Beauty Before A Storm

   Some pretty bad storms hit the area tonight but, earlier in the day, it was relatively nice.  The sun was shining and it was warm despite the stiff winds coming from across the Bay.  Several times, I went down to the pier to check the small skiff.  Son (even with his broken toe) and I had spent an hour last night trying to secure the skiff in the small inlet.  We finally managed to get it over the marsh and then tied off to the posts.  There, it could ride out the storms without bother.

  On one of the walks to the pier, I noticed a lovely egret wading in the shallows.  The bird was hunting breakfast and there was plenty to be found in the muddy waters of the Bayou.  Since there was not much else to do at the moment, I sat and watched the bird.  Snowy Egrets are stalkers.  They either stand motionless and wait for hapless fish to swim past or they slowly wade near the shoreline and catch fish when they become startled.  The dagger-like bill gives a deadly jab when the bird strikes.  This egret was snatching mullet with ease.  

  It always marvels me that these snow-white birds can stay so clean while sloshing about in the muddy shallows.  Nary a speck of mud nor debris could be seen on the showy plumes.  If that had been me out there, I would have been one muddy mess!  Not the bird. The feathers literally gleamed! I might have been a tad envious...maybe.

Spending Time With The Egrets!

   As usual, I headed to the pier before dawn to get a "catch" of my sanity.  It seems that time spent there watching the sunrise can bring an inner peace that cannot be found elsewhere.  After that half-hour of time contemplating the day behind and the day to come, I am ready to move onward.  The tranquility sets the pace for the day.  

  While the sunrise was gorgeous, the later moments were even more exhilarating.   The sun was well above the horizon when I turned to head back up the pier to the Little Bayou House.   Just as I was reaching the "cut" (a small wallow in the marsh where we shelter the skiff during storms), several snowy egrets decided to come to breakfast.  Thousands of small bull minnows were trapped in the shallows so the birds would eat well.  My walk was instantly halted.  It was time to enjoy nature at its fullest!  Sitting down on the pier, my photo session with the birds started.  As time went by, more egrets joined our party until there were 15 snowies and 1 great egret in the group.  The birds paid no attention to me even though they fully aware of my presence.  They were simply engrossed in feasting on the minnows.  

  Needless to say, my time on the pier went well past the usual time limit and nigh on 50 photographs were taken of the lovely birds.  For the rest of the day, my thoughts were on the unlikely encounter and, even more, unlikely interaction.  It was time well-spent, as far as I am concerned.  

Lessons from the Herons

   I have often said that not many folks would want to live as I do.  I prefer to not get caught up in the hullabaloo of the modern world.  Yes, I have modern convenience galore but I never wish to be totally dependent on them.  It is my belief that if things ever hit the fan and our current way of life is no more, many folks would not know how to survive.  I want to, at least, have a going chance!  So, I do things, learn things and live things so that nothing is going to be a surprise.  One of the things that has helped me tremendously is watching the critters of the Bayou.  If they can survive the harshness, then perhaps, there is a lesson to be learned...or many lessons, for that matter. 

  This morning was drizzly, not too cold but chilly and windy.  That would not daunt me.  A hike is a daily ritual so a little inclement weather would not stand in the way.  This is when I clear my mind and prepare to face the day no matter what is thrown at me.  In the early morning light, the only other critters out were the birds.  My choice of viewing took a turn to the shorebirds as they hunted breakfast.  The birds knew that they would have to have full bellies to survive the bitter cold that is to fall upon us this evening and linger around for the next few days.  A lovely Snowy Egret stalked tiny minnows in the shallows.  The slight rain did not deter it from its task.  Nor did those raindrops hamper the fishing of the Great Blue Heron.  As do most herons, these two were slowly...very slowly stalking their prey.  They move through the waters with grace and then the head plunges and the sharp bill snaps closed.  Success!  One fish to start the meal.  Neither bird seemed to notice the other as they waded down the shore line.  Both fully preparing for what was to come.

  Folks, this is how we should be.  We should be intent on preparing for ourselves and not be bickering with each other.  If we minded our own business and took care of ourselves, we would be far better.  Life would be much simpler. There are great lessons to be learned and great deeds to be done.  Live happy. 

