Tulpehocken Creek, Berks Co., 2/28/09

[jayL]

Nuthin_Fancy wrote:
This has to be one of the most ridiculous threads that I have seen on this site. Killing herons? Come on guy, get real.

It's just one of us that is seriously suggesting it, so I fixed your post for you. The rest of us are kind of making a joke out of it, but don't tell anyone, or you'll ruin the fun.

 

[Nuthin_Fancy]

Thanks! 🙂

 

[OlyphantLacky]

Them damn bald eagles keep eating the trout !! Joke!

 

[salvelinusfontinalis]

Ive seen herons more and more each year. I really think the constant trout stockings have helped the population florish. I see a lot on the special reg water of the tully everytime I go (which isnt much).

I have to wonder if these herons are as endangered as they say. Im sure these arent great blue herons but some sort of heron. Should we be killing them? Probably not. At least not until a study is done to see what exactly the population of these birds is doing.

You guys can think he is crazy but i Understand what he is saying and his frustration. We kill coyotes so they dont kill off deer populations, same concept. But as far as the fish in the lower tully, they are stocked. Dont worry they will make more ;-) If the herons were a big problem on a famous wild trout stream like the Letort, I would say kill them at that location. A stream like that, with its history and big wild trout should be protected.

 

[albud1962]

I believe we need a cap or trade program for blue herons and a heron excise stamp to compliment our trout stamp. Let no heron be left behind...

 

[JackM]

Sal, I think that it is unlikely the birds are anything other than the Great Blue Heron, unless they are no heron at all.

http://www.birds-of-north-america.net/herons.html

 

[salvelinusfontinalis]

could be a little blue heron?

I have no idea. Im just saying that if they are all great blue herons then they are not endangered at all and should be taken off the list.

Im not even sure if they are on the list, just something i have heard.
Interestingly enough Lititz Run has a night heron sanctuary on it and i have yet to see one of those birds.

 

[salvelinusfontinalis]

well here are 2 on the lower tully. I guess they do look like the great blue heron.http://s218.photobucket.com/albums/cc288/classiclimestonespringcreeks/?action=view&current=HPIM3902.jpg

 

[tomgamber]

Here ya go... :-D :-D :-D

 

[salvelinusfontinalis]

lmfao nice. Still though ive fished right through that sanctuary and dont even see them nesting. Doesnt make any sense. You think by now (last 12 years) i would have at least seen one.

 

[pcray1231]

They are great blue herons, and there's plenty of them.

www.pabirds.org/pabirds/CurrentSample/V22N3_GBH_Article.pdf

 

[Maurice]

Boy if we could only get the Fish Commission to put the Native Brook Trout on the endangered species list....maybe we could see the brook trout range increase like this.

 

[JustFish]

Didn't see blue heron on the list.Endangered, threatened and enxtinct list for PA

 

[tomgamber]

JustFish wrote:
Didn't see blue heron on the list.Endangered, threatened and enxtinct list for PA

They are not on any of those lists. "They are Protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918. It is illegal to capture, possess, or cause harm to a Great Blue Heron or its nest or eggs."

According to the Act, a person, association, partnership or corporation which violates the Act or its regulations is guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to a fine of up to $500, jail up to six months, or both. Anyone who knowingly takes a migratory bird and intends to, offers to, or actually sells or barters the bird is guilty of a felony, with fines up to $2,000, jail up to two years, or both. (Permissible fines are increased significantly by the Sentencing Reform Act of 1984, as amended in 1987, which is summarized separately in this Handbook.)

So if you kill it its a misdemeanor but if you sell it its a felony? Is that correct?

 

[Maurice]

They are protected under the Birds of conservation concern act.

Birds of conservation concern

It took a while to find this but there is also a link to a man who was arrested and fined for killing one.

Man arrested article

 

[tomgamber]

Under the Birds of conservation concern explanation it states "Populations sensitive to water quality and prey availability"

Not anymore...they've learned how to follow the big white truck like everyone else...

So they on the state and federal level.

 

[JustFish]

HA, I missed that one! thanks

 

[sholgate]

One of those Tully bows. The fishing was great over winter and even a bit more exciting now.

 

[steveo]

Here's one of my photos from our TU website: www.tullytu.org

From my experience the herons on the Tully are very polite and willing to take their turn at the best pools.

 

[JackM]

I'm sure I've told this at least once before, but I'm getting to that age you just have to put up with it:

I was at the Yough tailrace, below the bridges and I stumbled upon a small run that must have had a few dozen freshly stocked trout. After about my third fish in a short time, I noticed a GBH had siddled up along the shore about thirty yards or so downstream. He patiently watched me land a couple more and each time I released the fish, he would **** his head to the side as if to say "What the heck!?"

I started up a conversation, letting it know this was my hole and the fish had just turned on and I wasn't looking for any trouble. I further suggested to it that it find its own spot. During our one-sided conversation, as I continued to cast, I noticed he wandered ever closer each time I turned my attention to the drift.

I caught another and it was all he could take. Having observed the location of my last few hookups, he took to wing low over the water and perched just on shore of the run. Needless to say, the action turned off completely and I was forced to move on.