Scavenging Heron

Marnix Zwankhuisen wrote:
> A week ago while driving on a back road east of Young, I frightened a
> White-faced Heron from a large roo carcass as I drove by. Some one hour
> later I passed the same carcass and again scared the Heron into flight. I
> didn't actually see it partaking of the roo meat, but is it possible that
> this heron was supplementing its usual diet? Or was it just curious?
> Has anyone else ever noticed similar behaviour?

Yes, I have seen this but only very occasionally.  My guess was that the 
heron was feeding on the insects (flies, maggots, etc) rather than on the 
carrion itself.  But I didn't stop and observe closely to verify this.


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