Skipper-Hopper!

  Son and I were on the pier earlier when an old friend came to visit.  A few months back, a young Great Blue Heron was in dire need of a helping hand.  It had obviously been wounded (either by alligator or human).  Its foot had nigh on been amputated and was highly infected. The poor bird was unable to hunt for its supper.  It was starving to death.  I immediately called the animal rescue and received an unsatisfactory answer. "Let it alone.  It most likely will die but there are lots of herons so the loss of one won't matter."  How cruel!  I thought to myself that this was no animal "rescue" at all.  This made me more determined than ever to help the bird.  We all chipped in and caught plenty for the bird to eat.  It survived.  It thrived.  Regardless of the never healing foot, the bird lived and became a permanent fixture in the area.

  This was the same bird that came to visit today.  Dubbed "Skipper-Hopper by Darling Daughter and her husband, the heron has grown.  It now has its adult plumage and is gorgeous.  If one did not know better, the heron seems like a perfectly healthy bird.  

  All of this just goes to show that, occasionally, a helping hand is needed.  This friend in need has become a friend indeed.  Today the bird showed me how it can catch mullet and feed itself.  We will still offer it assistance whenever it comes to visit but at least we know it can survive. I will NEVER ignore an animal in need and believe "the loss of one won't matter."  All life matters.