Herakles believed that he would be the first person to survive the birds. When he reached Lake Stymphalus all the birds were hidden in the deep dark forest. Just as he was wondering how he would find them, Athena, the goddess of wisdom, appeared and offered to help him. She gave him a pair of bronze discs and told him to stand at the edge of the lake and crash them together as hard as he could. After thanking the goddess, Herakles did as she said. The discs made such a terrible noise that all the birds were frightened out of their hiding places. They flew over the lake in a huge flock and Herakles was able to shoot them all with his bow and arrows.

Herakles returned to the King in Tiryns and presented him with two of the dead birds.