All the ponds nearby are covered with scum. The Potomac is maybe a couple miles away as the crow flies, or Heron, how it found my tiny evergreen covered pond is baffling...how it landed where it did it must have helecoptered in. When I scared it off it went 30’ practically straight up. Still can’t get over how big it was walking around. It looked like an Emu walking around with its head so high over the bushes.
The pond may become a fancy jacuzzi/lap-pool in the next few months so SSS isn’t an option.
You can get some fruit tree netting - 1” square holes - to cover the pond with for the winter, plus use the floating water trough heater to keep a hole open in the ice, if we get some bitter weather.
Get the floating heater:
& wire guard:
http://www.tractorsupply.com/en/store/allied-precision-guard-for-de-icers
Netting for ponds/fruit trees:
http://www.thepondoutlet.com/home/tpo/page_3583_121/ultra_pond_netting.html
&
http://www.thepondoutlet.com/home/tpo/page_3663_121/heron_and_critter_protection.html
I used 1” netting, but don’t see it; maybe you can find it locally at a garden center?
You think eagles have good eyesight; herons and egrets are eagle-eyed, too. Once they find your pond, they’ll put it on their “route” and visit for a feeding daily-to-weekly.
Herons/egrets can land/take-off in 2-3 steps; I had some with 8ft wingspans visit the Farm, years ago. They’re some impressive birds.
If you’re removing the pond, let the herons clean it out, or give the fish away to neighbors for their ponds.
Don’t spend the $ on heater/guard/netting if you’re getting rid of it.