Peg-leg Pete

I come across a lot of critters during my hikes around the Bayou. Occasionally, I will name one of these creatures because something will be different ..something makes this one critter stand out from the rest. The critter will soon be given a name as a way of identifying it when I am telling a story or labeling a picture. Today's critter name...Peg-leg Pete. Peg-leg Pete wandered into view late this afternoon as I was just leaving the pier. It was just starting to get rather dark and the gnats were gnawing voraciously on my exposed arms. Then I spied Peg-leg Pete. He had walked...or hopped..out onto the mudflat to find his supper. At first, it surprised me that Peg-leg Pete was back..he had not been here since early last Spring. As he was hopping about picking up tidbits of food, I could only imagine how hard it must be for him. To fish in the deeper waters must require a good bit of agility..something he was lacking. The mudflats most likely offer him his only sure source of a meal. You see..Peg-leg Pete is a young one-legged Green Heron. He undoubtedly lost his leg in an attack upon him at a much younger age but somehow survived to be an adult. I have seen him hopping around the yard trying to catch grasshoppers or other grass bugs and during extremely low tide, I have seen him on the mudflats. Not once, have I observed him venturing out near the open waters or far from the safety of the marsh. He hobbles about on his one leg rather well considering the consistency of the mudflats. Everything from clam shells to outboard motors sink completely out of sight when dropped on the mud around the Bayou so how in the world can a one-legged bird bounce around with no trouble?

Peg-leg Pete is an Green Heron visiting the Bayou. This picture was taken last Spring. It was already getting dark making it hard to see.

This is Peg-leg Pete's second Winter on the Bayou. I noticed him a few times last Winter but never thought he would survive. This Winter..he seems far more confident and far healthier than before. It just goes to show that with a bit of determination and a lot of hard work, things can be accomplished..life can continue. Peg-leg Pete..you are an inspiration even if you are only a bird! Ahhh..life on the Bayou is sure interesting!