Breeding Plumage of the Great Egret
During the nesting/breeding season, which is right now, Great Egrets, both male and female (they’re the big white birds, up to 40” tall, with black legs and yellow/orange beaks) grow long feathers called “Aigrettes.” The plumes grow from the upper back of the bird and are not tail feathers. The green color in front of the eyes is also part of the breeding season changes.
Around the turn of the Century, the demand of these feathers from the fashion industry was so great that hundreds of thousands of these birds were slaughtered in Florida. Other birds that nested in the same areas were also killed or driven off by the carnage and the extinction of many waterbirds was a real threat. The National Audubon Society, federal legislation and private groups finally stepped in and put a stop to it. That made me sick to think about this, but thank goodness it’s over with.
On one of the pathways at DeSoto there is this wonderful little footbridge over a gentle, slow moving stream that is fed from the bay. This is a nice little refuge and I’ve seen many different birds here during the year. This last month there has been a Great Egret there almost every morning at the same time.
Look closely and you can see the green around the eyes.
And check out that neck in some of the pictures. He seemed to be showing off for me . . . turning every which way, and I was able to take lots of pictures before he flew away.
CHECK OUT THAT NECK!
And even though it’s somewhat blurred and out of focus, this one where he is taking off is my favorite.
Around the turn of the Century, the demand of these feathers from the fashion industry was so great that hundreds of thousands of these birds were slaughtered in Florida. Other birds that nested in the same areas were also killed or driven off by the carnage and the extinction of many waterbirds was a real threat. The National Audubon Society, federal legislation and private groups finally stepped in and put a stop to it. That made me sick to think about this, but thank goodness it’s over with.
On one of the pathways at DeSoto there is this wonderful little footbridge over a gentle, slow moving stream that is fed from the bay. This is a nice little refuge and I’ve seen many different birds here during the year. This last month there has been a Great Egret there almost every morning at the same time.
Look closely and you can see the green around the eyes.
And check out that neck in some of the pictures. He seemed to be showing off for me . . . turning every which way, and I was able to take lots of pictures before he flew away.
CHECK OUT THAT NECK!
And even though it’s somewhat blurred and out of focus, this one where he is taking off is my favorite.