The Pier And A Visitor

  While it is far from being complete, it is sure nice to be back on the pier again.  Rebuilding the entire thing after Hurricane Zeta decided to crash it, has been an ordeal, to say the least.  Plus, with the limitations set on me, I can do very little to help Son.  It is hard work and I feel terrible not being able to haul the planks to him.  He insists that I do "light" work.  My heart insists I do light work.  My brain still thinks the body should be in high gear.  Too bad.

  This morning, I was able to get about three quarters of the way to the end of the pier.  The large platform where we usually fish is still up the hillside somewhere.  It felt good to be this far!  While I was enjoying the morning, an egret flew in to visit for a spell.  This is "Bianca".  She has been around for quite some time now and is totally confused as to why I am not feeding her.  She would often come after Moe, the Great Blue Heron had left for the day.  Bianca is a small Snowy Egret who surely did not want to compete for handouts with the much larger Moe.

  Bianca and I sat for the longest time just enjoying each other's company.  I am sure she, too, will be grateful when the pier is complete.  For now, she forages on the mudflats.  A bit of unproven lore is that Snowy Egrets have an innate ability to recognize venomous snakes over non-venomous. Like I said...unproven but seems likely. These birds will happily gobble down a small water snake but will avoid the cottonmouths.  Smart birds!  

Wearing the Finest!

  After working all day yesterday, Son and I were picking up our tools when, suddenly, I saw a flock of birds!  Son always tells me that I have a very short attention span and that I am easily amused so it was no small wonder that I had to hustle down to the pier to investigate.  I figured that these had to be egrets since they were white but I had never seen so many flock together!  Easing my way down the board path, I was careful not to flush the birds from their spot.  I wanted to get past the groundsel bushes so a clear photograph could be taken.  I needn't have fretted.  This flock of thirty or so birds (half on the pier, half in the marsh) was not going anywhere!  They were intent on resting a bit.  I was able to get within about forty feet from the flock.  There, I sat in awe.  The birds were gorgeous!  Their gleaming white feathers were offset by pinkish gold crowns, chest and back feathers!  Oh, my!

  When I saw the colors, it was immediately evident that these were visitors to the Bayou.  Once a year, flocks of Cattle Egrets fly in just to let me admire their breeding plumage! (At least, I figure that is why they come!...Oh, yeah. Son says I have a very vivid imagination, too, but we won't go there, now will we?)  There were twenty-nine Cattle Egrets and one Snowy Egret in this flock.  Wait! What?  Why was that Snowy in there??  

  The birds allowed me to visit without worry.  Then, suddenly, half of them hopped down into the marsh and started searching for fiddler crabs or insects (I could not decide which).  As I watched the last few hopped one by one to join the others.  They made no effort to go any further than just off the pier and did not seem to mind that I shifted positions occasionally to swipe away mosquitoes and gnats.  

  The flock of Cattle Egrets stayed overnight on the pier then headed off into the back of the Bayou.  I suppose the stormy weather urged them on their way as it was not long before the pier was underwater and the winds were pounding the Bayou.  I am thankful for the time I got to spend watching the birds and viewing their incredible beauty.  If I ever again hear anyone say "Oh, those are JUST Cattle Egrets.", I will likely whip out the photos and prove to them that the birds are stunningly beautiful.  I am glad they graced the Bayou with their presence even though it was a short-lived visit.  See you next year, Pretty Birds!  I look forward to seeing you dressed in your Easter finery!

The Busy Morning

  It was rather chilly out on the pier this morning.  With the temperature in the upper thirties, I had to watch my step for fear of slipping on the frost-covered pier planks.  I was fully not expecting others to be out on the water but, to my surprise, the place was quite active.  The north wind had pushed the tide far out exposing the mudflats for some distance.  Those mudflats and the shallows were teeming with activity as all sorts of critters were hunting breakfast.

