After finishing a tree planting session in Arlington today some of my
students found a dead Great Blue Heron in a field. They circled around it,
examined its huge beak and long legs. Using plastic bags as gloves, one
lifted the bird to get a better look at the wings. One of the students asked
me what I thought and I told them to be respectful, they were being watched.
Not far away, but nicely hidden in some brush was a live Heron watching
them. They all looked around and finally one of the kids spotted the live
heron. They became convinced that it was the dead birds mate and they oh so
gently put the bird down, arranging it carefully and then respectfully
stepping away. There was an interesting conversation on the bus and back at
school about how kids felt towards the bird, and a few expressed regrets
that they had sort of poked at the dead bird. It led to flurry of inquiry
into Great blue herons and many questions. Its days like this that I am
reminded why I teach.

Rob Sandelin
Naturalist, Writer, Teacher
Snohomish County