The tale of the loon god

[fbhjr]

Today I was back in Worcester at the park near where I lived for about 10 years.
I saw the statue that my wife and I always called “The loon god” because of something that happened many years ago.


Back when we used to live in Worcester, we used to walk down to that park fairly often. It was only a short distance from where we lived and a nice little park for a walk.

One day we saw a bunch (flock?) of loons swimming around the statue of the loon in the pond. They were swimming in circles around it. Ever so often one would stop, stand up in the water, spread its wings and bow to the statue.
This went on for quite a while.

We weren’t sure what was going on, but came up with two theories.
First, the loons were threatened by the statue and kept challenging it, but it didn’t respond.
Second, it is the loon god and they had made their pilgrimage to pay homage to it.

I know nothing of avian psychology. But, I personally prefer the second theory and hence call the statue the loon god to this day.

Comments

[morgan-lafaye.livejournal.com]

cool story. I like the 2nd reason better even if the first is more true.

[palusbuteo.livejournal.com]

um...Bird Nerd here but that's a Great Blue Heron, not a Loon.

But still a wacky but totally cool story. Herons do act "strange" for birds, slow, methodical and I wouldn't be surprised if they felt god-like. They also look like Pterodactyls when they are flying :D

I have seen GB Herons do their impression of a swamp grass, standing very tall with their heads straight up, and "swaying" in the wind - it's thought they do this to fool fish to swim closer to them - There are also Heron species that will spread their wings around their body, looking like a lampshade, to make it easier to see in the water.

Herons, when I was in Wildlife, would curl themselves up into a little ball, then if they felt threatened, stood up and opened up, nearly 6 foot high and that dagger beak pointed at your eyes/face.

They also "stalk" while hunting, very cool to watch. So that "bowing" behavior makes some sense, although I think I'll stick with your venerating the (Heron) God idea too :)

[fbhjr.livejournal.com]

"um...Bird Nerd here but that's a Great Blue Heron, not a Loon."

No, it's a statue.
What a maroon.
No wonder the birds think it's real if a bird nerd can't tell.

Well, don't you know, about the bird ?

[evrgreen.livejournal.com]

Now you guys have the "surfing bird" song going through my head..

Bird Nerd is right - looks like a great blue heron statue. Herons and loons do compete somewhat for food, though loons do prefer fish and our herons definitely prefer mussels. WE have both on our lake, but you never see them get too near each other, at least up here. Maybe yours are more 'integrated'..

[capt-amos.livejournal.com]

No matter what the bird nerds say, "The Loon God" sounds much cooler than "The Heron God" for the story.
So I say claim poetic license and don't change it. ;-)