BLUE HERON LAKE

One of the popular places for a walk with our labradoodle Max in Golden Gate Park is Blue Heron Lake. It was recently renamed from Stow Lake, because the State Assembly member from the 1850s, Mr. Stow, was a known antisemite. Quite a number of different options were offered for the renaming.

The winning name was suggested by Nancy DeStefanis, also known as the Heron Lady of Golden Gate Park. I learned about it from Nancy herself, whom my wife and I met during a recent walk.

Nancy was sitting on the bench overlooking the tree where Blue Herons build their nests every year and from where baby herons venture out into the world. They are very elegant birds, and I was privileged to capture some of them in flight and on the ground, which you can see in these three images, as well as Nancy DeStefanis’ portrait.

Nancy is the Founder and Executive Director at San Francisco Nature Education, which provides interactive environmental education programs for adults and young people.

On the day we met her in the park, she brought a bouquet of flowers to honor her friend, Pat Kearn, whose memory had been preserved on the plaque attached to the bench.

Please also check out www.sfnature.org

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