Rat Control In Dublin City... Natures Way!

wildirishswan

The Grey Heron actively hunts for Rats along Dublin Cities riverbanks.

Here is video that captures that event.


VIDEO LINK....... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDwJyt5JhzY

Camac Hibs

what a greedy guts.

Had no idea Herons ate rats or ducks for that matter.

cosmic

wildirishswan, I spent the best part of an hour last night watching your videos on YouTube - they're amazing! Thanks so much for uploading them.

Oh, and the little duckling on the bit of wood was adorable!

I was wondering, at what point on the dodder did you see the kingfisher? And the otter? And the sleeping foxes with the heron? I'd love to go and have a gander myself. Could you PM it to me? Thanks!

Cianos

Was the rat still alive when swallowed? Sounds horrible, but what if he started trying to chew his way out of the Heron? :eek:

John_Rambo

cosmic wrote: »

they're amazing! Thanks so much for uploading them

+ 1, thanks, you must have great patience!!!

breadandjam

Wow- that's amazing I often watch the Herons on the Tolka from the Botanic Gardens but I've never seen anything like that. Amazing- thanks for posting that

Nolanger

Why didn't the bird just hold the rat under water, drown it, and then swallow?

wildirishswan

cosmic wrote: »

wildirishswan, I spent the best part of an hour last night watching your videos on YouTube - they're amazing! Thanks so much for uploading them.

Oh, and the little duckling on the bit of wood was adorable!

I was wondering, at what point on the dodder did you see the kingfisher? And the otter? And the sleeping foxes with the heron? I'd love to go and have a gander myself. Could you PM it to me? Thanks!

Well this time of year is great for spotting these animals, the Foxes will be raising cubs soon and the Kingfisher becomes more active now during the breeding season, but you can see the Kingfisher everyday zooming along and fishing on the dodder. More light means a greater chance of seeing the Otter.

wildirishswan

Nolanger wrote: »

Why didn't the bird just hold the rat under water, drown it, and then swallow?

From what i have observed the Heron uses the water as leverage to break the Rats neck and a bit of water makes the meal go down smoothly.

donegalgirl28

****ing freaky birds they are! Seen one right outside my house on the green, just standing there. *shivers*

RubyRoss

Can I bring one home to Kerry to gobble up the rats in my garden?
Edit: forgot to say the video is fantastic

vampire of kilmainham

Camac Hibs wrote: »

what a greedy guts.

Had no idea Herons ate rats or ducks for that matter.

like your user name the camac river flows past the back of where i live iv seen herons devor rats along it's banks..

vampire of kilmainham

Cianos wrote: »

Was the rat still alive when swallowed? Sounds horrible, but what if he started trying to chew his way out of the Heron? :eek:

no he would be dead before the heron swollows it they know when there prey are dead:eek:

vampire of kilmainham

Nolanger wrote: »

Why didn't the bird just hold the rat under water, drown it, and then swallow?

it's easyer for the heron to swollow it's prey when it's wet..

vampire of kilmainham

donegalgirl28 wrote: »

****ing freaky birds they are! Seen one right outside my house on the green, just standing there. *shivers*

he's watchin ya dont pee outside:eek::eek::eek:

vampire of kilmainham

RubyRoss wrote: »

Can I bring one home to Kerry to gobble up the rats in my garden?
Edit: forgot to say the video is fantastic

get a big cat there just as good iv got a big tom cat and he devours rats and mice my dog just sits and watches him and yes the dog and the cat do get along together just in case anyone asks:eek:

stovelid

OP - I really enjoy your videos on here. I love the idea of all this wildlife right in the city. My friend's outdoor fish were decimated by a heron but I had no idea that they ate such large prey.