Grey Heron food (1 Viewer)

[Stoggler]

Hi

Just a quick question - after getting off the tube this morning, saw a grey heron flying over some buildings being mobbed by some gulls, and was wondering - do herons eat eggs and/or the young of other birds? Would this be why the gulls were mobbing it?

Thanks

 

[DaveN]

Hi

Just a quick question - after getting off the tube this morning, saw a grey heron flying over some buildings being mobbed by some gulls, and was wondering - do herons eat eggs and/or the young of other birds? Would this be why the gulls were mobbing it?

Thanks

Yes Heron's will eat eggs and birds. They will eat pretty much anything to be honest, if it will fit down their throat then they will eat it.

 

[Apodemus]

They certainly eat young birds - I've seen one snaffle a whole brood of pheasant chicks on a feed ride

 

[dantheman]

Otherwise it is a large bird with slow deep wingbeats - reminiscent of a large bird of prey, which gulls will also mob of course - not sure how specific the response is and whether the gulls see it as a threat or just a possible threat.

 

[DICANIO]

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=141386

Seems they do indeed eat anything they can fit in their mouth!!

 

[Stoggler]

Thanks for the replies.

Interesting one DICANIO. Would never have thought of a heron eating a rabbit before!

 

[mikfoz]

Herons take a pretty dreadful toll of waterfowl chicks in reed beds as well.

Another possibility as to why the gulls were mobbing it could be that they had seen the Heron take a fish and were trying to bully it into regurgitating its meal. They certainly try it on with Cormorants and Grebe.

 

[Andrew R]

Watched one drown and eat a rabbit once at the Backwater Res Angus, it took ages and the heron just did,nt give up. Years ago i saw one in Somerset kill and eat a female ruddy duck, though i suspect the ruddy was on its way out anyway otherwise i think it would have quite easily have escaped

 

[JamesA]

They'll eat anything. Watched one take a water rail at Parkgate once, and I've seen them take on eels as long as the bird itself. It's no wonder that a lot of birds will mob them.

 

[Stoggler]

The responses to my OP remind me of a story from a summer or two ago here in London, when one of the pelicans in St James' Park was seen by many tourists (and children) eating a pigeon! It was even photographed and appeared in the Metro the next day - cue lots of horrified reactions from parents that it was terrible that their children should see that nature is not all cuddly and nice!

Gladly, the wardens in the park said it was unusual but not unheard of, and there was no need to do anything about the pelicans.

 

[Himalaya]

i Have seen crows mob herons too as a heron flew by. i i did not notice if it had just eaten. i saw a mallard have a go at a heron once - it came awfully close to its babies. the mallard went ballistic.

 

[s. james]

Saw herons circling with black-headed and lesser black-back gulls today at Lough Neagh. The herons made clumsy looking plunges into the water- presumably diving for fish- don't think I've ever seen this before.

Also, not food related, but has anybody ever seen herons holding their wings low and upturned in a sort of heart-shaped pose? It's meant to be sun-bathing- have seen it a few times and saw it today as well.