Diet of a city Heron

snowstreams

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/river-serves-up-full-irish-to-young-heron-2840574.html?start=1

I saw this article in the independent today. It shows a heron eating a black and white pudding whole still with the wrappers on. The photo was taken on the dodder near ballsbridge.
I wonder what other dodgy stuff a heron living in the city will try to eat!
Also could that heron have been able to digest that plastic cover?

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

I wouldn't be too hopeful for the future of the young bird. Not only will it not digest the wrapper, it won't break down the pudding inside it.

boneless

Ex heron I fear...

marlin vs

boneless wrote: »

Ex heron I fear...

Without a doubt.

cuddlycavies

Given that people mistakenly eat the plastic rind all the time, I would assume stomach acids can break it down. Given herons regularly breakdown full coarse fish, feathers,rats; a black pudding wont trouble him too much,

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

cuddlycavies wrote: »

... I would assume stomach acids can break it down. Given herons regularly breakdown full coarse fish, feathers,rats; a black pudding wont trouble him too much,

Firstly, on what do you make such an assumption? Secondly, Grey Herons do not digest all their prey. They regurgitate pellets of mammal hair, bone remains and invertebrate remains.

This bird will NOT digest that black pudding wrapped in plastic!!

Birdnuts

Perla Jealous Monochrome wrote: »

Firstly, on what do you make such an assumption? Secondly, Grey Herons do not digest all their prey. They regurgitate pellets of mammal hair, bone remains and invertebrate remains.

This bird will NOT digest that black pudding wrapped in plastic!!

But I thought they were our answer to Maribou Storks:eek::D;)

cuddlycavies

Firstly, on what do you make such an assumption?
On the assumption that a food company could not supply a cookable product with a wrapper (which is often cooked)that is indigestable. But if you want to believe otherwise that's fine.

fred funk }{

cuddlycavies wrote: »

Firstly, on what do you make such an assumption?
On the assumption that a food company could not supply a cookable product with a wrapper (which is often cooked)that is indigestable. But if you want to believe otherwise that's fine.

I think the important point is that it's wrapped in plastic and the stomach acid won't digest the plastic so logic says the acid can't get to the pudding.

swifts need our help!

I havent seen a photo of it actually swallowing the pudding

I hope that one day all plastic packaging will be made from cellulose.

Mark
N Ireland

cuddlycavies

swifts need our help! wrote: »

I havent seen a photo of it actually swallowing the pudding

I hope that one day all plastic packaging will be made from cellulose.

Mark
N Ireland

Probably

magicbastarder

cellulose is good for the environment in that it is biodegradable.
it is also bad for the environment in that the manufacturing process is (as far as i am aware) actually more polluting than the manufacturing process for more common plastics.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

cuddlycavies wrote: »

On the assumption that a food company could not supply a cookable product with a wrapper (which is often cooked)that is indigestable. But if you want to believe otherwise that's fine.

This item is packed in PVC plastic and not the rind often cooked with black pudding. This plastic is not digestible. It's not what I believe; it's what I know.

magicbastarder

cuddlycavies wrote: »

a wrapper (which is often cooked)

i've not been around your house for breakfast, but if i ever am, please don't be surprised when i don't eat the black pudding.

cuddlycavies

Moderator, Please change title of thread to Death Of A City Heron

swifts need our help!

has it been found dead?

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

No reports but I think cuddlycavies is trying, unsuccessfully, to be facetious.

It's quite unlikely that the bird, if it dies, will be found.

Rainbowsend

Maybe it will regurgitate it? There was a picture of it swallowing the pudding whole.......and dont know how long it had been floating in the water but it was
a BIG pudding :eek:

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

If it swallowed it to the stomach, I doubt a juvenile like this could regurgitate it.