Backyard Visitor

[carolinayellowdog]

37. as an avid kayaker I've been awestruck by their beauty for years, and perplexed by one behavior

Dozens of times, on many different rivers, I've come around a curve and seen a Great Blue ahead, noticed it noticing me, and then the same thing happens. S/he flies slowly downstream, waits a hundred yards ahead for me to get within sight, then takes off when I'm within the same distance I was the last time... rinse and repeat. It can go on for miles as if the bird imagines it is guiding me down the river.

Not once have I seen one fly upstream or perpendicular to the river; it's always downstream and always keeping a certain distance ahead, just enough to let me keep getting in sight. This seems playful to me, and when dolphins have done similar behaviors I know their mammal brains intended to interact with me. But with the herons there may be some sensible non-anthropomorphic scientific explanation of this "lead you down the river for miles" behavior which many paddler friends have also commented on. And which might have contributed to JPR's feelings about their specialness.

Thanks for the wonderful pics which bring back fond memories.