Outdoor Ontario

Discussion => Behaviour => Topic started by: Napper on July 09, 2007, 05:55:47 PM

Title: Odd Heron Activity
Post by: Napper on July 09, 2007, 05:55:47 PM

This is a bit strange..

My friend from work has a family cottage/camp at  Mill lake near Parry Sound.

He told me this story last year that GB Herons instead of wading around in the lake are foraging around his property.

Waiting near Chipmunk holes and you got it! snatching them up.. last weekend the same thing was happening,  he had to shoo the

Heron away from the back door of the cottage..  My friend Mario (also from work) who also has posted here is spending this week at

the very same cottage.. Maybe he can provide some more info..  He is quite competent with a camera..

I know herons take fish and frogs but  Chipmunks??


Spent Sunday up in Tiny Township looking for a retreat,   now that I know were it is  I will have to check out the marsh..

We are heading North of Superior next Week for two weeks.. Hope to get a chance to do some birding.. Have been very busy, busy

Napper


 :D

Title:
Post by: Marnie on July 15, 2007, 09:55:59 AM

A friend was telling me recently about a cottage visit a few years ago when she and the cottage owner watched a GB heron staking out the birdfeeders to catch chipmunks. They also saw a heron fly by with a chipmunk in its bill. They were as surprised as you were!

Title:
Post by: christie on July 16, 2007, 09:32:45 AM

at my cottage in central ontario the herons are often seen eating chipmunks. they smack them against rocks and dunk them in the water. at first I did a double take but I have read that it is normal behaviour.

Title:
Post by: christie on July 16, 2007, 12:16:14 PM

just another thought...I will be at the cottage next week and try to get a shot of this activity.  I've also witnessed a heron in the middle of the woods, not close to the water, hunting chipminks.  our lake has seen a decline in fish so maybe it is just easier to catch chipmunks.