Fall Migration Series - Great Egret - Michigan Audubon - August 16, 2013

Photo credit: DB

Featuring: The Great Egret
A large, elegant and dazzling heron

Breeding Grounds
The Great Egret breeds in states along the Mississippi River, ranging from parts of Wisconsin south to Texas and along the Gulf and Atlantic coasts of the US.

Migration Range
Egrets move about widely between the time their young leave the nest until they start heading south.  In fact, many move farther north in the late summer before starting their journey to their wintering grounds.  During this time of year you can find Great Egrets in most states in the US except states in the Rocky Mountain range.

Wintering Grounds
During the colder months Great Egrets are found in South and Central America along with a few year round spots in Florida and along the Gulf Coast.

Size & Shape
The Great Egret is the second largest heron species, next to the Great Blue Heron, measuring 37-41 inches in length with a wingspan of 51.6 to 57.1 inches and weighing roughly 2 pounds.

Coloring
This heron is easy to identify with all white feathers, a yellowish bill and black legs. During the breeding season the bird sports a bright green patch from the eyes to the bill. 

Habitat
This is an extremely adaptable bird when it comes to habitats, the egret can be found in freshwater and saltwater on lakes, ponds, marshes, swamps, streams, rivers, impoundments, lagoons, tidal flats, canals, ditches, fish-rearing ponds, flooded farm fields and sometimes upland habitats.

Food
This bird prefers mostly small fish but also eats amphibians, reptiles, birds, small mammals and invertebrates such as crayfish, prawns, shrimp, dragonflies, damselflies, giant water bugs and grasshoppers.  The egret wades in the water, almost motionless and waits for its prey to come along.  Once the prey is in reach the egret strikes with astonishing speed jabbing its long bill and neck out for the catch.

Behavior
The Great Egret young are very aggressive towards one another and the large chicks frequently kill the smaller chicks during the nesting period, this I called siblicide. Great Egrets live in colonies with other heron species.  The bird will migrate individually or with a group, usually no larger than 25 herons. Pairs are monogamous for the breeding season.

Sound
The egret's sound is easy to distinguish; it has a dry, croaking and sometimes nasally sound to its call.

Nests
Males choose and build a nest platform to attract females.  Once a mate is selected the two will begin constructing the nest which will end up measuring around three feet wide and one foot deep. Nests are typically in trees up to 100 feet above the ground.

Conservation Status
Least Concern. However, this was not always the case; almost hunted to extinction in the late nineteenth century for their plume feathers, the Great Egret has made a quick recovery. The species has even overcome grave habitat loss, degradation and pollution but is extremely resilient and easily adapts to changing habitats. According to Cornell Lab, “Since Great Egrets are large, very mobile birds with flexible habitat preferences, environmental changes may be affecting them at a larger scale that has yet to be studied.”

Interesting Facts

• At a mere two wing beats per second Great Egrets are slow, powerful flyers with an average cruising speed of 25 MPH.
• The Great Egret is the symbol of the National Audubon Society.
• Other commonly referred to names for the Great Egret include: American Egret, common egret, great white egret and angel bird.
• The oldest known Great Egret was banded in Ohio and lived to be 22 years and 10 months old.

Your Bird Crew,