Flashback: The Things You Learn From Birds

August 20, 1997 (Megan is 16)

We were canoeing around the lake (N and I) and as we were coming back into the bay we spotted a blue hero on the shore. As we watched, it stared into the water, leaned forward, paused, leaned closer, paused, then shot into the water head first, wings spreading over the surface of the water. When it emerged it was holding a sunfish in its beak. It flew off with the fish to eat it. That was really interesting to see.

Lesson of the heron — prepare yourself quietly, wait patiently, and when your goal is within sight, snatch it up as fast as you can.