QUIET ELEGANCE
Appreciating the majestic sight of the great blue heron
The great blue heron is a familiar, anticipated visitor to the shores of rivers and lakes—particularly where there are marshy areas. This stately creature (above) was fishing for breakfast off of our neighbour’s dock when we were living at our cottage on Three Mile Bay, White Lake, Ont.
To begin my day watching this heron in its zen-like pose was a calming, peaceful introduction to the morning; as it was for most cottagers having the same experience along their part of the lakeshore.
The lake is rich with food and is a protected habitat making it a good place for blue herons to make their summertime home. They look so graceful and focused as they patiently wait in perfect stillness for the small fish of the lake to swim in close enough to be caught. We called our daily visitor Ichabod, it just seemed like a fitting name for a heron.
Upon take-off, its large wing span made an unmistakable swooshing sound as the heron worked hard to rise up into the air and fly across the lake seeking a new spot in which to fish.
Spotting a great blue heron is a wonderful part of experiencing life on Canada’s lakes and rivers. To be able to quietly watch them engaged in their daily life enhances the pleasure and joy of our own lives. ■