The Heron that Gazed at his Changing Wetlands

Wetlands are land of in-betweens: between freshwater and saltwater; between dry and aquatic; between natural and urban; and between a marginalised periphery and a former industrial heart.

There are also contradictions. On the one hand, it is rich in wildlife, with fish coming to lay their eggs, migratory birds stopping by to nest, and amphibian life finding its delicate niche. On the other hand, it is also shaped by a succession of economic activities, from agriculture and salt harvesting to shipbuilding and heavy industry. Wildlife and human activity, fertility and decline, all concentrate here, negotiating their space.

And the sole observer of all this, unfazed by the rumble of frolicking humans, the stench of purifying wastelands, the tireless tides, rain and sun, salt and pollution, is the lonely and enigmatic grey heron. It has uninterruptedly surveyed these lands, witnessing how they have evolved and changed with time.