Does a Blue Heron is a threat to my ducks?

[WannaBeHillBilly]

Working outside, removing the covers from the raised beds when suddenly all ducks started their alarm quack. Everybody was watching the sky, so i looked up and saw a pterodactylus circling above…

Sure it wasn't a dinosaur, but from below on the first look it looked like one (not that i have ever seen one alive, i'm not that old). Long legs stretched out at the back large wings and a long neck.
I've never seen a flying blue heron before, but they just look weird. Really, really weird!

So that huge bird circled over us and then did a low flyby over the pond, where some of last year's fall ducklings were swimming and i heart them screaming in fear like i have heart ducks screaming before! - Not even when the red-tail hawk makes a fly-over.
Rushed towards the pond and just when the heron was making his final approach - the duckie were screaming their tongues out - he saw me, aborted and landed in a nearby tree. Watching.

Six ducks rushed out of the pond, ran to me an huddled to my legs!
.
.
.
For a bout 20 seconds when they remembered that i am the evil dux-eating axe-murderer!
They yelped and all ran down the hill towards the rest of the flock as quickly as Runner Ducks can run.

I picked up a branch that was lying on the ground held it like a gun to my chest and pointed it to the heron, still sitting in that tree, observing me. He immediately flew off and away.

Only after he left, i noticed how silent it was. No birds were singing, the crows were quiet only after a couple of minutes the voices of nature came back…

I know that herons attack and eat ducklings, other small birds and other small animals, but is a fully grown heron a threat to a grown up duck?

 

[JustAChickenLoverOverHere]

Usually herons will leave full grown ducks/drakes alone. But they’ll definitely kill off ducklings.

 

[the_peanut_coop]

Well those duckie instincts are going off, saying "stay away from THAT". I think it would be best to shoo it away or something. Which is unfortunate because they are the prettyest weird looking birds I ever met.

 

[SolarDuck]

Yeah they are definitely a threat to ducklings, I would say the majority of the ducklings at my local pond tend to get picked off by herons and egrets.

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

@JustAChickenLoverOverHere, @the_peanut_coop and @SolarDuck
Thank you very much for all your answers!

It was quiet on Saturday, but yesterday the heron came back and started to terrorize my ducks. He made one fly-over after the other and scared the carp out of my ducks, they were running back and forth in absolute panic! I assume he is looking for a weak member of the flock and i am now really concerned about Mr. Limpy.

As soon as i stepped out of the house i was overrun with ducks, some even tried to jump into my arms - remember i am the axe-murderer of the dux world… a cereal-killer that must be avoided at all time, except when handing out meal-worms or cat-food…

Should he come back today i will try to blind him with a mirror, that has worked very well for the red-shouldered hawk in the past.

 

[JustAChickenLoverOverHere]

@JustAChickenLoverOverHere, @the_peanut_coop and @SolarDuck
Thank you very much for all your answers!

It was quiet on Saturday, but yesterday the heron came back and started to terrorize my ducks. He made one fly-over after the other and scared the carp out of my ducks, they were running back and forth in absolute panic! I assume he is looking for a weak member of the flock and i am now really concerned about Mr. Limpy.

As soon as i stepped out of the house i was overrun with ducks, some even tried to jump into my arms - remember i am the axe-murderer of the dux world… a cereal-killer that must be avoided at all time, except when handing out meal-worms or cat-food…

Should he come back today i will try to blind him with a mirror, that has worked very well for the red-shouldered hawk in the past.

Good luck, Billy! Let us know how it goes.

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

Another day with panicked Ducks! - Had to apologize three times to customer's today and run out to shoo that heron away. I'm tempted to switch the broomstick with my actual air-rifle…
It doesn't mind being blinded with a mirror, it just stays put in the tree and observes and spreads fear and panic.

 

[SolarDuck]

Another day with panicked Ducks! - Had to apologize three times to customer's today and run out to shoo that heron away. I'm tempted to switch the broomstick with my actual air-rifle…
It doesn't mind being blinded with a mirror, it just stays put in the tree and observes and spreads fear and panic.

maybe powerful laser pointer? I find that powerful ones like this https://www.amazon.com/Tactical-Rec...d=1&keywords=laser+303&qid=1619538215&sr=8-12
Usually terrify birds if you just shine it on their body.

 

[CaroleW]

...Should he come back today i will try to blind him with a mirror, that has worked very well for the red-shouldered hawk in the past.

Thank you for this idea. Lots of hawks here.

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

maybe powerful laser pointer? I find that powerful ones like this https://www.amazon.com/Tactical-Rec...d=1&keywords=laser+303&qid=1619538215&sr=8-12
Usually terrify birds if you just shine it on their body.

I must think about it, thank you for the idea! - I live in close distance to the airport, the National Guard is stationed there to, so on some days there are a lot of airplanes flying overhead and i don't want to blind a pilot by accident. That laser is really powerful!