Amidst a harsh La Nina year with storms blowing off the Pacific and arctic masses enveloping the land in a mantle of ice, the temperature has finally warmed up, and the faint winter sun breaks through the clouds. So, it doesn’t take long for nature to get all weird.
While this might look like your common park critter, this is British Columbia, and things are not always what they seem. Take this little fellow, he comes out of his hole and just stands there looking at people go by along the seawall. Chubby from his Winter munching, he stands still and observes. He appears hypnotized. Unperturbed by humans walking around him, he simply stares. Maybe he has come out to enjoy the scant sunlight, or maybe he stashed more than cones and nuts in his burrow. This is Vancouver, after all. Whatever the case, it’s unusual behavior for a squirrel and slightly unsettling.
Speaking of creepy, blue herons are quite common in these parts, and there’s a colony nearby. You’ll see them along the shore standing still and keeping an eye on things. If you’re patient and have a few minutes to spare, then you’ll likely see them strike with their long beak and fish out a tasty morsel. You rarely see them doing something active like building rocket ships, but instead, they stand and wait. You know what’s more creepy than one blue heron? Two blue herons. Like the ones standing at opposite ends of this frozen pond. Fishing perhaps? Then again, these are blue herons we’re talking about, so don’t think they won’t take the opportunity to just be freaky.
The duck is perhaps one of the most inoffensive birds, but they’re still odd. Here they are on a pond doing their thing. They swim to and fro, quacking and quacking, alone, in pairs, in threesomes, and more, they just generally mind their business, whatever that may be. The wood duck is one of the most extravagant species in the pond, though other luxurious species have been known to visit these environs. The more astute and brave ones approach humans for a selfie or delicious crumbs. Just don’t bring any dogs. They don’t like dogs, and for good reason.
Let’s get back to the creepy blue herons. We just can’t get enough of them. The Great Blue Heron is one of the three largest in the world. “Opportunistic feeders,” they supplement their fish diet with frogs, baby ducklings, or any small mammal that crosses its path (Bird, 2016). Unlike other birds, one gets the sense that there is a keen and ancient intelligence in that spindly feathery body. It’s all that standing still. If you stand still long enough, then you too will become enlightened and wise, also just as creepy as the blue heron.
One of the herons surprised the onlookers when he began to amble along one side of the path. Everyone stood still, cameras ready, as the bird seemed intent on making things awkward and strange.
On the frozen lagoon, another heron was on the move. He walked across the ice, fluffing his long thin feathers.
Both herons quickened their pace, broke into a run, squawked then flapped their large wings and swung in an arc towards each other, jostling in the air then swinging back, off they went their separate ways.
Weird huh?
People speak about the wonders of nature. Oh look at nature! They say. Isn't it wonderful? So amazing! I beg to differ, gentle reader. I much prefer the orderly and predictable digital info-worlds created by humans for humans. Nature freaks me out. I used to think that it would be wonderful to live in nature and study the behaviour of little creatures, so I could understand the functioning of their nervous system and ultimately understand my own place in the universe. Now, not so much. As I write this, a bunch of pigeons are flying around in circles for no reason, and the humming birds are spying on me. I close the window. So you see, nature is too bizarre for my liking, and like Victoria, she can keep her secrets as far as I’m concerned.
Resources
Bird, David M (2016). Pocket Birds of Canada. DK Canada.