Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1896-08-27
ENGLISH HeRoNs AND ROCKS.
They Arc Found Throughout Great Brit
ain In Town and Country.

ENGLISH HeRONS AND ROCKS.
They Are Found Throughout Great Brit
ain In Town and Country.
Heronries, varying greatly In the
number of nests, exist In almost ev-
cry county In England and Wales. In
Scotland and Ireland the breeding
places are still more numerous,
though the nests In any one colony
are generally fow. Within easy jour
ney from the heart of London are
two heronries where the birds arc
now nesting and rearing their young.
Ono is In Richmond park. 1t would
probably be unknown TO many peo-
pie but for the fact that tho outing
down of some trees on which herons
had built, and the consequent de-
struotion of the nests, gave rise to
indignant protests from bird lovers,
and put stop to the i'll timed thin
ming of the Penn Ponds plantation.
The official reply to question in
parliament was to the effect that
there were still large number of
nests, and the birds disturbed ap-
peared to have again nested.
The heronry in Wanstead park is
much larger and of far moro interest
to Londonors, for it is, so to speak,
at their very doors, and, thanks to
the city corporation. it belongs to
them forever. Crossing Wanstead
flats and entering the park ono passes
by ponds white with the dainty flow
ers of the wator orowfoot, on for q
little way past the chalet and the
old hunting lodge, till the grotto is
reached, when the path bends to the
left and leads round the water in
which lies Lincoln island, with it's
tall Gins where the herons breed.
Formerly these birds built in the
trees on the island in what is still
called Heron pond; but they migrat-
cd to their present quarters many
years ago. Special precautions are
taken to prevent their being dis
turbed during the breeding season,
and there are more nests now than
there were when tho park was
opened to the public in 1882. Then
there were 40. The number rose to
81 in 1889, and reached maximum
of SO in 1894. Last year they de-
creased by z, and this year there are
only 80 Mr.. Buxton says in his book |
on Epping Forest, THE birds do not
seem to mind the people, but think
there Is some danger Of their being
evioted by the rocks"
There is 50 much difference in size
between q heron and rock that
most people would assume that in a
contest the victory must almost in
evitably lie with tho larger bird,
armed as it is with q long, sharp
bill that has been proved over and
over again to be an admirable weap-
on of offense and defense. They
would also think that when herons
are driven from their nesting places
by rocks they must necessarily leave
by process of mobbing. This may
sometimes be the case, but battles
royal between these birds for the
possession of nesting places are re-
corded, and Mr.. Howard Saunders
tells how at Malin hall, in Donegal,
the two species never retired to rest
without skirmish, in which tho
rocks were the aggressors. At the
birch heronry, near Colchester, the
rocks are kept down, in the belief
probably correct-that they destroy
the herons' eggs, a crime of which
the keeper in Wanstead park does
not believe his rocks to be guilty.
He lays the blame of such ravages
on the oarrion crows, which no doubt
do take toll of such as come in their
way. But the rock is not bird to
stick at trifles in matters of this
kind. Mr.. Bartlett has borne testi-
mony to its guilt as an egg stealer
from the nests of the waterfowl in
tho geological gardens. There is no
doubt that the habits of rocks have
of late years undergone a remark
able change. Formerly they lived
chiefly on grubs and worms, but as
the supply of this kind of food has
been greatly diminished by better
farming, they have been compelled
to sock now means of subsistence.
The guilt of the rocks in the matter
of herons' eggs at Wanstead would
seem to be established by the fact
that the decrease in the number of
herons' nests this year Is ooincident
with an increase of rocks nests. OF
these there were last year $50. This
year there are 400. Fortunately the
remedy is an easy one-to keep down
the rookS.-Loudon Standard.