I spent several hours Sunday, Monday and Tuesday at Brilyea and other nearby birding hotspots. (Bernie gave me two nights in a b-and-b, and three days solo birding, for my birthday!) On Sunday, I noticed a Great Blue Heron standing completely still, with its bill open. Herons standing still aren’t unusual, but this bird didn’t move for the whole twenty minutes I watched, and it wasn’t fishing. It was simply staring straight ahead, with its bill open. Then I noticed that the bill looked shorter than usual, with the lower mandible shorter than the top. The possible explanation I came up with is that the bird had tangled with a snapping turtle and was in shock. I checked back after a half hour and it was gone; if it had still been there, I was going to contact a rehabilitator for suggestions. Has anyone else noticed this bird? Can a bird regrow an injured beak?
Maeve Kim, Jericho Center
