I was startled last week to observe a White-faced heron flying away from a dead wombat (roadkill).
Just once and you'd think it was there by coincidence but several more trips down the road caught him there again and finally I was the passenger and able to snap a few shots.
I mentioned this to some Rangers today who raised their eyebrows in surprise. If they haven't heard of it this must be uncommon behaviour.
My guess is that the heron was feeding on flies or maggots and not wombat flesh itself.
Any one else seen the like?
Gosh, Denis, where would this forum be without you?
So much hands on experience AND memory for those of others. Most helpful indeed :-)
---booshkie---
Never seen a wombat eating heron, (just love that thread title!!)Our local WFH seem to be either super shy, taking of as soon as the see you or they appear not to give a hoot.See new post for pictures taken Sunday.
Ed Townsville NQ
This was posted in Scribblygum:
There is "one confirmed record of carrion feeding [for White-faced Heron], bird tearing flesh from dead Galah Cacatua roseicappilla (Baldwin 1975)"
Ref: Hanzab
---booshkie---
I saw a photo of a heron eating a gopher in the usa a couple of weeks ago.
strange but true.
I have seen the the exact same spectacle that booshkie saw.
It was in the capertee valley about three years ago, and like this situation it was a single White-faced heron feeding on carcass of a bloated, dead wombat.
I wondered if the bird was eating wombat flesh or simply picking off maggots as has been suggested.
The bird was very persistent and everytime a car went by it would fly away then soon return.
It stayed around the carcass for about three days.