Okay, so on the first morning of the first day of the new+year, the first son yells from the kitchen =
And lo and behold on the neighbor's rooftop was none other than a giant blue stork enjoying a new year's feast.
It was an exciting discovery, yet also a little disturbing all the same - I mean, come on! - we just do not have storks 
so, we grabbed the camera and ran out in our pj's and slippers - and caught up with the blue stork in a nearby creek, searching yet for more slithery things..
After a few shots and a wee bit of research, apparently, we do have snakes in the backyard 
don't believe me? well, looky here folks...er...rather - due to a FTP space overload - look up there folks...
yep...that thar bird up there is called a Great Blue Heron, more commonly known as the Ardea herodias (but some of you probably already knew that...)
it stands 46 inches tall, and has a wing span of 72 inches. 72. I repeat - Se-ven-ty two inches - wing span...why...why...that's a full 6 (SIX) FEET! ...that ain't no tweety bird folks - that's a frickin Boeing 747 sitting in my back yard...
and probably yours too.
For apparently the Ardea herodias is "the most widespread and familiar heron across much of the country, andalso the largest heron in North America." It habitats the wetlands and still water, builds an "untidy-looking" nesting platform of sticks, either in trees, bushes, or cliffs, sometimes up to 100 ft above the ground. It can fly 10-15 miles to where fish (or snakes apparently) are plentiful, to stand patiently in the water or on a bank waiting to spear a catch.
Oh wait..and it also says here - "they also sometimes eat frogs, snakes, and small mammals." huh! small MAMMALS??!!...it's a fricking pterodactyl! hmmm...that might explain the missing cats in the neighborhood...
So thanks to Aunt Flora's Ornithology Lesson #1- the next time you have a shadowy this---->
Thank you. And Happy New Year. I return you now to your regularly scheduled program.
22 comments:
Interesting to say the least! Did your child say "hell"? And exactly how old is this first child, anyway? (I am a sometimes-lurker-never-a-commenter)...see ya again, soon! JAE
the first born son is 20...i excused the colorful language on account of his surprise...which actually was tame compared to my response...but we won't go there...
What in the hell is that! [:O]... [:\]
Great shot Flora, thanks for sharing... Me likey, lots.
~Photo 'B'
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hey A! We have them here in NJ too! One used to come to my neighbors koi pond. First time she saw it...she well, loved it...look how pretty! then she watched in amazement only to find it eating her precious koi!! From then on, she would run out like hell whenever it would try to land on her property!
ah ...nature!
We see great blue herons frequently here. I have watched them at a nearby creek and have seen them fish. It's fantastic!! I also love to see them fly. I was not aware of the extent of their dietary preferences. Quite a lesson you've provided here!!
Happy New Year!!!
Wow! Unbelievable!
Great writing, too!
V
We have some around here, but sightings are not common. They are beautiful! xoxo
What a sight you got to see! Blue herons are awesome birds I think.
Herons have a really cool cry/sound. Almost as cool as loons. :-) How neat to see one in your own backyard.
Very cool!! When I still lived in Florida, I watched a blue heron let go a ten foot long swath of poo as he flew over our parking lot...... in other words, don't stand under them!!!!!
judi
Wow! We never had anything so cool visit our yard. I remember once though four or five HUGE vulture-looking birds perched on the neighbor's house and glared at us. I told my youngest sister they came to carry away bad little children. Haha, I can't WAIT to be a parent.
LOL Most women would be doing a dance of joy that it wasn't dropping off another poop-making monster. ;D
First, I learned about snow melter from Jennifer...now storks from you. I learned two something news today! I think that means my brain gets a day off tomorrow... ;)
~tara
Interesting, Flora, I just saw one of these myself yesterday at a lake in our big Golden Gate Park-- it was grayish-blue. Huge. I stopped to gawk and it flew away and you're right, it was gigantic. Beautiful birds!
And: Happy New Year! Here's to a renewed burst of Co-Grandiose Greatness...
--Albert
Ohh.. that's some kind of bird there, woman!! And snakes??? ::shudder::
Happy New Year, Flora!! :D
That is wild! I used to live in PA and I don't think I ever saw a bird like that. I like the snake eating part though. Saw quite a few of those things. :-) ---Robbie
That's quite a story.
Saw a big gray heron while driving by our lagoons one fall. Did a 180 in the car to get a second look, with the tires making screeching noises and everything. He [she?] turned around with a look of distain and didn't budge a bit. Probably wanted to flip me the bird for disturbing its reverie -- yeah, so, I'm a weird feathered thing, get used to it. Mrs. L
What a magnificent bird. I would appreciate it better if I didn't freeze at reading the word snake. I hate those things, brrrr. Thanks for sharing the pics of the heron, though. She's a beaut.
Sweetie ... the bird is beautiful ..... But if I had storks flying around my house ... at my age ... I'd think I'd go get some ammunition ...... AAAAGGHHH!! Picture helping settle your first born in her college dorm ... and two weeks later walking your youngest to his first day at kindergarten ............... I just knew that the first kid that asked if I was his Grandma ... well ... he was gonna get decked......
Oh ... and Happy New Year to you too! xxxooo
Oh lord, they are in my backyard all the time.. you know what drives them apeshit? I do my Woody Woodpecker laugh, and they scatter! Yes, fun with cruelty to animals...
M
that's so cool!!! i want some here! we only have white ones. once one flew at a very low altitude up my driveway on it's way to the river in my backyard. it was awesome! of course, now i have moved, not as close to the river as i was. :(
I get a couple of pair in the beaver pond every spring, waiting for ice-out on the big lake about a half mile from here. Once they've hatched out their younguns, I see them over here hunting mice and voles to feed their young. But know this - they aren't storks. Thank goodness! I'm too old for that caca.
Merde!
wil
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