Dead Heron at Heron’s Head Park (NSFV)

Jumping at the window of opportunity afforded by the break in rain the other day, my buddy and I each grabbed our bikes, picked up a Korean Steak sandwich from Rhea’s Deli, and headed over to Heron’s Head Park for some reclaimed wetlands picnicking.  Despite the windy, arctic weather, we were enjoying our walk through the swamp until we came across this.

In the unlikely event that this avian creature perished naturally in the most ironic spot possible, then bravo nature, job well done.  However, judging by the marks on the bird’s neck and body, this is instead looks to be merely one of the most tasteless jokes ever.  If you can’t tell from the photo, the dead fellow has been placed on a sign reading, “Wildlife Area Keep Out” (amid other signs displaying “Wildlife Reclamation in Progress”).  Maybe it’s meant to enhance the warning, but it comes across in poor taste.

And if the perpetrators were also somehow behind the death of this graceful beast?  Well, then that’s frightening.