Mysterious Bird

Yesterday when I was outside with the kids I noticed a baby bird walking around. So we went back inside to not make the bird nervous. I went out to check to see if the bird was still there and I didn't see it, so I let the dog out. Of course the bird was blending in with the shurbs near the tree and Collin saw and it and attacked. He broke its wings and then wanted to play with it, but it was very spunky and fought back, even though it was hurt. So I went next door cause the neighbor had caught a bird like this one before and I wanted her to see if it was what she had, and it was. We thought it was a crane. So we called the game warden and they came out to take a look. The thought it was a crane as well. They told me they were going to put a call into the biologist out here and have them come take a look.

This morning at around 9am, I heard a knock at the door. They actually came and quickly, which is unusual for the army lol. The man went back and looked at what we have in the tree. We have 3 green heron nests in the tree. He told me they look like they are getting ready to leave the nest and that is why they are running on the ground. He told me that it is very rare to find them so close to humans. He told me that this may be a once in a lifetime experience. Then I told him that they were here last year and I had no idea what they were. He then asked how long we will be here. I told him at least til 2012. He then asked me if I could give him a call next spring so he can come back and take a look at them. He seemed pretty excited.

To me they look like ducks, but that nest in trees. I had no idea that they were herons. It is really cool that they are in my back yard.