An otherwise majestic Great Blue Heron was spotted devouring a New York City rat Saturday — a stomach-churning chow down a witness described as “dinosaurian.”
The large wading bird enjoyed its meal along the water of the Harlem Meer in Central Park, according to a Reddit user who caught the encounter on camera.
A Great Blue Heron hunted and devoured a massive rat in Central Park. Reddit / Particular-Neat-3328
The National Geographic-esque video shows the heron swinging around the “huge” lifeless rat by its head as it prepared to swallow the rodent whole.
The waterbird then seemingly looks right at the camera — and throws the rat down its gullet in just a few quick gulps.
Somehow, the furry and bulky rat slid down the heron’s narrow throat easily, though there was an eerie moment when the rat’s rail hung out of the bird’s mouth.
According to the cameraman — who was trying to enjoy the serenity of yoga as the hunt went down — the battle between the bird and its prey was even more disturbing.
Great Blue Herons commonly eat small mammals, according to bird experts. Reddit / Particular-Neat-3328
“The battle did not go well for the rat, and the process was not a sight for the faint of heart,” the user wrote.
“The rat fought hard and valiantly for its life, but was mortally wounded by the heron’s beak, and then held by its neck and shook till it asphyxiated.”
That’s when the heron slowly swallowed the rat, “casually being all dinosaurian.”
Although bone-chilling, the disturbing feast is nothing out of the ordinary.
Great Blue Herons can be found nesting throughout the Big Apple’s waterways and commonly move inland to forage. Henry Huey for the American-Statesman / USA TODAY NETWORK
“Great Blue Herons and egrets will eat any kind of small animals they come across,” said Dr. Dustin Partridge, NYC Bird Alliance’s Director of Conservation and Science.
“Even though this rat isn’t exactly small, it still can fit. While Great Blue Herons will typically eat fish, they will very happily take any amphibians, reptiles or mammals that they come across, and that rat is easy prey,” he continued, before adding: “Well, maybe not easy, but it’s available prey.”
Great Blue Herons are endemic to the Big Apple and their nests can be found along waterways throughout the five boroughs, particularly the New York Harbor.
The largest of the other waterfowl, Great Blue Herons often seek out big prey — and they often leave their nests to forage inland for their catch.
And with an estimated 3 million rats scurrying through New York City, it’s no surprise that the waterfowl have turned their backs on a seafood-only diet.
“Herons eating rats is probably far more common than most people expect,” Partridge said.
While the size of rats can seem shocking, Partridge emphasized that Great Blue Herons are equipped to handle the massive meal.
“The vast majority of the birds of prey and that die in New York City have rodenticide in their system. If this Great Blue Heron has gotten used to catching and eating rats, it’s definitely going to be exposed,” Partidge said.
“This video is kind of a reminder that these birds, while they’re foraging on the natural resources, they’re going to be encountering the things that go along with humans, such as the rodents of the city.”
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