Heron Does Not Live By Fish Alone January 15, 2012
Posted by nrhatch in Animals, Food & Drink, Nature.comments closed
I learned something new today.
Just as “man does not live by bread alone,” Great Blue Heron does not live by fish alone.
Herons also eat rats!
I saw a Great Blue Heron in the lagoon catch, drown, and eat a rat (that seemed far too large to fit down its gullet).
When it started to swallow the rat, whole, I held my breath, wondering whether the bird had bitten off more than it could chew . . . or swallow.
After a few gulps, and sips of water, the hungry heron managed to down the drowned rat without mishap.
Surprised . . . I did a quick cybersearch and found out that others have observed similar fare on the Heron’s menu:
Here’s another from start . . . to finish:
Who knew?
Did you?
From Wikipedia: The primary food for Great Blue Heron is small fish, though it is also known to feed on a wide range of shrimp, crabs, aquatic insects, rodents and other small mammals, amphibians, reptiles, and small birds. Herons locate their food by sight and usually swallow it whole.
Herons have been known to choke on prey that is too large.
What Makes You, You? January 15, 2012
Posted by nrhatch in Humor, Mindfulness, People.comments closed
Rik posted a piece of poetic prose yesterday . . . Imperfect Knowledge.
Reading it, reminded me of all the time I’ve spent in my life trying to understand where others were coming from.
Without making much progress.
Why did I think it was so important to understand what made other people tick?
I’m not sure.
Maybe I wanted to be in a position to predict their future behavior . . . to lessen the uncertainty in my life.
Maybe I wanted to figure out where they “went wrong” so I could help them get back on track and get all their “ducks in a row.”
Quack!
The Ego is like that. It believes it should not only mind its own business, it should mind everyone else’s business as well.
I realize now that trying to understand others is probably not a good use of the limited time we have here. We can never hope to fully understand another or to have them fully understand us.
We have as many reputations as we have acquaintances . . . and NONE is accurate. Not only is their perspective limited, they are viewing us through the “clouded lens” of their own experiences. As a result, the impressions others hold of us have more to do with who they are than with who we are.
We see the world behind our eyes.
Instead of expending untold energy trying to figure out how to get inside someone else’s head, perhaps we should get to know who we are.
Look deep . . . the answers lie within.
Ahh . . .that’s better!
What say you?
Related posts: Know Thyself ~ The Oracle at Delphi * We are NOT the Labels we Wear * Absolutes (Red Awakening)
Spirit Lights The Way 