Geese, that is. We set three short rods with stakeout prisms (0.1 m HT) on an lock wall on the river. Drove to the other side of the river to turn between them, one was not visible. Turned all the sets, then went back. It seems that a Canadian Goose had pushed it into the water, which was in an approach channel so it was deep. The point was about 2.5 feet back from the edge and it wasn't windy. $400 lost
Ouch, maybe tie them to a life preserver ring.
We work all the time on the river locks, never lost one like this, the difference is that it is abandoned, so no one around and it is overrun by geese
http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/how_to_roast_a_goose/&apos ;">HOW TO ROAST A GOOSE
Call a local diver and give him $100 to search for it?
Sandbags! I require my observers to sandbag the feet of their 2-meter tripods, even if the wind isn't blowing.
I thought about a big magnet. Not sure how much of the equipment is actually steel.
Maybe you need a "guard eagle"
Leaving equipment unattended bothers me all the time.
Last friday out of the corner of my eye I spotted a cow headed toward my backsite tripod, tribrach, target and prism.
A farm critter can destroy anything so quickly.
Jumped on the ATV and sped 1/4mi across the pasture and had to herd cow and calf into their pasture and out of the workzone.
Attach a chain, chord or string between an anchor (limb, sapling or driven stake) and the rod assembly.