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Solving Urban Duck
Solving Urban Duck Problems
Problems · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 1 Each year, people are amazed to see young when they are older and less
ducks and ducklings in the most unlikely vulnerable. If you must evict them, go to
NTWGS Membership places, such as walking single file through your local party store and buy silver mylar
Information · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 2 city streets or nesting under bank teller balloons with heavy weights on the bottom.
windows! Luckily, ducklings are precocious Put the balloons around the perimeter of the
President’s Pad · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 2 and mature quickly. Here are some common entire pool, about every 20 feet. The balloons
sense solutions to typical problems encoun- will bob in the breeze and make the ducks
String Algae Attacks tered in suburban and urban settings. nervous. To enhance the harassment effect,
America · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 3 Q: There’s a duck nesting in the worst you can also float a beach ball in the pool or
place! What should I do? use an electric boat. There’s a product called
Pond Tour Retailers · · · · · · · · · · 4 A: Ducks commonly nest in poor spots, a “Scare-Eye” balloon which has giant
such as under bank-teller windows or the reflective eyes (for an enhanced scare effect)
International Waterlily And middle of busy ball fields. These nests may and is available at most hardware or garden
Water Garden Society Annual fall prey to cats, dogs, or human malice. stores or through mail-order via Bird Barrier,
Inc. (1-800-503-5444 or www.birdbarrier.
Symposium And Meeting· · 5 However, moving the eggs and nest is not
only illegal according to federal law, but also com).
Koi Herpes Virus (CyHV-3) · · · · 5 the parents usually won’t follow it. We Q: There’s a duckling stuck in my pool!
suggest putting up educational signs and How do I get him out?
TAPS 2006 Convention · · · · · · · 5 perhaps trying to fence off the nest tempo- A: Most ducklings get stuck in pools
rarily. There isn’t much else you can do. because the water level is too low. The
Membership · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 7 Some people have tried moving the nest, a solution is to either raise the water level
few feet at a time, into a better area. This may (simplest approach), fish them out with a
Upcoming Programs · · · · · · · · · 8 work if the relocation site is nearby and you net, or create a ramp angled 45 degrees, with
June Calendar· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 8 move the nest a bit by bit. However, the a wet towel attached to it for traction.
mother may stay on the nest, making reloca- Q: I’m afraid the duckling I see is
tion impossible. It’s usually best to leave the orphaned.
nest alone and hope the best. A: If you know where the duckling came
Q: Ducklings were separated from from, then it’s best to take the duckling to
their mother. Is there a way to reunite that pond for release.The duckling will soon
them? rejoin his family. Sometimes other ducks
A: If the mother was seen recently, wait it will even foster-parent the young duckling.
out for an hour and see if she comes back. If If the duckling was left behind for a while
the ducklings are beginning to scatter, or and his origin is unknown, i.e. fished out of
you’re not sure how long they’ve been alone, storm drain or spillway, you can contain the
put a plastic laundry basket over them, duckling with an upside-down laundry
upside down, to contain them while waiting basket (as described on previous page) and
for the mother to return. She will see them monitor to see if the mother returns. If she
through the lattice sides of the basket and doesn’t come back after 4-8 hours, call your
make contact. If she returns, slowly approach local fish and game agency to locate a wild-
and overturn the basket so she can collect life rehabilitator. These are tough judgment
her young. calls. If you need to hold the duckling(s) in
Q: A duck family has taken over my captivity for a few hours, DO NOT give
pool! How do I get them to leave? them water to swim in because ducklings are
A: The best solution is to leave them not waterproof until they’re older. They may
alone, as long as the ducklings are able to get
out of the pool. The mother will move her See Ducks, cotinued on Page 3
Water Works
President’s Pad
Make sure your battery is charged and you have a fresh memory
card for your camera because our largest and most exciting event of
the year is very near. The NTWGS 15th Annual Tour of Ponds will
be held June 17–18.It is a great opportunity to explore our member’s
Water Works is published monthly by the North Texas ponds all across the metroplex.
