Update: Tuesday, April 18 — Santee Lakes reported on its Facebook Page that the “fishermen bunch” had been able to lure Junior close enough to remove the cloth binding from his beak, whereupon the Great Blue Heron flew off to freedom. We’re hoping the bird will have a speedy recovery, and plenty of good fishing!
By Donald H. Harrison
SANTEE, California – Alas, Junior the Great Blue Heron is not a very trusting bird.
For nine days, some sort of cloth has remained tied around his beak, making it impossible for him to open his mouth wide enough to indulge in fish or any of his other menu staples at Santee Lakes.
When a rescue team from Sea World arrived at the lakes on Thursday, April 13, Junior could not be coaxed near enough to team members for them to be able to catch him with nets and untie the cloth binding from his beak.
Twice, as rescue workers approached, Junior flew from the shore across Lake No. 5 to a small island.
His human friend, Bob Serrano—sometimes known as the “Bird Man of Santee Lakes” – has been able to keep Junior alive by breaking off small pieces of turkey hot dogs and tossing them to the ground close to Junior.
Junior is able to pick up a small hot dog piece and with a mighty effort suck it down. He also is able to drink water.
These two facts were of comfort to Kimberly Peterson, who led the unsuccessful Sea World rescue team.
The turkey hot dogs and water are keeping Junior strong enough to survive, she said. It appears that gradually the heron is working the cloth off his beak, and eventually may be able to free himself. So far, he seems strong, and flies well.
Although the attempt was unsuccessful on Thursday, Peterson said she would come back to Santee Lakes on Friday to again assess how Junior is doing.
Sea World was not the first organization to try unsuccessfully to help Junior. Officials at Santee Lakes said county animal control officers had similar problems attempting to lure him to safety.
Were it not for Serrano’s love of birds, Junior might be in far worse shape than he is currently.
Serrano has been regularly fishing at Santee Lakes for 30 years. He brings a supply of turkey hot dogs to feed not only Junior, but also the bird’s brother Billy and sister Toni, who make their regular homes at Lakes No. 1 and 3, as well as other lake regulars. Junior, Billy and Toni were orphaned three years ago when their father, Buddy, was strangled in a fishing line. The three siblings had hatched together in a nest on Lake No. 4
Fishing lines and other foreign elements, such as the cloth now tying Junior’s beak, are a great danger to the birds of Santee Lakes.
“People are going to fish, we’re not going to change that” said Peterson. “But people need to be responsible with their lines—that’s very important.”
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Harrison is editor of San Diego Jewish World. He may be contacted via donald.harrison@sdjewishworld.com