Who were the Stymphalid vultures?

A great calamity for humans were these Stymphalid hens. Strange birds, with noses, wings and claws made from iron , they killed everything they found when they flew. Animals and people were not spared when they fell upon them; they lived in the bogs and reeds of Lake Stymphalia, where they had their nests. And Eurystheus ordered Heracles to save the place from them.

Hercules arrives at the lake

Hercules set off again for Mount Kyllini, because the lake was near there. But he was very tired to find it, because it was surrounded by mountains full of forests. At last he arrived, but he saw no birds. But how could he kill them, since they would not come out of their nests?

The help of Athena

Then the goddess Athena, who loved him very much, brought him two large bronze rattles that Hephaestus had made. Hercules then climbed to a nearby peak and began to strike them.Then the birds, startled and frightened, began to fly.

The completion of the Labor

The sky turned black and the place was filled with the noise of the wings and their voices.Hercules grabbed his bow and began to throw shavings one after the other. Soon the place was filled with the slain birds. A few that remained fled and never returned to the place, which was forever silent.