The Little Visitor!

  Sometimes things I find about the Bayou just make me smile.  It is not an easy life for the critters that live in and around the marshes as predators lurk around every corner.  It is hard for any of the critters to ever reach maturity since baby animals are easy targets.  This goes for both mammals and birds.  Before the youngsters can defend themselves, more oft than not, it is the mother that has to defend her brood.   Other little ones are left alone for hours at a time which opens them to attack quite often.  Predators of all types are hunting for an easy meal and those unattended tykes fit the ticket.  So it is always a happy moment when I happen across a youngster dabbling about the Bayou.  This means that life will go on for at least a while longer.

  This morning, Ms. Ez, the Bayou Dog, and I headed to the pier bright and early.  For the past few morns, it has been unseasonably cool making our adventures even more pleasant.  As we headed down the board path, Ms. Ez's ears perked up telling me that some critter was near.  My eyes were having a bit of difficulty with the morning's bleak lighting to find what she knew was there.  I slowed the pace so we would not frighten whatever was afoot.  This slow pace gave Old Mr. Sun just enough time to throw a few rays of light across the marsh.  The pier was lit enough for me to see just who our visitor was.  Ahhh, a young lad of a Yellow-crowned Night Heron stood gazing back at me!  What a beauty this fellow was!  The juvenile still wore his speckled plumage that told me that he was of this summer's hatchings.  Such a strong young bird was he!

  The Yellow-crowned Night Herons are some of my favorite of the wetlands birds.  They are easily befriended and will actually allow themselves to be handfed.  This makes my visits to the pier delightful! Even Ms. Ez behaves herself as to allow the bird to come nearer.  She knows that if she jumps or bounds the bird will take flight.  That means no extra treats of menhaden for her as well being as I reward her for her patience.  Usually, the Yellow-crowned Night Herons dine upon the fiddler crabs that inhabit the mudflats but they are not above begging for a free handout of menhaden. 

  My early morning encounter was the highlight of my day.  Any little tyke that survives the perils of the Bayou gives hope that life will continue.  It also is a sure sign that the Bayou is healthy and has an abundant food supply.  This little fellow also means that I will have another beggar hanging about the pier!