The Heron and the Budgies

A white heron has been visiting a Sugar Loaf Hill property this week, disturbing an aviary of budgies.

Bill Bayne said he was in the aviary when the heron first arrived, and started pecking at the Novalite roof area trying to get at the birds.

"I thought someone was throwing stones at the aviary, it was that sort of noise. The budgies were going crazy, and I went outside and found the heron standing on top of the aviary".

Mr Bayne said the heron was not afraid of him, and as well as trying to get at the birds from the top of the aviary, it would stalk them on the ground, pecking at the wire netting. "I tried to hose it to make it fly away, but it only left when it wanted to, not because I wanted it to go. The bird seemed quite tame and may have had its wings clipped at some stage."

The heron flew away after Mr Bayne covered the Novalite with a tarpaulin. Mr Bayne said he hoped the heron had got bored and will not return.

Bill Bayne, the fancier, is on the NZ Budgerigar Council.

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