From a distance we could see the Great White Egret sitting patiently at the next bend in the river and as we approached it flew on ahead to wait, yet again, at the next bend in the river. Our 4-hour leisurely paddle along a stretch of the Beaver River south of Owen Sound was such a peaceful outing: a meandering river with slowly moving water, soft cloudy sky, an orchestra of sounds surrounding us, and a variety of creatures and plant growth wherever we gazed. But the peaceful mood of our outings was mostly due to the elegant escort of a trio of Great White Egrets accompanying us upriver and back. They were never out of sight – swooping back and forth across the river, sitting in trees or sitting on the shore. It felt like an extraordinary privilege to be included in the life of the river that afternoon.
