Dunking

[Ken4155]

Just been watching some videos on YouTube of birds (mainly herons, i think) eating a variety of things other than fish; ducklings, a rabbit, a snake. One even eats a baby croc! All the birds have one thing in common, they continuously dip their meal in the water, as we would dunk a biscuit. Am i to take it that they do so in order to make it easier to swallow? I can't think of any other reason but when they are plucking a duckling out of the water, that duckling is already wet?
Would do a link but have never felt the need to learn. Maybe i should - one day.

[Patsy33]

They need to add a bit of flavour! Salt??

[bookbinder]

Some background info here:
https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/news/scottish-news/853094/heron-frog-edinburgh-john-orourke-fife/
http://archive.knoxnews.com/entertainment/columnists/marcia-davis/crows-may-use-your-bird-bath-as-sink-for-food-preparation-360a1450-ec3d-2288-e053-0100007f0e2f-384884201.html
http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/NEWS/15521327.Dunking_magpie_surprises_York_researchers/

[Ken4155]

Ta for that bookbinder but it doesn't say if the bird is making it easier to swallow or washing it.

[andres]

The magpies in our garden drop food into the water ,leave it for a while and then come back and take it back to their young in the nests.

[B00]

Let's hope none of them end up like this poor dude!