Great Blue Heron
Personal memory by Paul Turner
1950 • Walnut Creek, CA
When I was a boy growing up in Walnut Creek, CA, I spent many hours with my friends hiking through open fields leading to the slopes of Mt. Diablo. We crossed creeks in which we saw frogs, snakes, crawdads, and small fish. In the fields we encountered the occasional pheasant. Once we saw a cougar. But what I remember most were the Great Blue Herons, dignified at rest, full of grace when airborne. None of these species can be found any more in Walnut Creek. They have disappeared along with countless species of butterflies and other insects. So sad.
Learn about Maya Lin’s fifth and final memorial: a multi-platform science based artwork that presents an ecological history of our world - past, present, and future.
Discover ecological histories and stories of former abundance, loss, and recovery on the map of memory.
Learn how we can reduce our emissions and protect and restore species and habitats – around the world.
See how art can help us rethink the problems we face, and give us hope that each one of us can make a difference.
Help make a global memorial something personal and close to home. Share your stories of the natural world.