Water Garden Society.
Our pond tour book, The Modern Water Gardener, is hot off the
NTWGS Officers & Directors press and now available. The proceeds support our educational
fund. Check our website at www.ntwgs.org for a list of retailers who
President sell our tour book or call our voice mail at 972-994-1140. NTWGS
Joe Copeland, pres@ntwgs.org members will get your free copy at our meeting on June 13.
Vice President I think touring ponds is one of the best ways to get many great
BobMunro, vicepres@ntwgs.org ideas for your own backyard. As I have said before, “When planning
your backyard, know what your options are.” There are many
Treasurer things to consider such as ponds, pathways, patios, garden
LisaHerrick, treas@ntwgs.org structures, landscaping, lighting, water features, sound and
Secretary fragrance. Each of these groups has possibilities with many options
SusanMoore, sec@ntwgs.org available. During our tour, you can observe some of the wonderful
ideas that our members have instilled. You may be able to adapt
Members at Large
some of them to fit your own backyard.
ProgramDirector Stop by pond #23 if you are in the Fair Park area June 17. The
Tarrall Arnold, programs@ntwgs.org Texas Discovery Gardens will be hosting its Backyard Pond
Pond Tour Celebration from 10–2p.m. I will be one of the speakers and will
Kevin and ElaineWright, pondtour@ntwgs.org have a presentation on pond building.
Unlike last year, the pond tour does not end on June 18. We have
Membership brought back special appointment viewing from June 19 through
Kevin Fuess, membership@ntwgs.org September 30. During this phase of the tour, you can call the pond
Projects host and set up a special appointment for private viewing. It is a
PositionOpen, projects@ntwgs.org great way to see more ponds after the tour. Check our tour book for
special appointment ponds and more details.
TAPS Delegate
The next NTWGS meeting will not be our typical meeting with a
Tarrall Arnold, taps@ntwgs.org
guest speaker. It will be about taking care of some pond tour
The North Texas Water Garden Society is a non-profit business and having some fun. The business part will consist of the
organization with the following objectives: To encourage a pond tour hosts picking up their signs, T shirts, and getting last
greater appreciation of and interest in water gardens; to minute instructions. NTWGS members will pick up their free pond
disseminate information of interest and help to the members; tour book. The fun part will be a garden party on the patio. There
and to stimulate the study and culture of aquatic plants, fish and will be plenty of cake, snacks and cold drinks.
ponds. The garden party will include the Ultimate Pond Tour Hat
Editor, Susan Moore
email: susiemm@earthlink.net See President's Pad, continued on Page 3
sec@ntwgs.org
North Texas Water Garden Society
http://www.ntwgs.org
NTWGS Membership Information
Contributions to Water Works are always welcome and may be Join the North Texas Water Garden Society.
submitted to the editor by mail, fax or email. Letters to the Editor Membership fees are:
will be printed as space permits. NTWGS accepts no responsibility
for the accuracy of the contents of this newsletter. Reproduction is
permitted provided that this newsletter and the original source are Single Membership (per year) $15.00
credited. Family Membership (per year)$24.00
Make your check payable to the North Texas
Water Garden Society and send your name,
address, phone number and information to:
Don't forget the Pond Tour, June
NTWGS
17-28 Post OfficeBox 9127
Dallas, Texas 75209-9127
Page 2 June, 2006
Water Works
President's Pad, continued from Page 2 until the ducklings can fly. We encourage
provisioning particularly in cities, where String Algae Attacks America
Contest. I was wondering what an ultimate early eviction can mean certain death. Carolyn Weise, Ecological Laboratories, Inc.
