Apparently, our article about a Great Blue Heron pilfering goldfish from backyard ponds [Pondering a protective net, Inside Report, May 18] was not an isolated case. Oak Parker Cathy Rennau sent us a photo of a heron, likely the same culprit, perched on her garage roof, koi pondering with peculiar interest. “Fortunately, the dog scared him away,” Rennau reported. “We live in northeast Oak Park and have had a koi pond for several years. This is the first time we have seen a heron in our yard.” A couple of days later, she discovered that most of her koi had disappeared.
“I spoke to my neighbors who have ponds,” she said. “The neighbor at Lemoyne and Lombard saw the heron in his yard twice but scared it away. He had a net over his pond.” Another took the photo we ran last week.
“Thanks again for writing about this,” Rennau said. “Not sure why after all these years this bird appears. No fish in the pond in Thatcher Woods?”
Easier pickings in the backyards apparently.
Ken Trainor
