PHOTO BY SILL FAVtR The Green-backed Heron is a small, crow-sized , dark-colored heron. Green-Backed Herons BY HILL KAVKR Wc usually find Grccn-backcd Herons pcrchcd precariously on a low shrub or a rock watching the water for small fish. They can be almost motionless until something to their liking swims by and then a quick jab with that long bill catches their food. These birds arc small for herons, about 18-22 inches long and have an overall brownish appear ance, with more of a slatish-bluc than a green back. When startled they can raise a dark crest on the top of their heads and extend their necks way out, mak ing them look rather strange and different from their normal perched position. These herons have reddish vpp brown necks, sharp-pointed bills, and orange legs. Sometimes the Green-backed Heron can be quite acrobatic. They may lean down watching minnows until they are in a po sition where their head is way below where their feet hold onto a branch. They can even drop off into the water at just the right time, and some ob servers have reported them swimming underwater in pursuit of a fish. Green-backed Herons nest in single pairs away from the rookeries of many of the other herons. Nests arc made of small slicks and can be placed anywhere from on the ground, in low-growing shrubs, or 20-30 feet up in the trees. Preferred areas seem to be around ponds, lakes, and streams, though they have been found nesting in dry locations like old orchards and upland woods. Watch for these interesting herons in swamps and wetlands. You may see them perched patiently waiting for some action in the water be low them, or you may see them flying slowly overhead just after sunset. Don't try to sec the "grccn-back," just look for a dark, crow-sizcd bird quietly sharing space around us as wc enjoy together this special place where land and sky and sea come together. LETTER TO THE EDITOR Granddaughter's Heart Is Broken To the editor: I am writing this to tell you what happened to my granddaughter. Her name is Theresa Rose Blackwcll. She turned 1 1 years old March 20. For her birthday she got a faded blue denim purse with shoulder strap and flowered pink ruffle on one side, a wallet with telephone address book, calendar planner and note pad inside, and $15 cash. She was so happy about getting these things. Three days later she was in her last class, a music class at Bolivia Elementary School, and her purse and everything she got for her birth day were taken from this class. It was not easy for us to buy these things. Please, could you print this and maybe someone will read it and return her things to Bolivia School as she feels real sad right now. 1 ap preciate any help you can be. Thelma Catcs (Theresa's Grandmother) Rl. 2, Bolivia it Adopt a Cop" Successful The men and women of the Sunset Beach Police De partment would like to thank the following people, businesses and Industries for their donations to purchase bullet-proof vests for the department. Bemark, Inc. Century 21 Continental Condos Food Lion Mr. & Mrs. Walter Huff Mr. Alfred Johnson (Mayor Fuquay-Varlna) NAPA of Calabash Oyster Bay Golf Links Pizza Country, USA Riptide Videos Don B. Safrit Construction Co. Seaside Industries Mr. & Mrs. Bud Scranton Skats Mr. & Mrs. James Smyly Mr. Doug Stanaland Sonrise Square Sunset Beach Island Market Sunset Beach Motel Sunset Beach Taxpayers Assoc. Sunset Vacations Surf & Soda Shop The Odom Company True Value of Calabash Twin Lakes Restaurant Mr. & Mrs. Cletus Waldmiller Mr. & Mrs. John Watts - - vm | s mm Ml - - & Security Systems : | lii: WM m Residential Commercial ? Industrial ?Burglar Alarms *Fire Alarms ?Closed Circuit TV ?Central Vac ?Sound & Intercom Professional Sound & Security Licensed in North & South Carolina Call John Schwab (919)754-5333or (803)399-9999 3769 Sea Mountain Hwy.. Little River, SC 29566 PELEN, inc. | Palmetto Electronics & Engineering ?1942 THE BRUNSWICK BEACON Leadership for a change. Dear Brunswick County Friends: I am a candidate for Governor because I care about the future of North Carolina. My campaign is also your campaign. It's about electin; a Governor capable of setting priorities, and making the tough decisbi about how the people's hard-earned tax dollars are spent. Our campaign is about providing our children a quality education, preparing them to live and work in well-paying 21st Century jobs. It's about improving our schools by returning more decision making authority to the local level, freeing teachers from bureaucratic overload, and letting the teachers teach. Our campaign is about helping existing North Carolina business and industry ? the big and the small ? to modernize and expand, and to provide them with a well trained workforce. It's about developing better export markets for North Carolina products, and encouragirg environmentally responsible business and industry to bring1 jobs to North Carolina ? for North Carolina people. Our campaign is about making our communities safr and secure, by building sufficient prisons to lock the revolving door a id keep the dangerous criminals off the streets. It's about requiring 'he inmates to work to earn their own keep, and re-pay their victims. We have ambitious and important goals for NorU Carolina. Working together, we will reach these goals, and put T4orth Carolina back on track. With all best wishes to my Brunswick County .riends, I am Sincerel^^7 Lacy/^ornkurg Lacy Thornburff: ?fed the fight against crime in \orth Carolina ? worked to protect the environment ?. represented the concerns of ninorities, women, the elderly, and the disadvantaged +saved the people of North Carolina significant amounts of money and tax dollars fought for the interests of North Carolina's consumers fought unfair increases it consumer rates at Utility Commission hearings, in the courts, and through legislation. PAID FOR BY BRUNSWICK COUNTY CITIZENS FOR LACY THORNBURG. MACK HEWETT. TREASl ?0 ? ?