pond tour hat looked like. Ultimate is very Q: How do I catch and move a duck With the warm winter and hot spring this
subjective and can be interpreted in many family if absolutely necessary for their year, everybody is seeing things in ponds
ways. An ultimate pond tour hat could be safety? that they never saw before. I get calls
anything from Gucci to homemade.In other A: The only way to catch adult ducks is to everyday from people with algae problems
words, there are NO limits. It can be do so at night (they don’t see well in dark- and the ice has barely cleared from the top
utilitarian, extreme, whimsical or anything ness). Creep up on them while they sleep, of the pond. I also receive calls from people
you want it to be. In the end, the judges will then gently cover them with a lightweight that are fighting water quality and other
decide the ultimate pond tour hat. The blanket or towel, and scoop them into a pollution problems that have their fish
grand prize is a cast iron chimenea which carrier. Catch the ducklings next with a net fighting for their lives. These are not brand
sells for $100. or sheet, but try to minimize stress as they new ponds. Well, some are, but most are
Don’t forget to register for the Texas will be scared and may scatter. Be sure the established ponds that have been happy and
Association of Pond Societies (TAPS) State net doesn’t have large holes through which healthy for 5-15 years
Convention in Fort Worth. We have teamed they may escape or become entangled. The biggest common denominator in
up with our friends at the Water Garden Consult your state fish and game agency diagnosing callers’ problems seems that
Society of Greater Fort Worth to co-host the prior to any intervention for any special most had used an algaecide just before the
2006 TAPS State Convention July 28–29. authorization you might need. trouble started. Algaecides aren’t a problem
The TAPS State Convention will be both fun Q: Ducklings fell through a sewer generally, unless used early before ponds are
and educational. It entails a dragonfly grate! How do I get them out? really up and running. This seems to have
presentation with cocktails, three garden killed the early bacteria and left ponds with
tours, four educational speakers and an A: These are tricky situations. Often
you’ll have to contact your town’s Public ammonia spikes, pH crashes and all sorts of
evening dinner. mayhem this year. What I tell people who
Works Department for assistance with
One of the benefits of membership with removing the grate. The police can be a feel the need to kill that dreaded green
the NTWGS is reduced pricing for the 2006 valuable resource in terms of helping you scourge “before it takes over” since every-
convention.The NTWGS will pay half of the contact the correct town employee. You’ll body is “algae-phobic” in America, is to go
Saturday program fee for our members. If need a fishing net or a fabric “hammock” ahead and use an EPA-registered algaecide,
you are a NTWGS member, please use the stretched between two golf clubs to catch but know what will happen and prepare for
TAPS registration form that has “NTWGS the ducklings below the grate. You may have the negatives. Make sure to replace the
ONLY”printed across the front. This special to be creative in terms of capture strategies, deceased bacterium on the third day follow-
form will be available at our next two depending on the logistics of where they’re ing an algaecide treatment. You can use
meetings and on the website. Please turn stuck. Once you catch them, make sure they MICROBE-LIFT/PL Gel to target the filter
them in as soon as possible because the are dry (or use a hair dryer) before setting area. Add aeration and monitor the fish’s
Saturday night dinner is limited to the first them back outside for the mother to behavior.
100 people. retrieve. Put an upside down laundry basket Those dead algae plants will fuel another
Enjoy the 15th Annual Tour of Ponds! over them until the mother comes (so they algae bloom. Poor water quality means
don’t scatter), and then slowly lift it when suffering and dead fish. And a dead fish in
Joe Copeland, President, North Texas Water
she reappears. If she doesn’t come back by the system, even a wee small one, can really
Garden Society create an algae utopia. So, while we all know
nightfall, contact your local wildlife
rehabilitator. that clean is very important and organic
debris is a no-no in our ponds, please do not
Article courtesy of DFW Wildlife; overlook the tiny dead (barely visible)
www.dfwwildlife.org planktonic algae plants you just killed by the
Ducks, cotninued from Page 1 Phone: 972-234-WILD millions with the EPA registered algaecide.
