Maggie.......to take your mind off the MC

Polly · Post by **Polly** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 8:28 am

Hi Mags!

Just wanted to tell you how special my summer has been so far......and all because of a great blue heron!

It seems as if most times I walk on the trail now I have been seeing a gorgeous great blue heron. (I have been walking this trail for 20 years and have only seen a GBH once or twice before). The first time I saw him flying a few weeks ago, I watched him land in the marsh, where he immediately began flapping and making distress calls. He had become stuck in the mud, which was extremely thick. I quietly inched over to him as the mud covered my entire shoe (sucked it under) with each step until I was about 15 feet away. He kept very still and we just looked at each other for several minutes. It was definitely a spiritual moment.

I was debating whether to try to help him myself, but I was afraid I might injure him. For those who don't know, a GBH is about 4 feet tall with a 6 foot wingspan. I had finally decided to go home and call for help from a friend who is a wildlife rehabber, when the bird made one last huge effort and freed himself. I was so relieved.

Now I have been seeing (and hearing) him almost every time - and it's in a different place each time. Sometimes he's standing in the water looking for fish, other times he's flying overhead. I know you will understand when I say that this GBH has made my summer!

Lots of love and wishes for improved health,

Polly

kate_ce1995 · Post by **kate_ce1995** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 8:39 am

They are such beautiful birds...especially in flight. One of our favorite places to go canoeing almost always results in several sightings of one. Usually we disturb him enough to send him flying upstream a few times as we round bends in the river.

Enjoy. And glad he freed himself.

Katy

MaggieRedwings · Post by **MaggieRedwings** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 8:52 am

Dear Polly,

That made me feel wonderful. My totem is the GBH and I too see one almost every morning in a marshy spot behind the building where I work. One of the things I miss most about our old home is the GBH that was a resident of our pond.

Your story really warmed my heart and I truly wish I could have been there with you on your walk.

You are special and maybe it was my spirit being there with you to seek your guidance and counsel.

Love, Maggie

starfire · Post by **starfire** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 11:11 am

Polly, your story is special and I'm so glad you got to see it up close. We had one living near our house in Pa. in the summer and we got to see it often for many years. I really love them. Others complained about the noise but I never minded hearing it.

Down here we have Sandhill Cranes who walk about like they own the place and is afraid of nothing.

I love them to and they are noisy but it always makes me feel good to hear them.

Love, Shirley

Pat · Post by **Pat** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 12:40 pm

Maggie,
We love birds too. We have Great Blue Herons that come to the ponds around here and we keep bird feeders in our yard. We have lots of cardinals, doves, bluebirds (scrub jays), hummingbirds, woodpeckers and many others. We usually have roadrunners too. They made a nest in a tree by our house and it was fun to watch them. Haven't seen them for awhile though. My husband feeds the birds in the feeders but also every.morning in the yard. He makes a combination of hen scratch and black sunflower seeds and throws it in the yard. They also love to come on our back porch and snitch the dogs food. They especially like the little bone shaped pieces in the dog food. We love to watch them.

Thanks, Polly, for starting this thread. I need to think about something else other than MC. Now I get to go buy a new washing machine. The old one is 26 years old and taking its last breaths.
Pat

Post by **tex** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 2:27 pm

Pat,

Lucky you. When I was about two or three years old, we had a roadrunner nest in a peach tree close to the house, but unfortunately, I don't remember many of the details, now. I've seen a lot of roadrunners since, but never another nest.

Occasionally, there are some pretty unusual nests around the place. I don't know if you've checked the photo forums lately, but last weekend, I added a few photos of a couple of birds that hatched and grew up in a nest in back of my office, last year, or the year before. I'll trade 'em for a couple of roadrunners, any time, if you're interested. LOL.

Tex

annie oakley · Post by **annie oakley** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 5:30 pm

That is a heartwarming story...wish I had seen it. Mike and I have a red cardinal nest just about 3 feet above the burn barrel and it has eggs in there. Mike and I have been hauling garbage to town that we usually burn in the barrel We are afraid we will smoke her out of the nest and the eggs would be abandoned. Mike won't even go over there and move the barrel. I can't wait til they hatch. The mating owls that had a baby here and taught him to fly are back again. Haven't seen any babies tho. Love Oma

Pat · Post by **Pat** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 8:45 pm

Tex,
I think I'll pass on the vultures! LOL. Haven't seen the roadrunners in awhile, hope they come back!
Pat

Post by **tex** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 9:17 pm

I was afraid you wouldn't go for that deal.

I've always been a big fan of roadrunners - ever since seeing that first one.

Tex

Polly · Post by **Polly** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 7:05 am

Ahhhh, roadrunners!

meep meep............meep-meep

Love,

Polly