Daniala

Oooooh HERONS! I love them - I've never seen or heard a green.

Several years ago my sister and I took a "sisters getaway" to Washington Island, WI because she's so concerned about my health. We stayed in a little cabin together. It made me laugh though because she made me stand out in the cold and rain to smoke my cigarette - wouldn't even let me use the screened in porch!

I was looking forward to a good night's sleep away from it all, but I kept hearing a strange rhythmic sound off in the distance. It didn't sound like wildlife and it was driving me nuts, so I went out to investigate. It was a smoke alarm beeping in an empty cabin down the road, but I was unable to reach the alarm.

There was no way I could sleep with that beeping, so I headed down to the shoreline to watch the sunrise. I sat quietly in a chair - cold and soaked to the bones.

I didn't realize a Great Blue Heron was in the weeds nearby munching on a huge fish until another one approached the shoreline and they started fighting. He was able to defend his catch and get back to his meal.

As miserable as I was, it felt like such an honor to witness this bit of nature only a few feet away from me.