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maybe I helped
Saturday, August 23rd, 2014 12:18 amAt lunchtime by the pond, I saw something white near the edge. First it looked like a plastic bag, but then I saw wings spread out over the water. It was an egret, but in an unnatural position for an egret. Was it stuck in the mud maybe? Or was it doing some odd thing peculiar to egrets? I watched it for a while, uncertain. Then I slowly went closer to see if it needed help. But I wouldn't be able to pick it up with my hands - it had a sharp dangerous looking beak. There was a good sized stick nearby, so I took that. The stick was long enough that I didn't need to get my shoes wet and muddy. As I neared it, the egret flapped a bit, but still didn't fly away, so it seemed pretty certain to be stuck.
I think one of its legs must have been tangled up in roots or something. I gently pushed some thick stuff away with the stick, but the egret still didn't break free. It didn't move much at all, except to peck at the stick a few times. It might have been exhausted already to begin with. After trying to free it again a few times, it finally looked like the leg might be free, but the bird still didn't move away. I hoped that its leg wasn't broken.
Maybe having a human with a big stick that close was terrifying it more than being stuck was. I decided that I couldn't do much more, and walked away to my bench to eat, out of sight of the bird. Hopefully, if it put some effort again into freeing itself, it would be able to.
After finishing my lunch, I walked back by the pond. The egret was gone, and I was relieved. I wasn't sure there was anything else I could have done for it.
.
It reminded me of another day at work a few months ago. While working away in my cube, I heard a coworker exclaim "what a beautiful golden dragonfly!". Curious, I went to look. It had gotten into the building and was by the window. Our windows don't open. But fortunately I had a clear plastic container at my desk. I used that along with a thick piece of paper to catch the dragonfly, and then walked it downstairs to let it loose outside. The dragonfly buzzed in the container, making me feel nervous and a bit elated. Yes, maybe anyone looking at me would think it a strange sight, but this is what I do. It's not the first time I've walked an insect outside at work, but it was my first dragonfly. After letting the dragonfly loose, I remembered that I had seen a listless looking bee in the other stairwell on my way out to lunch. As I now had a bug-catcher (ie., container) in my hand anyway, I went to check on it. It was still there, so I scooped it up and took it outside too. Then on my way back inside, there was even a moth fluttering near the door trying to trap itself inside the building too! But I blew at it til it flew away in the right direction.
I think one of its legs must have been tangled up in roots or something. I gently pushed some thick stuff away with the stick, but the egret still didn't break free. It didn't move much at all, except to peck at the stick a few times. It might have been exhausted already to begin with. After trying to free it again a few times, it finally looked like the leg might be free, but the bird still didn't move away. I hoped that its leg wasn't broken.
Maybe having a human with a big stick that close was terrifying it more than being stuck was. I decided that I couldn't do much more, and walked away to my bench to eat, out of sight of the bird. Hopefully, if it put some effort again into freeing itself, it would be able to.
After finishing my lunch, I walked back by the pond. The egret was gone, and I was relieved. I wasn't sure there was anything else I could have done for it.
.
It reminded me of another day at work a few months ago. While working away in my cube, I heard a coworker exclaim "what a beautiful golden dragonfly!". Curious, I went to look. It had gotten into the building and was by the window. Our windows don't open. But fortunately I had a clear plastic container at my desk. I used that along with a thick piece of paper to catch the dragonfly, and then walked it downstairs to let it loose outside. The dragonfly buzzed in the container, making me feel nervous and a bit elated. Yes, maybe anyone looking at me would think it a strange sight, but this is what I do. It's not the first time I've walked an insect outside at work, but it was my first dragonfly. After letting the dragonfly loose, I remembered that I had seen a listless looking bee in the other stairwell on my way out to lunch. As I now had a bug-catcher (ie., container) in my hand anyway, I went to check on it. It was still there, so I scooped it up and took it outside too. Then on my way back inside, there was even a moth fluttering near the door trying to trap itself inside the building too! But I blew at it til it flew away in the right direction.