Bright and early the next morning, I made the first of what were many trips to a bait shop to purchase a few dozen chub fish. Harry preferred chubs to minnows and I could regulate his eating a little better with the chubs. I am now proud of the fact that at a rather quick glance I can tell the difference between a pike and a bass chub. I had been around Great Blue Herons before, knew the horror stories and I knew he was a "high maintenance bird" because of the need for fresh fish, and the unbelievable cleaning requirements for the cage. But there was really something special about Harry. He seemed to understand that I was trying to help him. He was never aggressive and he never needed prompting to eat. From day one, Harry accepted his fish in a clear container. He would step inside and start his "fishing." He kept his food down, was non-aggressive and was relatively calm when I would enter his enclosure. He was all the things he wasn’t suppose to be. A trip to Dr. Bonda, our vet, proved my suspicion was correct. Harry had fractured his left radius and would require a minimum of 6 weeks of rehab.

On the third day of his stay with me, I entered his enclosure at 6:00 a.m. to find blood on the ground. I looked around, no mice had gotten in, no visible signs of injury to Harry. What was the source of that blood? I looked at his feet to discover he had pulled out a nail and it was bleeding. It was precisely at that moment that Harry and I came to an understanding and mutual respect, a "bonding" of sorts. I really am a normal human being of reasonable intelligence, and yet at 6:00 a.m., I actually knelt down in that bird’s enclosure and spoke out loud. "Here’s the deal Harry, it’s just you and me and you have a bleeding toe. I can't hold your beak, your body and still put ointment on that toe. We can do this the hard way, or the easy way."

Thankfully it was 6:00 a.m. and no one was around to call the authorities. Harry allowed me to wrap my left arm around his body as I knelt next to him. He picked up his right foot and allowed me to put Neosporin on his toe. When I was finished, he put his foot down and as I let go of his body, he walked over to his favorite corner and stood there, like he understood what I had said and what I had done. Over the next 4 or 5 days, we repeated this procedure until the toe was healed enough. All the time, Harry continued to eat and survive.

Eventually, we arrived at the day that the wrap could come off, and I could start physical therapy on the wing. He was holding the wing perfectly, seemed to be gaining strength everyday, and after the allotted 5 day "workout", we tested his range of motion in a larger cage. Our hope was that he could be released in time for him to make his flight south for the winter. Within a few minutes, our hopes were cut short, as with very little exercise, the wing drooped. He needed more time.

Early the next morning, we were off to Dr. Bonda’s again. However, our fears were worse than we thought. The fracture was healing appropriately, but Harry had fractured the same wing farther down ... when he was attempting to fly. Only this time it was the radius and the ulna bone. Dr. Bonda still felt he had a good chance at full recovery and eventual release. Again, he was turned back over to me for more rehab.

Over the course of the next weeks, we worked toward placement of Harry with a rehabilitation facility in Florida. The weather was getting too cold for Harry to stay here much longer, but we had to be sure that sufficient healing had taken place before we put him on a plane south. Harry continued to be a pleasant little guy and although everything told me not to get attached, it is pretty hard not to ... especially with 6 weeks of intense daily care.

The day finally arrived for Dr. Bonda to give the final okay for Harry’s flight. He was probably going to require surgery to release some contracture in the fracture area, but Dr. Bonda was confident it would work out. We prepared a vari-kennel for his transfer to Florida, padding the bottom, top and sides to prevent any further injury.

At 5:00 a.m. on November 1, 1996 we wrapped his good wing to protect it during flight, sealed him up and took him to Delta Air Lines for his trip south. The facility in Florida was great, but they did not proceed with any surgery because they did not have luck with it. They told me he was a terrific Heron to work with, not like the Herons they usually get, aggressive, tough to feed etc. He was placed in an enclosure with a Green Heron and did not attack it or the pelican with them, a fact that is also contrary to a normal Heron.

