Adaptation is the Natural Order

​Dawn, Roanoke River, August 5. We finally have had some restorative steady rains and the river has refilled a bit. It also has made it so muddy with sediment, It’s made it look like images I’ve seen of the Mekong in Vietnam. It’s all part of the natural ongoing processes of renewal. I floated on it yesterday evening and saw no herons of any type. When I pulled out, a youngster was fishing off the bridge and asked wide-eye and hopeful “Didja see any fish?” I had to tell him “No, I usually do, but the river’s so muddy right now, I couldn’t see anything.” “But,” I assured him, “They’re down there somewhere!” 

Prompting me to consider how challenging it must be for the herons and fish eaters like kingfishers to locate their meals after heavy rains. I suppose they head to more shallow creeks, perhaps switching up their diet with a different menu of other live options. But on this gloriously cool morning, I was delighted to first encounter one Great Blue, poking about on the small rocky beach before the other bothersome and loud humans arrive. I watched it take flight on its vast wings, lumbering slow and steady into the morning breeze, up river behind me. It’s rising in the image above. A little farther along the float, as I eased back in my tube, I greeted what I’m pretty sure must be its mate, confirmation the natural order of things was easing back into place.