I've posted before about the Great Blue Heron, the bird I chose for today's Artist's Choice. You can see here and here the story of the Great Blue Heron Nokomis, who had a big part in my becoming a birder to begin with. Although I researched them and wrote about them, I didn't see my first Great Blue Heron until July this year, in Kansas. After that I saw several more before coming back to Haiti.
Today's photos are from my son, who had to get at least a little into birds, just out of self-defense. Now he is keeping me informed on what he sees on his New England college campus.
Great Blue Heron
My son sends me photos
from his college campus
of a Great Blue Heron.
He says it sits in the pond
and is there every day
when he passes.
He says he hears its croak.
My son is so far away,
but Great Blue Herons
fly here sometimes
in the winter,
and I hope he will too.
©Ruth Bowen Hersey
Today is October Big Day, meaning birders around the world will be paying special attention to birds. This day was chosen to coincide with peak migration. Speaking of which, a friend sent me this amazing tool last night. You can use it to find out how many migratory birds are in flight at a given moment!
7 comments:
Ruth, that poem is so lovely! I like the connection that the blue heron makes for you and your son, who is far away. So far, in this corner of New England, we are having a beautiful mild October, and the local blue herons have been quite busy!
So simple. So poignant. Also thank you for cluing me in to the fact that Birding is a cult. I had not really realized!
Heidi, you're not wrong. And it's so nerdy, in all the very best ways.
Ruth, I have enjoyed reading your posts on your birding adventures. You are offering so much information wrapped in very interesting poems for us to peruse. I found out from Ramona that I did not receive the SJT prompt so I have to go back and work on that but in between receiving my booster and all the to-dos I have snatched sweet moments to read PF posts. I think this is the 3rd one of yours I have read through. The blue heron poem reminded me that there was a blue heron on our creek waters here in Virginia. My husband spotted it and told me there was a flamingo but I knew that could not be. I think some neighbors told me it was a blue heron (I never saw one before). Next story: Your PF poem line that I paused at->and chased them until we found them. This reminded me that today as my husband and I went out to do errands, he stopped me to go into a store (masked of course) and said, "Did you see the parakeet flying in the sky? He is in a bush now." Sure enough this time he was right. Two girls with a net were trying to track it down. The bird was a beautiful yellow streaking across the parking lot. Happy Birding!
I think because I see Great Blue Herons on frequent occasions, and always enjoy them— it made your matter of fact conversational poem hit home–very nice Ruth, and hope they visit you too!
I hope he will fly to see you also... what freedom the birds have. Maybe that is why they fascinate so. To be up high, free to move in any direction, seeing the world below. I see herons quite a lot as I live near a river where they feed, and they fly over my house to get there. Such tall elegant creatures. Thanks for sharing this poem.
I love the Great Blue Heron and you did a great job connecting your son's observations to his flying to see you with this majestic bird. Nice work, Ruth!
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