Clap Hands

Speaking of the great blue heron, I saw one on my hour run (between now and my earlier posting about the great blue in flight and the little green heron, on the ground). It did not take wing and fly, however, as it was quite used to folks going by (across the pond) on the Greenway near Bur-Mil Park, Greensboro, NC.

I could have clapped my hands and probably would have seen its impressive take-off.

Speaking of Henry Beston's "The Outermost House", he writes, of the added benefit of watching birds in flight, as opposed to on the ground: "Not only do colours and new arrangements of colours appear in flight, there is also a revelation of personality. Study your birds on the ground as you will, but once you have thus observed them and studied their loveliness, do not be afraid to clap your hands and send them off into the air. They will take no real alarm and will soon forgive you. Watch birds flying."