Yesterday, I shared a moment that highlighted the Great Blue Heron’s remarkable intellect as it dealt with an invasive catfish. I enjoyed sharing it with you all immensely but today’s post takes a darker turn.
Yes, that’s a bird in the heron’s beak. A rare and reclusive one at that. It’s called a Sora. In all my years out here, this is only the second time I’ve ever seen one.
There’s a lot to unpack here. Is the heron really going to eat another bird? Yes, but not in this clip. It wasn’t until another heron swooped in, trying to steal the prize, that the first bird finally made its move.
This is a young Great Blue Heron likely just fledged and still figuring things out. And…. it’s probably starving. Hunger is a powerful teacher, and an even more powerful motivator.
I’ve learned countless lessons from watching wildlife. But watching one animal eat another alive, that’s the hardest one to stomach.
This lesson first hit me hardest in Africa, when two female lions took down a kudu right in front of me. I asked my guide if we could leave, but he encouraged me to stay in this moment. The kudu was clearly suffering and every bone in my body compelled me to look away. I was overwhelmed, on the verge of tears, but held them back. I was afraid people would think I was weird if I let the tears go.
When it was over, the guide turned to me and asked, “How are you doing?”
I said, “Not good. I want to cry.”
He smiled gently. “Of course you do. You wouldn’t be human if you didn’t. But now… you see the bigger picture.”
He pointed to the grass, where five lion cubs came bounding through.
“If you love those cubs, and you want them to survive,” he said, “then you have to understand this is how they do it. And it’s beautiful, in its own way.”
That moment changed me. And I did understand.
Yes, this heron is going to eat another bird, but it has to. Herons are among my favorites, and like all predators, they kill daily to survive.
It’s hard to watch. You don’t have to. But just remember: for them, it’s not cruelty. It’s survival.