29 Comments
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Juliet Wilson's avatar

What a beautiful heron! The videos are lovely.

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Neil Barker's avatar

Agreed, Juliet! In the second video, I really like how the heron leans back while bracing and balancing themselves. That made me smile.

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Roberta McKay's avatar

Awesome pics of heron.

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Neil Barker's avatar

Thanks, Roberta. This was challenging with all of the foliage and mosquitos. :)

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Michael's avatar

I appreciate that Sijo alot. It seems right on target.

If an arrow is shot at a round bulls eye target, could it be said that in a sense it's searching for the target? But what if the target is suddenly removed while the arrow is still in flight. What can the arrow do then when there's nothing to search for?

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Neil Barker's avatar

Thank you, Michael. I like the arrow and target metaphor. Perhaps the arrow is most natural at rest. I do like your questions.

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Michael's avatar

Answering my own question, "Hit the target!"

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Neil Barker's avatar

Well answered! :)

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Michael's avatar

It turns out we're saying much the same thing. I just took a roundabout trip through the marsh to get there 🙂

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Marsha Peterson's avatar

How carefully he places each step in his searching. Love your explorations in Nature, friend.

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Neil Barker's avatar

Thank you, Marsha and very much appreciated. I like those careful steps as well in that second video. I like how the heron leans back slightly for balance.

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Heidi Zawelevsky's avatar

Wonderful encounter with the Green Heron, Neil! They are so elusive in my experience and only seen when they make themselves known. You have a great eye to spot them at a distance in the tapestry of foliage. Your photos and videos really give us a window into this world.

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Neil Barker's avatar

Thank you, Heidi and this was a lengthy search! I'd be expecting the Green Herons but had only seen glimpses of them flying overhead. It was nice to finally see one again.

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Heidi Zawelevsky's avatar

It's a great moment!

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Pamela Leavey's avatar

Neil, I love this Sijo and this line speaks to me "What if the searching itself is the answer to finding peace?" I think "the searching itself" is definitely part of the answer to finding peace. In many ways peace can be elusive and sometimes also fleeting, and so the searching never really stops. Peace is something we're always looking for, whether we recognize that or not.

Loved the videos and seeing how far into the swamp you were searching for the Green Heron. What a beautiful Heron, it's on my list of still haven't seen...

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Neil Barker's avatar

Thanks, Pamela and very much appreciated. I like your point about peace being elusive and fleeting and agreed on that.

In this search for the Green Heron over a few months, I thought about the search itself being a peaceful time. I really enjoyed checking the area for the heron, whether I saw one or not.

I do hope got get to see one soon. They are sight to see. :)

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Marisol Muñoz-Kiehne's avatar

Green Heron, Barker,

brace, balance amidst fallen.

Both searching, both found.

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Neil Barker's avatar

Beautifully written, Marisol and very much appreciated. I like that middle line especially as it describes so well that moment in the second video clip. :)

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Marisol Muñoz-Kiehne's avatar

Yes, and we visualize you balancing among the fallen flora and flying bugs!

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Emma Liles's avatar

The joy is in the journey…the peace is in the unfolding moment…green herons feel like treasures to me!

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Neil Barker's avatar

Agreed, Emma and definitely joy in the journey searching for the Green Heron. Treasure found!

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Carole Roseland's avatar

Is the heron green?

Looks gray, red and blue to me

Still, he’s beautiful

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Neil Barker's avatar

Agreed, Carole. Their name is not really suitable to their appearance at all. The only thing green is the foliage covering them up!

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MK Creel's avatar

I think there is peace to be found here (and in the searching).

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Neil Barker's avatar

Agreed MK Creel.

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Timber Fox's avatar

Thank you for sharing words and pictures of such beauty. I look forward to them each week!

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Neil Barker's avatar

You're most welcome and thank you for the kind words!

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Nathaniel Bowler's avatar

Wow. You really got to spend some quality time with that bird. I love how you can see all the field marks in the photos--such an interesting looking bird and pretty unlike any other heron we have.

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Neil Barker's avatar

Thanks, Nathaniel and much appreciated. I've been waiting for their return and was lucky to see this one for several minutes.

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