An old buddy drops in for lunch--
Living out in rural eastern Oregon, I made great efforts to get a decent heron-in-the-wild shot. They were skitterish, solitary and took off at the first sight of human. All my quiet creeping only got me a few silhouettes of departing wings--lookng like an extended stylized "W".
Fast forward to life in the Portland marinas, where the herons have been partnering up with human fisherman for a few years now, apparently convinced their status as Portland's official "City Bird" entitles then to tribute from the fish bucket.
He's always a welcome visitor, and he can have the fish--Northern Pikeminnow, a species that preys on young salmon--Fish & Wildlife even has a bounty program to reward anglers for catching them.
I have trouble just getting organized enough to pay my taxes--so I'll not be participating in the fish bounty thing. Nor will I carry the grocery store's "Food Club" card, or join the Dogfood club, or even print out those discount coupons from the e-mail. But I always get in line behind someone who does.
But I digress, the heron photos come so much easier now--since the big bird seems to have almost "moved in" to the floating neighborhood. Folks say--"you shouldn't feed the wildlife, they'll become dependent on you." That's for damn sure. Did I tell you about the raccoon that bit me and my wife, when we (us and the dogs) surprised her latenight at the dumpster?
That's apparently how people and dogs originally hooked up--wild canines following the roving bands of hunters, and getting scraps from the firepit. Great to imagine--Us CavePeople, at a riverfront bonfire, luring the jackaldog to take a bone from our hand (that would've been me!)
So, perhaps it's inevitable that one day the heron might want to "go for a ride", too. I really will need to get a "crew cab" truck then. If the BigBird wants to earn his keep, he can be a WatchBird, doing aerial surveilance--he can keep me informed on the parking lot activities and the approach of any raccoons!
An old buddy drops in for lunch--
Living out in rural eastern Oregon, I made great efforts to get a decent heron-in-the-wild shot. They were skitterish, solitary and took off at the first sight of human. All my quiet creeping only got me a few silhouettes of departing wings--lookng like an extended stylized "W".
Fast forward to life in the Portland marinas, where the herons have been partnering up with human fisherman for a few years now, apparently convinced their status as Portland's official "City Bird" entitles then to tribute from the fish bucket.
He's always a welcome visitor, and he can have the fish--Northern Pikeminnow, a species that preys on young salmon--Fish & Wildlife even has a bounty program to reward anglers for catching them.
I have trouble just getting organized enough to pay my taxes--so I'll not be participating in the fish bounty thing. Nor will I carry the grocery store's "Food Club" card, or join the Dogfood club, or even print out those discount coupons from the e-mail. But I always get in line behind someone who does.
But I digress, the heron photos come so much easier now--since the big bird seems to have almost "moved in" to the floating neighborhood. Folks say--"you shouldn't feed the wildlife, they'll become dependent on you." That's for damn sure. Did I tell you about the raccoon that bit me and my wife, when we (us and the dogs) surprised her latenight at the dumpster?
That's apparently how people and dogs originally hooked up--wild canines following the roving bands of hunters, and getting scraps from the firepit. Great to imagine--Us CavePeople, at a riverfront bonfire, luring the jackaldog to take a bone from our hand (that would've been me!)
So, perhaps it's inevitable that one day the heron might want to "go for a ride", too. I really will need to get a "crew cab" truck then. If the BigBird wants to earn his keep, he can be a WatchBird, doing aerial surveilance--he can keep me informed on the parking lot activities and the approach of any raccoons!