They are in there and they need to be taken
become chilled and die. Just give them a out by your filter, your bacteria, or by hand,
shallow pan of water (to drink) and some but by all means, get it out. It caused fewer
crushed, non-sugary cereal like Cheerios. problems while it was alive. It just didn’t
look so good. After killing the algae and
Q: How do I move a duck family out of
80% of the beneficial (nitrifying & denitri-
a contained courtyard?
fying) bacteria, we have more work to do
A: You can shepherd them out by now. Please do not sit back and enjoy the
creating a “moving wall,” i.e. have people clean slate you just created. I assure you it is
hold sheets between them and move behind temporary. May the force be with us all
the ducks, forcing them to walk in the
desired direction. However, consider waiting Carolyn Weise
to move them out because the young may be Ecological Laboratories, Inc.
vulnerable. Sometimes we encourage the E-mail: carolynw@microbelift.com
temporary feeding of greens like kale, Reflections, Newsletter of Water Garden
spinach, and also poultry starter food,
Society of Kansas City , June, 2006
(available from an animal feed store) and
setting up a shallow kiddy pool with ramps,
June, 2006 Page 3
Pond Tour Books Can be Obtained at These Retailers
Whiz Q Stone 4501 S. Loop 820 Fort Worth 817.429.0822
Water Gardens Galore 2530 Butler Dallas 214.956.7382
North Haven Gardens 7700 Northhaven Rd. Dallas 214.363.5316
Dickson Brothers 204 Galloway Ave. Mesquite 972.288.7537
Creative Water Gardens 2125 Kingsley Garland 972.271.1411
Chesshir Stone 2840 Lombardy Ln. Dallas 214.350.6781
Classy Koi Ponds 1234 E. Parker Wylie 972.442.0440
The Greenery 3708 Hwy 77 N Waxahachie 972.617.5459
North Richland
Green Mamas 5324 Davis Blvd. 817.514.7336
Hills
Gunter's Greenhouse 513 Campbell W. Richardson 972.234.6017
Wild Birds Unlimited 4300 Lovers Lane W. Dallas 214.891.9793
Jackson Pottery 6950 Lemmon Ave. Dallas 214.350.9200
Water Works
resembles KHV (for example), really see it. nuts thrown in for good measure.
Koi Herpes Virus (CyHV-3) (I hope I described that right.) It doesn’t pay P.S. More about Florida:
by Carolyn Weise, Ecological Laboratories, to put on the horse blinders today. KHV isn’t M Florida is a vacation capital of the
Inc. limited to imported koi. Domestic koi are world
There were eighty attendees at the just as likely to be exposed, infected or M Florida has some of the top ranked
University of Georgia’s Koi Lab over the beaches in the world
weekend for a Koi Health Management Koi, continued fon Page 7 M Our weeds (aquatic & other-wise) are
Course. In the audience we had veteri- considered desirable by others
narians, hobbyists, dealers, fish farmers, and M The average number of sunny days is
350
pond construction companies. In short, we International Waterlily And M Waterlilies can bloom year-round if
had representatives from all phases of pond Water Garden Society Annual the weather is mild
care that were assembled to learn more Symposium And Meeting M We’re flat flat flat – we measure
about fish health. One of the hottest topics is altitude in inches
KHV. I thought you might like to know FORT LAUDERDALE/VERO
M And …. may we have a drum roll
some of these things. BEACH/ please ….. Florida has the highest
A few facts as known today: ORLANDO, FLORIDA USA density of award winning waterlily
• KHV survivors–all post-infected fish JULY 19-25, 2006 hybridizers on the planet
are carriers. They can never leave the pond You are invited to the 2006 Symposium
and you can never safely add new fish.We do in Florida, the ideal state for gardeners. In
not know how long the fish will remain 1513 Ponce de Leon named it Florida –
immune. The virus can’t replicate on its own Land of Flowers. Ever since then we’ve been
and dies in 4 hours, but can easily be TAPS 2006 Convention
delighting people with our foliage and
disinfected by weak bleach solution exceptional growing conditions. Fort Worth, Texas
Frogs can transfer KHV from one pond Attendees will fly into the Fort July 28 & 29, 2006
to another via the slime on their backs but Lauderdale airport—or Miami, which is 30 Friday Night
are not themselves carriers. KHV is miles away. (Those wishing to visit Miami,
species-specific. The TAPS convention for 2006 will be
the Everglades, or the Keys can arrive a few July 28 and 29 at the Fort Worth Botanic
• 74ºF activates the disease. Indonesia is days earlier.) In Fort Lauderdale we’ll visit Gardens. Friday night will be cocktails at
now a test zone for KHV vaccination Florida Aquatic Nurseries and some lush Kevin Fuess’ in Trophy Club with James
(Magnoy products) due to their heavy out- private water gardens. We’ll spend the first Laswell presenting “A Dazzle of
breaks. At 30ºC fish are “heat synchronized” evenings in this area. Dragonflies.” The cost will be $7.00.
