From Abroad

Invasion of the herons

Although many London gardeners have been forced to restock their ponds after a heron has taken their goldfish or koi carp, the elegant long-legged wading bird is normally associated with wetland marshes, river estuaries and gravel pits.

But, like the urban fox, it is now increasingly making its home in the middle of town centres and parks, where its sharp beak and sheer size (it has a wingspan of more than six feet) can intimidate (frighten) passers-by.

Grey heron can fly for miles, looking for food and have discovered there are rich pickings in places such as London's Regent's Park. There, they can often be seen standing like statues on the banks of Regent's Canal, not far from the bustling (active) Edgware Road, their sharp eyes fixed on the water as they wait to pounce on passing fish.

And in Kelsey Park in Bromley, Kent, there are 32 nests, the biggest urban heron colony. A voracious (greedy)feeder, the heron breeds in colonies-sometimes hundreds of them will gather and can quickly takeover lakes, ponds or reservoirs.

And because they are gregarious (live in groups), the model herons that gardeners buy to try to scare them away from their goldfish ponds can actually attract other herons.

Apart from angering gardeners, they also infuriate anglers because these predators, who are at the top of the freshwater predator chain, target fish and eat up to a couple of pounds in weight, stabbing them repeatedly with their rapier (sword) like bills.

Legal protection, mild winters and improvements in water quality have all helped to encourage more herons than ever, with at least 13,000 pairs recorded across Britain. The species (Ardea cinerea) can live for up to 25 years.

The birds are opportunists, readily eating anything that comes near the water's edge. Among their prey are frogs, toads, rats, water voles and even ducklings.

According to the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, 471 pairs of herons, were spotted in London in 2001.

Khaleej Times