THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, December 13, 1995 TAG: 9512120117
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 02 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Coastal Journal
SOURCE: Mary Reid Barrow
LENGTH: Medium: 98 lines
The American bittern jabbed its long dagger-like bill at Lisa Barlow's face and croaked menacingly as she carefully lifted the bird from its carrying container.
The handsome heron, streaked with brown and white, continued to threaten Barlow with its croaking growl and its wicked beak. With Barlow's help the medium-size heron had recovered from a broken leg and was on its way to freedom that day.
But by its actions, it was not and had never been the least bit grateful to Barlow for her help. ``He growled every time I gave him fish,'' Barlow said. ``He's got a real attitude!''
Actually a ``real attitude'' is what wildlife rehabilitators, like Barlow, want to see in their patients. Wild animals need that feisty demeanor before they can be released back to the wild and be expected to fend for themselves.
And that was exactly what Barlow was setting out to do on a brisk fall day along the shores of Back Bay. The bittern, fully recovered, was about to get its first taste of freedom in almost two months.
The bittern's saga began at Toronto Wildlife Center in Toronto, Canada, to which it had been taken with the broken leg earlier this fall, Barlow explained. Because of the injury, the bittern missed its fall migration south.
So the lucky bird migrated by car in the company of some Toronto Wildlife Center staff. They were coming to the International Wildlife Rehabilitators Conference here in Virginia Beach in early November and brought the bittern along with them.
Because the bird was still limping when it arrived here, it was entrusted to Barlow who has worked with many other heron species, but never a bittern. She tended to the bird until its leg was completely healed.
Since the bittern is a marsh bird, Barlow chose to release it in tall marsh grasses off Muddy Creek Road along the shores of Back Bay. She lifted the growling, angry bird high in the air, gave it a little toss and off it flew across a short stretch of water. With nary a look back, it dropped into tall reeds on the other side.
One had to look hard to see it. For a few moments the bird lifted its head high up in the air on its tall slender neck. This action is a bittern's typical way of camouflaging itself in the tall reeds. With a little swaying back and forth and its mottled coloring, the bird looks just like another piece of grass.
Then as if it had fooled Barlow into not knowing where it was, the bird began to gingerly check out its new surroundings. By matting down grasses on top of each other, step by step, it built a grass platform up off the ground and took off into the air once again.
This time, the bird landed too close to the road, Barlow thought. So she rescued it and let it fly once more. That was the last look anyone had of the bittern. It took off flying over the marsh until it couldn't be seen any more, home at last.
THE PAINTED BUNTING that spent last winter in Oceana Garden and attracted so much attention from birders is back feeding in Jerry and Mary Etheridge's front yard again this winter. Mary Etheridge called to say she saw the brilliantly colored bird just last week.
``We've been two happy people,'' she said.
Anyone would be happy to have this sparrow-size bird in his or her yard. Called one of the most beautiful birds in North America, the male finch has a bright red breast, green back, bluish-purple head and a red eye ring. The female is bright green all over.
A FLOCK OF LITTLE JUNCOS arrived in Harry Luman's yard last week, too. He called to say that if the juncos have arrived, winter can't be too far behind.
And what should happened the next evening and morning? Virginia Beach got its first taste of snow.
Some people actually call these little sparrow-size birds ``snowbirds.'' They are common winter birds often feeding on the ground under bird feeders. You'll recognize them by their slate-gray backs, white breast and ivory colored bill.
P.S. BACK BAY NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE's management from the public use perspective is the topic of a program at 2 p.m. Saturday. Outdoor Recreation Planner Charlie Marshall will speak. Call 721-2412 for reservations.
HUNTER HOUSE VICTORIAN MUSEUM in Norfolk will present ``Twas the Night Before Christmas'' every hour from 1 to 7 p.m. except for 5 p.m. on Saturday. The holiday story will come to life as participants tour the house. Admission is $3 and reservations are required. Call 623-9814.
Hunter House, lavishly decorated in Victorian style, also will hold its annual Holiday Open House from noon to 5 p.m Sunday. Admission is $1. MEMO: What unusual nature have you seen this week? And what do you know about
Tidewater traditions and lore? Call me on INFOLINE, 640-5555. Enter
category 2290. Or, send a computer message to my Internet address:
mbarrow(AT)infi.net.
ILLUSTRATION: An American bittern, now healed from a broken leg, is released
by wildlife rehabilitator Lisa Barlow into the tall marsh grasses
off Muddy Creek Road along the shores of Back Bay.
Photo by
MARY REID BARROW
by CNB