Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, June 26, 1994 TAG: 9406300009
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 11 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Patricia Held
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
I grew up in an area along the coast where egrets were a common sight. Yet, I still stare in awe when I find these birds. And I was especially happy to find them here in Southwest Virginia. While not very common birds to our area, from time to time we do see these exotic-looking creatures.
I still remember the first time I ever saw an egret. At first I thought for sure it was an escapee from a zoo. It is difficult to believe that such a large and exquisite bird could be native to our area. Luckily for us we have not one, but three species of egrets found in Virginia.
Egrets belong in the same family as herons and bitterns. They are long-legged, long-necked and point-billed birds. Most spend a good deal of their time in and around water, and can be found during the warmer months along the banks of fresh-water streams, ponds and lakes as well as in salt water marshes along the coast.
Food for these birds includes many creatures that live in and around the water, including frogs, salamanders, fish, crayfish, eels and insects.
A characteristic common to all three egrets is their color - white.
Of the three, the great egret is the largest. It is easily recognized by its pure white color, bright yellow bill and black legs. The bird formerly went by several names including: "common egret," "American egret," "large egret," "white egret," and "great white egret." Its official name in North America is now simply "great egret."
The snowy egret rarely comes this far west, but along the coast both the snowy and great egret often can be found in similar habitats. At first glance these two birds can be confused. But with a closer look each is quite distinctive. The snowy egret is smaller and has a black bill. And no other egrets' feet can compare. With long black legs and bright golden feet, the birds look as if they dangled their toes in yellow paint.
Snowy egrets grow extra long and fancy plumes on their back during the breeding season. These beautiful feathers almost caused the bird to become extinct more than a century ago. Slaughtered for their feathers, which were used in the millinery trade, their numbers dropped to dangerously low numbers.
Public opinion turned against killing these birds. Efforts to save the snowy egret were successful, and their numbers began to increase. Today, they are once again a common site along the coast.
The cattle egret is the smallest of the three egrets. This bird prefers the dryer habitat of open pasture lands and is found in coastal areas and further inland as well.
It is a stout bird, and while not as graceful as the great egret or snowy, the cattle egret does lend an air of elegance to a farmer's field as it grazes among the cows. The bird is also white but it has an orange-rust tint to its feathers and an orange or yellow bill and feet.
Unlike its two cousins, the cattle egret is not native to North America. The cattle egret evolved on the plains of Africa, following herds of grassland animals and feeding on insects and arachnids kicked up by the herds. It made its way to South America where it was first recorded early in this century. The bird gradually moved northward into Florida, and today are fairly common in agricultural areas where cattle and other livestock graze.
Unfortunately, our visit by the dozen great egrets four years ago was not long enough. They arrived on the second day of summer and stayed just about a week - probably en route to suitable nesting grounds. Yet each year around this time I search the trees around our pond in hopes of having such beautiful and unexpected guests again.
Patricia Held will respond to readers' questions on the plant and animal wildlife in the region. Mail inquiries to: Patricia Held, P.O. Box 65, Goode, Va. 24556.
Patricia Held is a Bedford County free-lance writer and author specializing in natural history.
by CNB