(per Doc Johnson) which is what Magnoy is Following that we’ll head up the East
calling “Immunized.” There is no such thing Saturday
Coast of the state. The plans are to visit an
as immunity until we have a vaccination that educational research center, another aquatic Ft. Worth Botanic Garden—Saturday we
is proven successful. plant grower, and to stay in a nice waterfront will have tour of Botanic Gardens, Japanese
• Once the virus is “shed” from hotel where everyone can enjoy the beach. gardens and Conservatory. There will be a
vaccinated koi into the environment, the box lunch with special tables.
Vero Beach will be the next stop where
EPA becomes involved to do non-target we’ll visit McKee Botanical Garden, an old The program's afternoon speakers will
testing to rule out impact on other species. Florida botanical garden with many large be Spike Cover from the AKCA Koi Health
Stress does not bring on the virus. ponds, recently rebuilt. Advisor Program on issues regarding fish
Temperature does. Therefore, fish kept in a health in a pond environment; Michael
Other places we’ll be visiting are several Pagoulatos on Texas native carnivorous
spring-fed pond with temperatures in the
private water gardens, a water garden center, plants and their special environmental
60’s can be KHV+ and never have the
and Agristarts (a large supplier of tissue needs; Jody Spence from Creative Water
disease break until the fish leave the pond
cultured terrestrial and aquatic plants). We Gardens regarding plants; and a speaker to
and go to a new home.
are also planning to see some aquatic plants be announced outside on pond building
Vicki Vaughan says it takes a HUGE viral in natural Florida up close and personal,
load to transmit the disease. We’ve never basics concurrent with Spike Cover's koi
either with an airboat or glassbottom boat presentation. The convention will be open
seen a case where it was spread without tour.
active shedding. Splashing water or sharing to the public and cost for Saturday will be
We’ll end up in Orlando,the perfect place $30.00 including lunch.
nets is doubtful as they have a difficult time
to start an extended vacation, for our Exhibitors will be in the Convention
infecting fish at the lab for testing. She says,
seminars. Hall.
yes, exercise caution at shows, but probably
the disease is not going to be transferred. In If this sounds good but you can’t take lots Saturday night dinner will be at Joe T.
the end, why take the chance? of time, we’ll have a la carte registration … Garcia’s at a cost of $23.00 plus a cash bar.
or you can sign up for the whole ball of wax We have a limit of 100 people.
Dr. Helen Roberts, DVM recommends
at a discount.
sending samples (biopsy) of gill, spleen, Sunday
liver and kidney of any suspected fish to the Paula Biles (IWGS), Pat Faehnle of
lab for analysis. As with any other disease, Aquatic Systems & Resources (ASR), and Brunch will be at a site yet to be
the quicker you act, the better the prognosis Suzan Phillips (McKee Garden) are hosting determined for Club Presidents and Board
for the fish (the rest of the fish). She also this event. They’ve also got a bevy of people of Directors representatives only, to elect a
mentioned developing a “pathic pheumonic” helping—from hobbyists to businesses to new Board and select a site for the 2007
in which anytime you see a symptom which botanical gardens staff, and even a few koi convention.
