Clayton installed his bronze sculpture, Great Blue, in October. Within two weeks the family spotted another heron nearby. The live heron seems to like its new friend – no threat – just another presence at the pond.
We are intrigued by how live animals of the same species respond to Clayton’s sculptures. Dogs sniffing the rear ends of A Couple of Hounds, horses stopping stock still when they realize the Equestrienne is in front of them and not moving, and the list goes on. Herons aren’t particularly social until mating season, and by now the live heron would have recognized this sculpture wasn’t moving, but seems to be happy to have an inert friend.