  A group of mottled ducks were the first that I noticed.  It seemed that they kept their heads under the water more than above.  They were shuffling the bottom to muddy the waters.  This allowed them to confuse the small mullet and bull minnows swimming there.   Along with the mottled ducks was a pair of hooded mergansers.  These, too, were busy feasting on the little fish.  I was surprised to see the two types of ducks mingling.  The hoodies are a much smaller type of duck than the mottleds but they had no problem working together to find their morning meal.  I watched  the ducks for a few moments before I noticed yet another critter joining the feeding frenzy.  A snowy egret flew in to the open diner.  This gorgeous bird stepped gingerly in the shallows and dipped its beak often.  It always came up with a tasty morsel!  Imagine my surprise when a tri-colored heron joined this motley crew!  This bird, too, caught its breakfast with ease.  The sight fully amazed me.  I was so impressed that each of these birds seemed oblivious to the fact that it was dining alongside of those different than itself.  The sole intent was to fill the belly on this cold morning.  But...I was being chilled to the bone and decided to head back to the warmth of the wood stove.  I rose from the bench, looked up and was floored!  Yet another critter wandered to the area to dine.  A lone raccoon waddled out of the marsh and started scavenging the mudflats for trapped minnows.  After a few moments, the coon waded out to share in the bounty the others were enjoying.  All in all, six mottled ducks, two hooded mergansers, one snowy egret, one tri-colored heron and a lone raccoon feasted upon the minnows that had been flushed out of the marshes by the low tide.  It was definitely a busy, busy morning on the Bayou!

One Legged Birds?

  If you ever wander about a bayou like I often do, you start to ponder the whys and wherefores of a lot of things.  Just this morning, a questioned rambled about in the brain for a while even though I knew the "scientific" answer.  The mind-boggling part had nothing to do with the question of why shorebirds will stand on one leg but had everything to do with if they actually like standing on one leg.  It is a well-known fact that the herons, egrets and cranes around here stand on one leg to keep the other one snug up in their feathers.  Their long, spindly legs lose a lot of heat on these cold nights and mornings so standing on one while the other leg is tucked up under the feathers conserves a lot of heat...but do they like it?  Are they comfortable standing there for hours?  How do they not fall over?  (Think about it...would you be able to stand like that for hours?  I would not!)

  This morning, there were two birds on the end of the pier.  One was a tri-colored heron and the other a snowy egret.  Both were standing in their "unipedal" position, both were staring straight toward my brother's pier and both were oblivious to my presence.   There was just enough breeze to make the birds wobble a bit, now and again.  This is when the all-important question of whether they were happy started squirming its way into my mind.  Oh, how delightful it would be to converse with my fine feathered friends.  But, alas, that is not possible so the answer will never be known.

  I sat on the pier watching the birds for a good while.  Only once did they change positions and swap legs.  In fact, they did this in sync!  It was almost as if a timer was set and it was beeping a loud alarm saying "Time to swap legs!"  Watching them, I had to think how nice and warm their feather must feel to that cold leg! Speaking of warmth, it was time to head back inside.  It was, indeed, a bit chilly out and I do not plan on standing on one leg while tucking the other up in my jacket!

Easy to see...

  Sometimes to those not familiar with bayou life, things can be a bit hazy as to why I love it here.  Trying to explain that I do not feel the need to have the cushy life of others is like talking to the side of a barn.  It is apparent that not many folks have the keen interest in the area that I do.  So be it.  As I have often said, I prefer the critter friends to human ones anyway.  They do not judge me for who I am.  

  Two of my critter friends came to see me early this morning.  It is getting to be a regular thing to throw the net merely to feed the birds.  This morning's breakfast of menhaden was served to two egrets...a Snowy Egret and a Great Egret.  Just as a note here, all egrets are herons but not all herons are egrets.  They just all live as one big, happy family of herons with different feathers.  The two egrets this morning were both white but were vastly different.  This difference is easy to see when you know what to look for in the description of the birds.  The Snowy is much smaller.  It has a black bill and bright yellow feet!  A Great Egret is nearly twice the size of the Snowy.  It has a bright yellow bill and black feet!  Their bills and feet are just the opposite colors! Easy-peasy way of identifying these two beautiful birds!

  It is things like this that make life here interesting.  I have the privilege of seeing these things first hand and on a daily basis.  I do not have to be content just being confined within  four walls.  THAT...is not what I call living.  Sorry, folks.  You can have all the money in the world and still not have a life.  Or...you can be content where you are and be at peace with the world.  I choose the latter.

Clean Bird Stirring Up a Bit of Mud!