June, 2006 Page 5
Water Works
Water Gardens Galore
Pond Supplies
Installation - Maintenance
2530 Butler Street (214) 956-7382
Dallas, Texas 75235-7402 www.wggalore.com
No Nonsense...PONDSENSE!
Page 6 June, 2006
Water Works
Koi, continued from Page 5
diseased.
Dr. Branson Ritchie asked us to consider certain aspects of
working with a latent virus such as herpes which is contagious when
it “sheds.”
A few notes on ISOLATION/QUARANTINE:
• This means no direct or indirect contact with other fish.
• Sterilization of air, food, water, etcetera.
• No visitors.
• This is not practical for companion animals. Animal does not
leave for any reason during quarantine period. For fish dealers to do
the quarantine and isolation, there are disadvantages.
• One is that the fish are generally sold quickly, not allowing a
14-30 day quarantine period.
• They must test every fish that comes into their possession/store.
• A negative population is highly suspect (parasites, at the very
least, should be identified and eradicated before resale).
• Tests are not absolute for KHV (there is a 2-3 week window
period after infection before antibodies can be detected in the fish’s
blood
• What do you do with positive fish?
• Do you also euthanize companion fish?
• Would a test and eradication program be effective with a virus
that causes a latent infection? (i.e. - chicken pox is a herpes virus and
remains in your body until you die. Does this make you a chicken
pox carrier? It hasn’t been proven that you aren’t.)
• Virus incubation period is 5-14 days at 74ºF.
• Any koi is susceptible to infection. Very small koi are
susceptible to disease. The progression of the disease is: a)
exposure…b) infection… c) disease.
IF this really is a herpes virus (KHV), then quarantine is of little
value. As yet we have no treatment for KHV. Statistics at UGA’s koi
lab in the past year were 15 out of 162 tested positive for KHV.
This means one tenth of the koi population is latently infected
and we do not know how long the antibody titers last. To put one
infected koi into your pond can spell disaster for the entire
population. What quarantine will do, if done for 14 days at 74ºF, will
remove any doubt that incoming fish are actively diseased, but won’t
tell if the fish is a carrier. Since the antibodies can be detected 2-3
weeks after the fish has been infected, maybe the only way to be sure
a newly purchased fish is safe to take out of quarantine and
introduce into a pond is to have the antibody test done after 2-3
weeks in quarantine. The quarantine could be either in a dealer’s or
hobbyist facility. The likelihood of buying an infected or previously
infected (carrier) fish is greater than you think.
Reflections, June, 2006
Membership
Notice, if you are not receiving an email
announcement of meetings and news events, then I do not have,
or your current email address in our database is wrong.
If you would like to be included in this form of
communication please send me your email address.
Kevin Fuess, Membership Chair, jmcinc@xspedius.net
June, 2006 Page 7
To Our Corporate Sponsors
We are asking each of you to resubmit your ad or
business card copy before the next issue of Water
Works will be published. We are in the process of June, 2006
updating our records. Please send it to the Calendar of Events
Newsletter Editor at susiemm@sbcglobal.net.
Thank you for your assistance in bringing our 6/13 NTWGS Meeting
records and art work up to date. 6/14 Flag Day
6/17-18 Pond Tour
6/18 Father's Day
6/26 Deadline for Water
Upcoming Programs Works
June 13
NTWGS Pond Tour Discussion
Answers To Your Questions
New pond owners always have many questions. Write your
questions down before the meetings and we’ll try to find
NTWGS Voice Mail Number answers before we adjourn. We may even have multiple
972-994-1140 answers. Our goal is education—Just ask.
member of NTWGS.
renewal today! We want you to continue as a
your expiration date. Please mail your dues
Please check the date on your address label. It is
Check Your Expiration Date!
Meeting May 9
REMINDER!
Here Dallas, Texas 75209-9127
Stamp
Place Post Office Box 9127
Garden Society
North Texas Water
