The Great Blue Heron is the largest heron in Canada. It is mostly found around coastal area's of British Columbia.
It was named, obviously, from the birds beautiful colours. The following story, tells about a heron, named 'Lucky', and his fight for survival.
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Divers found me under a dock by the ocean. I was scared, my feathers were covered in oil and I had jammed myself in tight, under the dock in wood debris. Rescuing me was difficult and the people had a hard time getting me out. They brought me to the shelter where Nancy & Gunther started to wash
the oil off of me. Some nasty sores on my wings were caused from being stuck under the dock. All the hot water in their tank was used and they had to heat up more water on the wood stove, to wash and remove the oil on me. After I was all clean, I was wrapped in towels to dry my feathers off and put under some warm heat lamps.
It felt very good. I couldn't eat as I was still feeling really sick from trying to eat the oil off my feathers. Nancy & Gunther made some food for me, that was mashed fish. I think they snuck in some vitamins and other stuff, but I still wouldn't eat it. They took a piece of tubing, placed it down my throat, and squirted the food right down into my stomach.
After a while, I felt better and decided to start to eat myself so Nancy wouldn't put that hose down my throat any more. It took a long time for me to get better, but I did. One day they left the door open and I flew away home. I was very, very "lucky".
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Shortly after I arrived at the shelter, they started to clean me up in some nice warm water. I was very cold, scared and sick. It was awful!
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I am dried out and warm now, but I'm still not feeling very well.
Nancy's insisting, I eat! She is trying to feed my favorite foods, through that yucky tube, to me.
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Look at me flap my wings! I'm feeling much stronger and much better. I think I can fly.
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Oh look, they forgot to close the door. I think I can see outside?
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I haven't been outside for a long time. I think I'll sneak closer to the door and see if they notice me.
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Oh my goodness! Look at it out there, I remember this! Do you think they will let me go? I feel wonderful?
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I'm outside and flying, on my own again. I'm cured!
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I'm flying over Nancy and Gunthers' house at the shelter. I can see the ocean and I can see home, again.
Thankyou and goodbye!
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'LUCKY'
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