  Just before sunrise the other morning, Mark and I headed to the pier.  We wanted to catch a few fish for our lunch but had a busy day ahead of us so our fishing had to be done early.  Just as we stepped on the pier, Mark called my attention to a lovely Snowy Egret working the mudflats.  The bird was slowly stirring up the mud in the shallows.  This one-footed technique usually can flush out even the stealthiest minnows.  The bird would softly place one of its bright yellow feet in the water then start to "stir" with a circular motion.  The muddy water would cause minnows that were in hiding to seek cleaner water.  It is hard to "breathe" when the mud is thick.  The egret would then snatch of its breakfast with ease.  It was interesting to watch the bird in action.

 I knew about the bird's fishing technique because watching them is a favorite pastime.  What still confuses me is just how spotlessly clean the birds stay regardless of the fact that they are playing in some pretty nasty mud.  No amount of detergent nor bleach can get this mud from our clothes but the bird can stay immaculate while wading in the mud.  I am not sure how they do this but it would be awfully nice if they shared their secret!  

Always a Way

  When things are not going your way or just seem to be too hard to tackle, look for a different method.  There is always another way of doing things.  Don't make things more difficult than need be!  That old saying "Where there is a will, there is a way!" makes a lot of sense.  Step back. take a deep breath and look for an alternate route.  It is there but sometimes we refuse to see it.

  This morning while on the pier, Moe came to get breakfast.  There is nothing unusual about this as the heron has now grown accustomed to visiting and follows me about the pier as I throw the net.  He and I get along well.  Then another bayou friend came to visit.  A small snowy egret joined us but Moe was being a bit rude.  He did not want to share the minnows even though there were plenty.  I reprimanded Moe and reminded him that the little snowy was my friend, too.  Still, Moe would chase the much smaller bird whenever he tried to eat.  "MOE!!! Quit that!!  You share the minnows!" I told him but, as soon as I turned my back, Moe would be back to his bad behavior.

  After the third time of Moe being ugly, the little snowy decided that things needed to be different.  He flew up on a pier post to ponder how he would get to eat.  He then noticed that one post had a platform on top and that platform was low enough to be easily accessed by me!  The little snowy flew to the platform and softly squawked.  This was my cue that he was ready to eat in peace.  With each throw of the net, I emptied the dozens of menhaden on the pier for Moe but always grabbed a handful for the snowy.  At first, the snowy would fly to the other post until I walked away from the platform but after just a couple of times of me putting the menhaden on the board, he started staying put.  He knew I was not going to hurt him and he knew that Moe would not chase him.  

  It now looks like I may have another bird to feed each day.  This makes me happy since I adore my critter friends.  Hopefully, they will start eating in peace together.  Moe just needs to learn some manners!

A Popular Diner

  For the past few weeks, I have been feeding a friendly Great Blue Heron (also known as a Bayou Ostrich thanks to my little granddaughter, Mary Ruth.)!  The bird is becoming quite tame and comes running up the pier whenever it sees me pick up the net.  Once I have a good catch, the young heron eats to its heart's content.  With its belly full, the little fellow flies to a post to watch my every move.  Then, before I leave the pier, I have to feed it another meal.  This is fine as long as there are plenty of little mullet or menhaden in the Bay.  A couple of casts of the net and the meal is served.  But...things changed today.

  As usual when I went to the pier, the bird flew in behind me.  When I picked up the net, he came running and followed me as I cast.  The catch was dumped on the  pier boards so the bird could feast but before he could finish his meal, others came. That rascal had evidently told all of his buddies that a free meal could be had if they came to the diner on the pier!  A motley bunch of beggars came to lunch.  Besides the heron (ostrich?), a Snowy Egret, a Common Tern and a Laughing Gull enjoyed a fine meal of menhaden.  The heron was given some extra treats of little mullet since he has been coming the longest.

  With this crazy crew, I had to throw the net several more times to catch enough minnows.  At one point, the gull decided that he did not want to share the meal.   He flew to the mound of menhaden and gulped down about twenty of the little fish before the other three birds could reach the spot.  It did not take long before the Snowy took command and chased the greedy gull away!  The other three shared a peaceful meal while the gull glared from the pier post.  So....I wonder who will come to breakfast at the pier diner tomorrow??  If this group keeps growing, I may need a bigger net!

