Heron

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Heron
Inventory
Name						Heron
Released						5 November 2015 (Update)
Race						Bird
Location						Fishing
Skill						None
Quest						None
Weight						0.015 kg
Examine
Inventory						Smells a little fishy.
Follower						A long-legged bird that likes to fish.
Advanced data
Item ID						13320
NPC ID						6715,6722

The heron is a members-only skilling pet that can be obtained while training Fishing. The chances of getting it are dependent on the player's Fishing level, and the time it takes to gather a resource.

When a player receives the pet, it will automatically try to appear as their follower. At the same time, a red message in the chatbox will state You have a funny feeling like you're being followed.

When fishing, the pet is prioritised over the resource gathered. For example, if there is one last inventory space while fishing, and the player already has a pet following them, the pet will appear in the inventory instead, while the fish will drop to the ground. When this occurs, the message in the chatbox will instead state You feel something weird sneaking into your backpack.

On death, if a player loses their pet (as a follower or in your inventory) it will wander around for 30 seconds before disappearing completely.

Players can pay a one-time fee of 500,000 coins to Probita in East Ardougne to have this pet insured. Should the pet be lost while insured, it can be reclaimed for 1,000,000 coins.

Drop rate

Shown below are the base chances of receiving a heron.

A player's actual chances of receiving it is 1 in B - (Lvl * 25), where B is the base chance and Lvl is the player's Fishing level. The only exceptions are the Fishing Trawler and minnows, which are always a flat 1/5,000 per game and 1/977,778 per catch respectively, regardless of level. With minnows, the pet chance is rolled once each time fish are obtained (i.e. when experience is given), regardless of the number that were fished.

The fastest method on average to receive the heron is through 2-tick fishing, specifically tuna and swordfish. If not using tick manipulation, karambwans are the fastest alternative.

Fish	Base chance
Shrimp/Anchovies	435,165
Karambwanji	443,697
Sardine/Herring	528,000
Big net fishing	382,609
Trout/salmon	461,808
Pike	305,792
Rainbow fish	137,739
Tuna/Swordfish	128,885
Lobsters	116,129
Aerial fishing	636,833
Monkfish	138,583
Karambwan	170,874
Leaping trout	426,954
Leaping salmon
Leaping sturgeon
Sharks	82,243
Infernal eels	160,000
Anglerfish	78,649
Minnow	977,778
Dark crabs	149,434
Sacred eels	99,000
Fishing Trawler minigame	5,000

Colour

A heron can be turned into a Great blue heron by feeding it 3,000 spirit flakes. The recolouring can be reversed by feeding the great blue heron any raw fish, while one spirit flake can be used to turn it back to blue.

Products

Item		Members	Skills	XP	Materials
	Great blue heron		None	None	1 × Heron 3,000 × Spirit flakes

Dialogue

This article has an associated transcript page. Click here for the transcript.

Trivia

• The heron's dialogue is a quote from the 2003 film Finding Nemo, in which Nigel, a pelican, attempts to save Dory and Marlin from seagulls by transporting them away in his mouth.