I frequently, almost always, see at least one Great Blue Heron where I take my two dogs Rosie and Henry for a walk down Marsh Creek. And this spring and summer season, I saw Great Egrets as well. I say "I" and not "we" because these waders are always too far down creek for the dogs to notice.
On this occasion, just a few days ago, I noted the Blue, as shown in my photo, about 300 feet down stream (a rough estimate, might have been farther). As I hurriedly snapped shot after shot, the heron stood perfectly still and perfectly aware of our presence. Who wouldn't be with two large dogs splashing around? But remarkably, despite our gradual approach, the heron remained poised, as if not in the least disturbed. I've come to expect this, since the dogs and I often play out this same scenario.
But now I want to share with you something truly extraordinary, so extraordinary that the idea found its way into my book An Odd Bird, the first in a middle grade trilogy titled Of the Wing.
A few years ago, the dogs and I arrived at our access location when I noted a man across the creek fishing from the bank. And here's the nearly impossible part to believe part . . . also on the bank, about a dozen feet away from him stood a Great Blue Heron!
I looked—and then looked again through my binoculars—and yet again. Both the man and the heron seemed totally unaware or uninterested in me or the dogs. I would have called out but for fear of disturbing the man and/or the heron. For instance, this man was inhabiting a moment like none other in his life, a moment or moments when he was fishing with a buddy—a Great Blue Heron.
I share this episode because every time I see a heron stoically standing in the creek, even while we approach, I think of the one who stood within speaking distance to a man. Why or how this was possible, I can only imagine. On the other hand, we never get so close to the herons to bother them; after all, dogs can be terribly rude.
If you want to read all manner of interesting information and see lots of images of the Great Blue Heron, visit Cornell Lab's web site Allaboutbirds.org--
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Great_Blue_Heron/id
And if you're interested in reading more about my trilogy Of the Wing, visit us . . . the dogs and me . . . at--
Until next time . . . Keep birds in your heart!
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