[MDOsprey] Herons Tragedy in Baltimore
Peter Webb (pwebb@bcpl.net)
Wed, 16 Jun 1999 20:34:13 -0700
Sound the pipes lowly and play the drums slowly,
there's no joy in Mudville tonight, regardless of
the baseball game.
Last Wednesday, June 9, was the last day we heard
the baby Yellow-crowned Night-heron beg for food.
We thought we were simply missing the event, but wondered
what all the "cow" squawks were about (they sound the same
as Green Heron squawks, at least the lower pitched ones).
When on Monday we still hadn't heard the baby begging for food,
we got worried. Tuesday morning, June 15, was the last we saw
of the adults. Wednesday evening, I looked up on the roof in a
spot visible only from one corner of the yard, and discovered
the partially decomposed remains of the little one, about
half again as large as a crow, with primaries grown in but still
sheathed on the wings. We haven't seen any adults around since
Tuesday morning, and must conclude that the show's over, at least
this year, this century, this millenium, etc., and perhaps forever.
A moment of silent reflection on the passing of the heronlet, please.
(sigh)
Pete Webb
Baltimore, Maryland (U.S.)
pwebb@bcpl.net