Did you know that in a single day a Canadian goose can produce over a pound of excrement, and that these geese also prefer to return to the same nesting site every year?
Did you know that one female mosquito is capable of spawning 3000 offspring in her lifetime, and that most mosquitoes remain within a mile radius of their breeding site?
Seems like one of the biggest headaches to face is keeping water features algae-free, fowl-free, and insect-free. Fortunately, did you know that aerating fountains can help to eliminate algae, discourage waterfowl, and control insects? Instead of alternate means to rid ponds of pests (i.e. chemical usage), aerating fountains create an impressive and playful visual addition to any property, are environmentally friendly, cost-efficient and virtually maintenance free. Following is a brief description of how aerators can lighten the load in each situation:
Geese and Waterfowl
Problem:
While a few geese may add to the ambiance of a water feature, a few more just become an annoyance and can be threatening.
During their nesting season, geese become especially aggressive and intolerant to humans who wander too close to their nests. If someone mistakenly becomes entrapped in this scenario while retrieving a lost ball, a seemingly harmless bird could turn into an offensive attacker.
A much more commonplace occurrence though, is the dreaded amount of rubbish that waterfowl produce. When molting in the first warm months of the year (coincidentally the beginning of golf season) feathers seem to be everywhere and are irritating to gather. What is even more exasperating is the great amount of excrement generated by the fowl. Tracked everywhere from outside to indoors, research indicates that the droppings can contain harmful bacteria such as E. Coli, Giardia, Salmonella and Chlamydiosis. Another concern is the fact that the droppings are very slippery and thus cause a potential risk of a slip and fall.
The droppings also create a disturbance to the water quality of a pond. As they enter the water, either directly or through run-off, bacteria work to metabolize or oxidize the nutrients. In this instance, as described in the previous section, algae and aquatic weeds will absorb the excess nutrients and grow excessively, causing murky, smelly water.
Solution:
Chris Barebo, president of Otterbine Barebo, agrees that aerators can discourage waterfowl, which optimally choose unobstructed ponds close to vast turf to make their home. “Aerating fountains help break up the landing patterns of larger flocks of waterfowl and help to deter the birds by eliminating a wide open landing area in a lake or pond,” he said. “This tends to cause them to migrate elsewhere.”
However, if you desire fowl to add to your scenery, sub-surface aerators are your best bet. They control algae and induce oxygen, but because there is no surface spray pattern, they will not deter waterfowl.
Mosquitoes and Other Bothersome Insects
Problem:
During the warm months, nothing can be worse than having to swat away insects while trying to enjoy the beauty of the outdoors. While insects alone are irritating enough, now with the threat of West Nile Virus from mosquitoes, these little pests seem to have just become unbearable and dangerous.
Water is a great attraction to most insects, but mosquitoes in particular need water to thrive as they breed in stagnant water where there are aquatic weeds and scum to which they attach their eggs. Chances are one does not want to get rid of a water feature in order to get rid of the bugs. So, what to do?
Solution:
While one may turn to insecticides to solve the problem, they are costly, can be harmful to the environment and contribute to run-off. Instead, installing an aerating fountain is a better solution.
“Stagnant water is the primary breeding ground for mosquitoes and various types of insects,” he said. “Aerating fountains break up stagnant water conditions by pumping and circulating water in areas that would normally be still, thus inhibiting the insects’ ability to properly nest and lay eggs or reproduce.”
In the chance that any eggs were already laid aerators prevent any eggs or larvae from completing their life cycle by breaking up the surface water and constantly causing surface movement.
Someone clever once remarked, “every problem has a solution.” You may have always been under the impression that the only solution to your biggest “pest” peeves – algae, geese and insects – were pesticides, insecticides, and alternative means such as dredging your pond. However, by simply installing an aerating fountain, which requires minimal maintenance and upkeep, your pest numbers will be in the negative… which is very positive for you!
The author is marketing coordinator, northeast and west regions, for Otterbine Barebo, Emmaus, Pa. and can be reached at rbio@fast.net.