Are We Forgetting??

  Two of my favorite shorebirds made a visit to the pier this morning.  Not that either of these are rare nor that their appearance is something special to other folks, it is just that I like them.  Both are members of the heron family. Both are egrets.  Both are white.  They are not the same type bird.  One is a Snowy Egret while the other is a Great Egret.  The one in the foreground of the photograph is the Snowy Egret.  It is smaller, has bright yellow feet and a black bill (with just a touch of yellow).  The one in the background is the Great Egret.  It has black legs, a bright yellow bill and is much larger.

  
  Both birds, however, have something else in common other than being egrets.  Back during the nineteenth century, egrets were nearly annihilated.  To adorn ladies' hats, the birds were hunted nearly to extinction.  The large, white plumes brought such an exorbitant price that the birds were killed in great masses.  This brought about the demand that laws be passed to protect birds and the National Audubon Society worked tirelessly to help the all birds.  They chose the egret as their symbol. In the twentieth century while being protected, the bird recovered rapidly.  The Migratory bird Protection Treaty gave the birds a chance.  Now, however, that protection has changed.  "Accidental" or "Incidental" deaths will be swept through a loophole and not be punishable.  This is saddening.  While this may not seem like a great deal, knowing how things get pushed and shoved around to benefit big business, the birds are the ones that will suffer and that, in itself, will hurt us all.

   As I sat watching the egrets on the pier, I thought of how it would break my heart if my grandlittles were deprived of the chance to view these beautiful birds and any others.  Yep, regulations are there for a reason.......too bad they can be bent, twisted and otherwise distorted to benefit big business.  Things happen when folks turn a blind eye toward those in power.

Who needs swans??

  Ever since I was a wee tot, I heard about the gorgeous, elegant swans that could be seen places far from the Bayou.  I was shown pictures of the birds and was fully enamored by their beauty.  To a kid more accustomed to seeing chickens and turkeys, swans and peacocks seemed to be birds that could only be found at palaces!  To this day, I think both are gorgeous and rightly deserve all of the awe that I felt for them.  Still, as I grew to adulthood, I came to realize that other birds were equally beautiful.  As for that matter, each bird (and critter) is just as lovely in its own right.  

  While on the pier, I watch the shorebirds as they scavenge the mudflats for a morsel to have as breakfast.  It occurred to me that, while swans are beautiful, they have nothing on my egrets.   The snow-white plumes, the long slender legs and the bright yellow feet all add to the magnificence of these birds.  The Snowy Egret is one of the more graceful of the shorebirds.  It wades along in the shallows and uses those bright yellow feet to stir up the muddy bottom.  This causes tiny shrimp to scatter in confusion and gives the bird a chance to feast.  

  Yesterday, I watched as the Snowy Egret put on quite the show.  Even though it bathed in the muddy Bayou waters, its plumes sparkled.  After a bit, the egret gracefully stepped up on a gnarled log to prod the rotted wood for hidden crustaceans.  There was not a speck of mud to be seen on the bird!  Yep, who needs swans when Snowy Egrets are just as fine!  Beauty is where you look for it....even in the muddy waters of the Bayou.

Friends Stick Together

  I could stand it no longer.  Being cooped up is not for me.  I decided to brave the cold and take a good long hike about the place.  Mr. PJ, the old dog, decided to decline the offer of a two hour walk and preferred his cozy bed.  I, on the other hand, needed to escape the confines of the Little Bayou House and breathe.  I stoked the woodstove, closed down the damper and donned the jacket.  I was out of here!

  To kill two birds with one stone (as if I was ever inclined to kill a bird), I headed far back behind the house and into the woods.  Combining a hike and chores is always a good thing!  A couple of days earlier, I had spied some logs that would make great firewood.  Those were hauled to the house to be cut.  Then, I was free to head to the marshes and pier.  Not much was happening at the marsh edge but the mudflats by the pier were full of activity.  Five birds were feeding along the shallows and put on quite the show.  One Great Blue Heron, three Tri-colored Herons and one Snowy Egret performed an exquisite ballet while trying to catch small minnows.  The Great Blue kept his distance from the others but the Tri-colors and Snowy worked together to catch their prey.  It seemed that one Tri-color was particularly fond of hunting with the Snowy and never let much distance get between them. 

