After being gone for 3 days, William showed up as I was just about to leave today. Gliding through the reeds, I almost dropped my camera. The boys puffed up, William and Bella made hearts, everyone snorted and called and bobbed their heads. I cried. It was one of the most amazing things I have ever witnessed. I’m glad I stayed just a minute longer. I’m glad I continued to yell for him, even though I felt it was pointless. I have no doubt his family was seeing him for the first time, as I was. It was so joyful, their exuberance. I’ll never forget it. (my feeling is that William was acting as decoy, to lure the predator away from his family. I can’t prove it, but it’s what I’m thinking. He came back really haggard, and very bitey, which always means he’s been stressed. I’m so relieved!)

LBM 9/22/2016