Heron Enchantment

In large lakes inhabited by water birds, small rafts are often constructed of wood and tires and some vegetation and put to float for birds and aquatic animals to rest on.

When I kayak, I always have my camera, and I most often float or paddle near the shorelines on the lookout for creatures of fur, feather and fin. I was floating, paddle in the boat, when I came up to one of these little islands. My kayak came around, the length of it resting against one side of the float. I began to move along the side using my hand to stay connected and gently push.

I reached the corner, the bow of the kayak swung softly over and I continued along the next side attached in the same manner. My boat and I were below the top surface of the island. I looked up. Directly above me, standing on the raft, was a Great Blue Heron peering down at me. I could have reached up and touched its toes. It could have reached down and speared me like a fish.

Suspended for a moment in time, we gazed at each other, both of us quietly transfixed. Then the movement of the water slowly floated me away. After a time, I picked up my paddle and continued on. The heron stayed on the raft looking in the depths for fish.

A while later, I saw a heron feather floating near the shoreline. I drifted over, put my paddle under the feather and retrieved it.

A memento of a silvery, magical encounter, one of the best in my storehouse of special memories.