 

  The birds used a rather unusual tactic to flush the minnows.  They would sort of hop, skip and pounce instead of using a stealth approach.  All four of the smaller birds were using this technique.  One would spread its wings as if to take off in flight, make a mere "hop" into the air, land a few feet away and then bob for the kill.  The Tri-color and Snowy seemed to be collaborating their methods and sharing their take.  It was a rather unique experience to sit and watch this show.  

  The shorebirds are taking full advantage of the winter tides and are working the mudflats to their advantage.  With the low, low tide, the flats are extensive giving the birds a wider choice of hunting grounds.  They need this extra nutrition to survive the bitter cold that we have had this week.  It seems that the struggle for survival has made friends out of strangers.  Seeing the birds all working for a common goal sure made me wish that people would do the same.  No wonder I love my critter friends so much.

The Congregation is Growing!

  Yesterday, two cattle egrets and one great egret sat on the pier in the warm sunshine.  They did the all too familiar "one-legged" stance and made quite the impressive sight.  I was happy to see them there even though they do..umm..mess up the place somewhat.  That does not bother me as a good rainstorm cleans the old pier boards rather well.  

  Today, the egrets returned but a few new members had joined the congregation!  (For those curious, yes, a group of egrets is often referred to as a "congregation".)  This time, the original trio were there but three snowy egrets had come to share the space.  While my brother's pier has been the common roost for pelicans, it seems that ours is the choice of egrets.  Nice!

  It is not uncommon for a variety of herons and egrets to share a common resting spot but they are not gathering for any particular reason.  The convenience of the place in accordance to a food supply is more likely the reason for this congregating.  The birds will share a nesting ground simply due to the fact that there is safety in numbers.  Egrets are vulnerable to disruptions by humans during their breeding/nesting period, however.  The birds have been known to abandon nests purely due to human presence under their nest sites.  The back of the Bayou used to be home to a heronry of quite some size but the building of new homes on the opposite shore disrupted the birds.  Most left the area.  A few have moved to a more secluded area near where the creek feeds into the Bayou far behind the Little Bayou House.  This area is completely shut off from "progress" as it is surrounded by the woods of our property.  It is my hope that the birds will feel safe enough there to continue their nesting.  Perhaps my congregation can return to its full glory of several hundred of these elegant birds!

Tell Us Your Secret!

  I am bewildered.  How in the world do egrets stay so spotlessly clean? Their brilliant white plumage never shows a speck of mud even though they slosh around in some of the ickiest sludge known to man.  Bayou mud sticks to everything and is nigh on impossible to remove.  If there is one thing that I have learned living this close to marsh, mudflats and brackish water, it is to always wear your oldest clothes if you are out hiking.  A pair of jeans, an old shirt and either hiking boots or leather moccasins are my choice.  Just never....ever...wear white!  If you do, you are just asking for trouble.  This mud won't even bleach out of clothing. But those birds...those gleaming white birds never seem to get muddy.  I love to watch the Snowy Egrets as they stalk their prey in the shallows of the Bayou.  They are gorgeous birds. 

  The other day, Mark pointed to a feather in the marsh.  Obviously, it came from an egret as it is molting time for them.  They are getting their breeding plumage now so a feather can be found in the marsh or on the shoreline occasionally.  This feather was found near the mudflats so was covered with the dark crud.  Idea!  I would fish out the feather and see just how easily it cleans!  Why?  Curiosity.  

  The feather was washed, soaped, scrubbed and finally bleached.  It was still stained and nasty.  With all of my work, I still had no idea how the birds stay so immaculately clean.  What a breakthrough in the laundry world it would be if we could only figure out their secret!  Oh, and take a hint from me....do NOT wear white on the Bayou! 

Peace, Harmony and Snowy Egrets

  Years ago, I was told that Native Americans (especially those southern tribes) viewed the Snowy Egret as a symbol of peace.  Tribal elders who were the diplomats for their people would wear the egret feathers instead of the eagle feathers worn by warriors.  It makes sense as the the eagle represented fierceness, strength and power but the calmness, grace and beauty of the egret spoke greatly of harmony.  It was said that those who chose to be like the Snowy Egret could find the much sought after inner peace and harmony of the soul.

