But, if they are sticky enough to stick, how do they magically become unsticky? And unstuck in the correct place to finish developing? Don't heron feet dry out during flight? I think the odds are even greater than winning the lottery.
Watch a heron fly AWAY from your pond next time. Oh wait do they ever do that? LOL
They pull their legs up and fold the webbed toes together as they fly.
No magic needed. Sticky isn't like super glue for God's sake. :-)
I agree the odds may be low but that doesn't mean it's impossible. Remember all you need for population of a species is a male and a female or a fertilized egg of both sexes.
Another thing is you're forgetting herons regularly regurgitate things from their neck gullet. That's how parasites are introduced. Why not some fish eggs that are accidentally ingested? It could be a matter of short movements from pond to pond or watersheds over a long period of time.
