Great Blue Heron: "Colder each Day"
Which way South?
(Great Blue Heron - photo by Neil Barker)
Your first year out on your own, remembering the lessons taught.
Eating this not eating that, standing still waiting quietly.
Nowadays everything is cold, you feel a pull to fly South.
I took this photo in early November 2023. This is a juvenile Great Blue Heron that has been spending time in the area for several months. At the time of this photo, I think it was the only remaining heron in this conservation area.
I was thinking about how this heron and how it will need to make a journey South in the coming weeks. Usually by-mid December, the water in the area will freeze over at night and well into the morning. There will be spots where the water is still open, but I imagine those will not be along the shores of the lake and swampy areas where this heron hunts for food.
I hope to take a few more photos of this juvenile photo before they depart. I wish them a safe journey when they do depart. I hope they return to this area in the Spring and wish them a safe return.
Sijo Notes: In this sijo, I am writing from the mind of this juvenile Great Blue Heron. I imagine the world must seem confusing for this heron out on its own during its first Autumn.
Bird Notes:
Great blue herons are more than just a large bird, they can also be indicators of ecological health including levels of toxins, habitat connectivity, and abundance of prey species.
Great Blue Heron (Great Ecology)