Tadpoles and leaves in pond?

[ericmark]

I would like to remove all the leaves in the pond, but near impossible as tadpoles still swimming around the pond. I like frogs, they get rid of flies, so don't want to kill any tadpoles.

 

[Munroast]

I would like to remove all the leaves in the pond, but near impossible as tadpoles still swimming around the pond. I like frogs, they get rid of flies, so don't want to kill any tadpoles.

I have an old wire mesh shopping basket which i put the leaves in, then leave this basket balanced above the water, this gives any life that I have inadvertently scooped out a chance to wriggle and fall back into the water. Mainly Water Boatmen, they're very active at the moment

I only seen one tadpole, all his many thousands of siblings probably left may / june.. What sort of height are you at, the higher and colder you are the longer they can remain as tadpoles

 

[Odds]

Froglings at this time of year?
Unusual.

Leave the leaves where they be and disturb not the brood.

 

[ericmark]

Around 150, I assume, meters above sea level.

Sheltered, on the side of a hill, mid-Wales.

 

[JBR]

Froglings at this time of year?
Unusual.

We have tadpoles every Spring, but by the Summer they are either all frogs or have been eaten (by the goldfish?).

 

[Odds]

We have tadpoles every Spring, but by the Summer they are either all frogs or have been eaten (by the goldfish?).

or eaten by each other.
Frogs aren't that fussy when they feel peckish.

 

[Why Not Indeed]

I had a newt tadpole in my pond within the last month. It has various deciduous trees overhanging it so I do as Munroast described.

 

[JBR]

or eaten by each other.
Frogs aren't that fussy when they feel peckish.

Yes, I'm sure you're perfectly correct. In any event, there are initially hundreds of tadpoles, but only a small number of frogs so they could have been eating each other. I wonder whether that might be an advantageous solution for overpopulation of humans too!

 

[Odds]

Yes, I'm sure you're perfectly correct. In any event, there are initially hundreds of tadpoles, but only a small number of frogs so they could have been eating each other.

I think blackbird has had a peck at 'em when the time was right. T'is fraught for a frogling in the early days. The one's who made it out alive are now preparing to bed down for the Winter in our little pond, snug 'neath a bed of leaves and mulch. One year a frozen frog floated to the surface and creeped the hell outta me. I assume he/she was fine come Spring but in that moment it was freaky as f. Zombie Frog still haunts my dreams. Waiting. Croaking. Creeping...

I wonder whether that might be an advantageous solution for overpopulation of humans too!

No, it isn't.

 

[JBR]

I think blackbird has had a peck at 'em when the time was right. T'is fraught for a frogling in the early days. The one's who made it out alive are now preparing to bed down for the Winter in our little pond, snug 'neath a bed of leaves and mulch. One year a frozen frog floated to the surface and creeped the hell outta me. I assume he/she was fine come Spring but in that moment it was freaky as f. Zombie Frog still haunts my dreams. Waiting. Croaking. Creeping...

I have a net covering the pond, so the tadpoles and perhaps the young frogs might have found it difficult to come out of the pond. I have left a suitable gap in the net at the back of the pond and the adult frogs can (and do) come out through that area. There's no way a bird could reach the tadpoles, I'm pretty sure.

 

[ericmark]

I have three cats, the birds would need to be brave, or big, I am sure a red-tailed kit could take the cat never mind the tadpoles, but can't see them being bothered with such small fry as tadpoles.

 

[Odds]

I have a net covering the pond, so the tadpoles and perhaps the young frogs might have found it difficult to come out of the pond. I have left a suitable gap in the net at the back of the pond and the adult frogs can (and do) come out through that area. There's no way a bird could reach the tadpoles, I'm pretty sure.

Their pool isn't very large and i leave it covered in duckweed to protect them in the heat of Summer, then skim the surface in early Spring and late Autumn which clears away larger leaves as well as the weed. Lined with D.shire field stones the birds can just reach down for a cooling drink in Summer and any tadpole too close to the surface takes a risk. The fat wood pigeon takes a risk, too, when he leans far over to get at the water as he's not the best balanced to pull off that trick. Hasn't fallen in yet but it's only a matter of time...

 

[JBR]

Well done, Odds. I applaud your giving help to birds. They can't get to my pond (though they sometimes sit on the net and think about it), but I do put out food on a bird table (which the squirrels also use) and a hanging basket, along with a bowl of water well above ground.
I am very happy to do what I can to protect all animal life, in the assurance that I shall go to heaven when I die,
though I must confess that I am an atheist!