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The Great Egret, also known as the Common Egret, is of the heron family and in the
west it is the next in size to the Great Blue Heron.
Its enormous size distinguishes
it from other white egrets, such as the Snowy Egret, which only reaches 20" - 27"
in height.
Because of the demand for plumes for women's hats in the 1800's, egrets
were nearly extinct by the beginning of the 20th century. It took a ban on imports
and guarding of American nesting colonies to save this bird from this fate. However,
the egrets now face extinction once more as the loss of habitat increases due to
draining of wetlands.
Egrets lay three to five pale blue eggs in a platform-like nest constructed of sticks.
Old nests are repaired and re-used. Egrets feed their young fish, frogs, and snakes.
The Great Egret is a magnificent bird watching subject. Its pure white form stands out
boldly in any landscape.
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