for tying some classics

but like I said I don't really know for sure.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Migratory_Bir...aty_Act_of_1918

Red-Tail Hawk a migrating bird. Thats a funny one. We have a red-tailed hawk here on the corner of the building at work and I don't think he has operated beyond a 1/4 mile radius his whole life. This kind of protection seems to never get amended.

Do Herons migrate seasonally or just migrate to become a nuisance for someone else similar to red-tailed hawks?