My wife called from downstairs
up to the kitchen, “Quick, look
at the left side of the pond. A
magnificent, large blue heron
stood by the side of the pond
staring at the fish. The bird must
have seen my movement to the
window because it flapped its huge
wings and rose almost straight up
in the small window of opportunity
between arbor vitae behind it, red
pines in front of it, the house to
one side of it and hemlocks on the
other. Its huge body rose with the
grace of a tiny sparrow. Three flaps
of its wings and it was gone. My
wife bounded up the stairs exclaim-
ing, “Did you see that take off!”
Amazed at the feat I remained
silent for a moment and then quip-
ped, “Yeah, I think I spoiled its
breakfast.” Coming back down to
earth, she replied, “I think that
explains why the fish numbers are
down.”