Ranger Kathryn's Arches

April 17, 2011

Olive branch? Heron stick!

Great Blue Heron offering stick for nest (google image)

He, larger and bluer than she, flew in from upriver with a stick in his beak. No doubt it had been carefully selected from among many along the Colorado River, as he wanted only the best for his lady and for their nest. Landing his 4-foot frame in an ungainly fashion and flapping his wings for balance, he presented her the smooth dead branch. She accepted it and began tucking it into the nest beneath her.

That’s how it begins, my friends… with one stick. Herons’ sticks are my new metaphor for relationship-building, friendship-strengthening, peace-making. Great Blue Herons are my teachers. Pick a relationship today — it can be any relationship. Pick a suitable stick. Offer that small stick humbly, and see how it is accepted. It takes only one to start.

2 Comments »

  1. Agreed.
    I never cease to be amazed at how well the animals have things worked out – and how little they tend to get in the way of those long-worked-out solutions.
    Makes one wonder if sentience is all it’s cracked up to be. ;-?

    Comment by leroque — April 17, 2011 @ 11:59 am | Reply

  2. so now
    i’m confused. what about the old saying, “sticks and stones will break my bones”……….????

    Comment by john — April 18, 2011 @ 6:05 am | Reply


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