  I observe the birds and other critters of the Bayou.  It does seem to me that the legend attached to the Snowy Egret is fitting.  Just watching the bird is calming in itself but I have yet to see a Snowy riled.  Other shorebirds will squabble over food or roosting spots at times but the little Snowy seems to abhor conflict.  It goes about its business quietly. They are not raucous like the gulls or even scrappy like their cousins the herons.  

  Snowy Egrets shuffle their feet through the shallows to stir up any minnows, shrimp or tiny crabs that are hiding beneath the water.  They seem to work alone and do not even recognize or notice other egrets in the area.  These birds are content with their solitude and only seek companionship during mating and nesting.  Then they will nest in colonies to prevent predators from seeking out the single nest. Protecting the nest is the only time that Snowy Egrets become aggressive.  In a colony, all of the birds help to protect the nests.

  A juvenile Snowy (notice the greenish legs identifying this one as a youngster) fished for its breakfast near the pier the other morning.  It never once seemed to mind that I was just a few feet from it as it snatched up baby shrimp out of the waves.  As I watched  it, I became fully aware of just how calm the bird is.  Even its sweet face showed peace!  What an ideal bird to symbol harmony.  Love the Snowies!

White!

  Usually in wintertime when one mentions white, the thoughts turn to snow.  That does not happen so often this far south.  White can mean a totally different thing on the Bayou.  Instantaneously, my thoughts turn to pelicans!  During the colder months, we are visited quite frequently by the beautiful White Pelicans.  Their snowy feathers seem to shine most brilliantly during the sunny days but even during the cold, gray days of winter, the white sparkles against the dark waters. Those, the Great Egrets and the Little Snowy Egrets all intrigue me.  It never ceases to amaze me how these birds stay so clean while out and about the Bayou.  They traipse about the mudflats, stand tall in the marsh or swim in the muddy waters yet their plumage is always dazzling white. How?  How can they do this while I become quite muddy just thinking about that mire!  

  I do a lot of critter watching and have noticed that these are not the only visitors to the Bayou that manage to stay clean even during the muddiest seasons.  I watched as a red fox trotted along the marsh edge.  The tip of his fluffy tail stood out like a white flag but never muddied.  The ospreys, ducks, grebes stay clean.  The rabbits', nutrias' and otters' fur never mats.  As matter of fact, the only two critters that I have ever seen grimy with mud are Ms. Ez when she fell off the pier and any raccoon that digs for clams.

  There has to be some secret of fur/feather cleaning of which I am not aware.  I sure wish I did know!  This secret would make laundry day a breeze!  Imagine!  Just imagine!

Watching the Critters

  Sometimes critters are better at being neighborly than people are.  Not that I have any problems whatsoever with my neighbors as I have the best but critters seem to just get along when need be.  It is a rare animal that kills for the sake of killing. Yes, they do have a tendency to see everything as a food source but even that can be overcome at times.

  Now while I realize that shorebirds do not usually go around eating each other, it surprises me how they can work together for the good of all.  Herons and egrets are great at cooperating during feeding time.  I watched two egrets, a Great Egret and a Snowy Egret, while they worked the mudflats to find breakfast.  Tiny bull minnows were darting about in the shallows but it took the two birds working together to catch a fine feast. The Great White Egret would stand casting a shadow on the waters while the Snowy shuffled its feet to stir up the mud.  The minnows would then try to get to clearer water and both birds would snatch them in swift jabs.  Alongside of the two larger birds, a small rail waded snatching her share of fiddler crabs that raced to get away from all of the commotion.  This was not an accidental meeting of the minds. These three birds are on the flats with every low tide.  They work together as a team and all three eat well as a result.

   I am constantly hearing the phrase "that person is no better than an animal" when folks are discussing some recent crime spree. This irks me as I do not feel this is accurate.  Seeing how humans seem to be the most aggravating and unruly of all species, it might be a good idea if we all took lessons from the critters.  Perhaps if more folks took the time to truly sit and watch the critters around them, they would strive to be more "neighborly".

     It is calming to be out in nature, Folks!  It is good for you.   Plus, you might just learn a thing or two if you do watch the critters....any critters.