My Summer Project

[H20fwler]

A satellite pic from the first summer ponds were in, shows the size and shape of each pond.

 

[Mortenson]

That was a heckuva project. It really came together nice. Thanks for showing.

 

[Telemark]

How much does it cost to have a pond put in?

 

[H20fwler]

How much does it cost to have a pond put in?

It all depends on your area, soil type and how deep you go.
Depending on size in my area it’s from 3k-10k with really large ponds more than that. We have a few really good pond builders in my County.

 

[H20fwler]

A friend of mine flew a drone around the ponds yesterday and got a sweet video and some nice pics from a birds eye view of ponds.
We have had rain all week and the run offs are working perfect.

Front pond

Back pond

The Vid;

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[Jim Timber]

I was really torn on how much a drone would be 'toy' vs 'tool' and how much use it'd actually get once the new wore off; so I didn't buy one for the longest time. Now that I have it, I find it's a lot of fun and extremely useful. Plus I can snoop on my neighbors without them seeing I've even been there. :D Ever suspect your neighbor has a bait pile but can't get the DNR to go investigate? Welp, now you just fly over and have a look!

 

[H20fwler]

Baiting for deer is legal in Ohio, trespassing with a drone is not.
Ohio has a couple Bills right now in the Ohio Senate specifically for drones concerning trespassing and nuisance laws, many states have restrictions on their use over private property.
The country folk around here would probably shoot one down if they caught one snooping around their property.

They do take some really cool video and pics but I would be sure it’s legal to do so or that you have permission from the land owner before doing it.

 

[Da U.P. 'eh]

Just found this thread, I love it, and am jealous! Please keep the updates coming. I am interested in the ponds as they mature. Great thread!

 

[H20fwler]

Thanks Da U.P.


We have been loaded with ducks and geese the last month on the ponds.

 

[H20fwler]

We have had a nice variety of waterfowl and shore birds this spring on the ponds, I even saw an adult bald eagle today sitting in a big oak along the front pond.

 

[Telemark]

Wow! Great birds!

You planting the edge with millet this year?

 

[H20fwler]

I was thinking of maybe planting some sometime in the run-offs. I have young buttonbush planted around the ponds now.

 

[H20fwler]

A few pics from the back pond this spring;

 

[Telemark]

Is buttonbush a good one for hunting over in fall?

 

[H20fwler]

Is buttonbush a good one for hunting over in fall?

Yes, lasts for years and years spreads on it's own and waterfowl eat the seed clusters up along with turkeys and other birds. Also makes nice spring nesting cover for geese/teal/mallards.

 

[Telemark]

Cool. Thanks for the info. I will see if my uncle can use that.

 

[H20fwler]

Got some nice pics off back pond showing the diversity of wildlife

 

[Catscratch]

Very cool!

Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

 

[H20fwler]

Thought I would give this a quick update to show some of the progress and how they look as of last night, very happy with how the ponds have turned out and the benefit they are providing to pretty much everything on the farm. The wood duck boxes have really done well this spring with multiple broods out of each and we have had mallards and geese hatch from along the edges. Only real maintenance I have had to do besides cleaning out the woody boxes is spot spraying some the cattails and bulrushes as they pop up, I don't mind a little but don't want them to take over either.

Some water plantain growing in the front pond, it is growing really well in the run off and will provide a great food source for ducks.

West side of front pond

East side front pond

Back pond

 

[H20fwler]

I was hunting Sunday night and after getting down out of the stand and heading to the truck I looked over my shoulder and saw a nice sunset so I snapped a pic. It ended up being better than I thought and showed the thawing front pond pretty good.