If only there was no contracture, he had a 30% loss of use of his wing. He could fly, but only 50 feet or so, and no more than 4 or 5 feet off the ground. They believed Harry would be a permanent non-releasable bird. His temperament was such that he would be a good candidate for captivity. I told myself all the proper things, "if we didn’t get involved, he would most likely have died of starvation in that creek bed, tangled in the reeds, unable to free himself. He would be well cared for in whatever facility he arrived at etc. etc." But, What about Harry?

All the books say that Great Blue Herons are aggressive, potentially dangerous birds who will attack with their beaks. They say Great Blue Herons are difficult to feed in captivity because they are too upset, and will regurgitate their food. They say they never adapt to being captive, and do not get along with other Herons, etc.

The doctors in Florida had indicated that they did not like to do surgery on Great Blue Herons because they do not tolerate it well, and the success rate is low – But What about Harry?

I know that I am being foolish to think we could have made a difference up here, and that my unquestioned faith in Dr. Bonda’s surgical genius would have made a difference. If we only had a facility which would have given Harry a warm place to recuperate indoors. If only, if only and the list goes on.

I know you have heard the phrase "Everything happens for a reason." It is true you know. Throughout November and December, I was busy calling around to various facilities that were recommended for permanent placement of a Great Blue Heron. I continually discussed his progress with the Vet at the Rehabilitation Center (C.R.O.W.) in Florida, and not much improvement was seen. I explained the problems I was faced with in his placement. Great Blue Herons have such "bad press" that everyone felt that it would not be appropriate for them at this time. Maybe at some time in the future they would be expanding their facilities, etc., but not at this time... Not at this time ... How long do you keep a Great Blue Heron, hoping for a good placement.

I talked again to the Vet - what were the other options, how long would they keep him? Chris (the Vet) told me that they would keep Harry as long as it would take. He was an exceptional bird, and they would not have a problem keeping him there until a perfect placement was found. Again, I asked them to keep trying to tempt Harry to fly greater distances to find his food and to do whatever was necessary to prompt him to exercise and get his wings back to full strength. Again, I was told it was a hopeless case, "that wing would never be close enough to 100% to validate a release."

In my heart I wondered how long it would be before they decided that this "high maintenance" bird could not be kept there merely waiting for a permanent placement. I just kept thinking if we had more time to make calls, more time for him to adjust, and for Harry to start using that wing, Harry might have a chance. In my heart, I know Harry heard my pleas, or just got tired of waiting around. He took matters into his own hands (or wings I should say). Chris called me one afternoon to tell me that something quite extraordinary had happened. When she went out to Harry's enclosure, as she approached the door, Harry flew straight up to a perch 40 feet up. He landed there, waited a moment, and then flew back down. Chris was 10  feet off the ground. They immediately moved Harry to their Eagle cage to see what would happen.

Over the next two weeks Chris and I kept in touch. All other plans were on hold for the time being. "Let’s see what Harry can do." They encouraged Harry to fly up to the perches for his food, placing the fish on perches 50 feet up and 100 feet away from each other. In no time at all, Harry was flying from perch to perch, getting there with ease. Harry had passed the test!

Great Blue Herons are very territorial. When you release one you need to find an area that would be a good source of food, but is not heavily populated with other Great Blues. That fact would be very important for Harry's release. The contracture of his left wing might hinder his escape from another Great Blue. Chris would get their volunteers searching around for the right spot. It might take some time, but they would get right on it.

On New Years Day, at 2:30 in the afternoon, Chris called me. Harry was in a carrier, and was being taken to the Orange River in Florida, just north of Ft. Myers Beach to be released. She was going to accompany him on the trip (about 15 minutes away) and be there for his release, but she wanted me to know before they left.

In a beautiful spot, next to a wildlife sanctuary, peaceful, purely natural and with a great food source for Great Blue Herons, Harry was returned to the wild.

.Chris thanked me for sending him down to their facility. She said he truly was a "Great" Blue Heron, and his determination and unique personality taught her something very special.  Next time, it will be easier for her to keep trying.

Those of us who work with wildlife know the special lesson we learn every time we help something injured, whether or not they make it back to the wild. Every once in awhile, something truly extraordinary happens and this time, I named him Harry.

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