Hello!
Humans and the cities we create alter the local environment in many ways.
One thing we do is push out native species of flora and fauna. Of the fauna, birds stand a better chance of surviving human invasions than many others. This may be something to do with the whole flying thing. When I hear birds in the morning, or see them out the window of my office, or soaring in the park, I feel more connected to nature. Birds in the city remind me that nature is still around even in the most urban of settings.
On my way home today I saw a Great Blue Heron on a patch of grass near Kesar Stadium. It was hunting for gophers, and while I was watching it caught one! Elizabeth told me that she saw two Herons the other day on a baseball field in the city. A park ranger told her that they have been spreading out from Stow Lake and have been great for gopher control. The ranger saw a Heron catch 10 gophers in one hour. Yum! Apparently rodents are on the Heron’s regular diet plan.
OMG – seriously – we need a blue heron – we so have a gopher problem — send them to us! Awesome picture – how did you catch that!?
Nice! I’m glad you like the Heron picture. I just happened to see it on my way home and I had my camera in my bag.