Blue Heron Blues

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Lokalie Dokalie On July 12, a rainy Friday afternoon,a great blue heron who has visited our docks throughout the year became caught on the main pier. Her right leg was caught between two planks, and in attempting to free herself and fly away she broke her leg badly. After a number of attempts she freed herself and tumbled into the water, but was unable to fly because she couldn't push herself up and out of the water. As the tide began to drift her out I ran up to the pool and used a long-handled dip net to herd her around to the steps leading out of the water and onto the point. She then hopped inside the pool enclosure where Bob, Claude and I were able to confine her using pool chairs. In the meantime, Laura went home and began trying to contact wildlife rescue organizations, but none she talked to could take the bird. I was able to get in touch with a woman who has been involved in bird rescue for over thirty years. Bob, Claude an I were able to capture the bird, bundle her in a sheet, and drive her over to Terry's house in my car. We thought surely she would have to be euthanized that evening because her leg was so badly broken. Terry called me later that night and said she had set Big Blue's leg and would keep her at her house until she felt it was ready for release back into nature. After a month Terry felt she was ready. We were ready to release it on a Thursday morning, but on Wednesday evening Terry called to tell me she had broken her leg again in the same place. She set the leg again and kept it for another month. Last Tuesday (September 3) Terry brought Big Blue over and we released her back into nature near the marsh. She has a waterproof cast on her right leg that we hope will give enough stability for her leg to mend totally. That said, Terry doesn't believe the leg will ever be back to 100%, but at least it is functional. She has been in our area since, spending time between the marsh area and our pier. I fed her some catfish one afternoon, and although she wolfed it down, I haven't been able to get close enough to feed her again. This morning she was down on our main pier and Sherrill tossed her a catfish from about 10 feet away. She promptly snatched it up and swallowed it. Today marks eight days since we've released her and she appears to be doing well. I looked at her eyes through binoculars this morning and they appear clear and sparkling, so I think she's in pretty good health. I've seen her fly a couple of times, which is a good sign because she didn't make any real flights in the two months Terry cared for her. And I've seen her wading in the shallows, so hopefully he's fishing for herself.

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