Great white egret
The great white egret is a striking bird belonging to the heron family, characterized by its snow-white plumage and long, slender body, measuring 37 to 41 inches in length with a wingspan of 51.5 to 57 inches. It inhabits various wetland environments, where it wades through shallow waters to hunt for fish and other prey such as invertebrates and small mammals. Historically, the egret faced significant threats due to over-exploitation for its feathers in the 19th century, which were highly sought after for fashionable hats. Today, despite legal protections, the species continues to be impacted by pollution and habitat destruction.
During mating season, male and female egrets exhibit unique behaviors, including the male's display of long tail plumes to attract a mate. They build nests near water and can lay two to five eggs, which both parents incubate for about 25 days. The young egrets rely on their parents for food for six weeks, but they remain dependent until autumn. Remarkably, great white egrets can live up to 23 years in the wild, making them a long-lived species in their natural environment.
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Great white egret
The great white egret is a member of the heron family and has snow-white plumage all over its body. It lives in wetlands and wades in shallow water to catch fish. The egret's white feathers were in high demand in the nineteenth century to decorate hats. Threats to the bird include pollution and habitat loss.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Ciconiiformes
Family: Ardeidae
Genus: Egretta
Species: Alba
Only the long, straight, dagger-sharp bill and the long, skinny legs of the great white egret are not white. White plumage, or feathering, covers the bird's entire body. Its bill and eyes are yellow, and its legs are black. From the tip of its bill to its toe, the egret measures 37 to 41 inches (94 to 104 centimeters). Its slim body weighs around 35 ounces (1 kilogram). The bird's wingspan is slightly longer than its body at 51 1/2 to 57 inches (131 to 145 centimeters).
The egret's long, flexible neck coils into various positions when the bird is flying or resting. When hunting, the neck is extended straight, ready to stab unsuspecting prey. Like its heron relatives, the egret stalks its prey in shallow water or stands motionless, patiently waiting for prey. With a stabbing motion, the egret seizes prey, like carp and sunfish, eating them headfirst. Other foods include invertebrates, or creatures without backbones, small mammals, insects, snails, baby birds, and small reptiles. Egrets usually hunt alone, but where plenty of food is available, flocks of several hundred may gather in one place.
The wetland habitats of great white egrets extend from low-lying coastal and inland areas to those over one mile (1 1/2 kilometers) above sea level. Some egrets also survive in arid regions with water nearby. Migration between northern and southern regions occurs when birds in the north join their relatives in the south in winter.
Birds that migrate form mating pairs in the spring when they return from the south. It is uncertain when birds in the south mate. The male and female's bills turn black during the mating season. The male attracts a mate by displaying his 30 to 50 long tail plumes, which he fans open while he spreads his wings. After mating, the male and female select a nest site among reeds and close to water or high in a tree. They may nest by themselves or in a colony of other pairs of egrets. The nest is made of sticks and measures three feet (one meter) across the top. The clutch, or batch, contains two to five light-blue eggs, and the female may take several days to lay all her eggs. The male and female egrets incubate the eggs for 25 days. For six weeks, the parents feed their young. Though they can leave the nest, they stay with their parents until autumn.
During the nineteenth century, women's fashion was responsible for the death of egrets. The high demand for the birds' white plumes for decorating hats led to a severe decline in the population. Although they are protected now, great white egrets still face the threats of pollution and habitat destruction.
Conservationists have recorded the life span of the great white egret to be nearly 23 years.
Bibliography
"Great Egret." All About Birds, Cornell University, www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Great‗Egret/overview. Accessed 20 Mar. 2024.