The Snowy Egret
.jpg1207615473)
Babysitting! I'd rather be fishing.
Description
.jpg1207615922)
The Snowy Egret is a small, all-white heron measuring 20 to 27 inches in height. They have a slim black bill and long black legs with yellow feet. It has a patch of skin above the upper bill that is yellow, but turns red during breeding season. Its plumage changes during breeding season as well. Rather than the smooth sleek plumage, it sports long lacy plumes on its head and back. The juveniles are similar in appearance, but they have a green or yellow line running down the back of their legs. Range and Habitat
.jpg1207616188)
The Snowy Egret can be found in some inland areas, but prefers the coastland marshes. It can be found along the Atlantic, pacific, and Gulf coast. The northern birds will migrate southward but the birds residing in temperate climates remain in their breeding habitat year-round. They are routinely spotted in salt marshes, swamps, ponds, tidal flats, and coastal bays. Snowy Egret
Snowy Egret
Snowy Egret_MG_49720...
Snowy egret
Flight3
snowy egret2
Flight2
At one time the Snowy Egret's feathers were used to decorate women's hats. Their numbers dropped drasticly before fashion finally changed and the demand dropped off.
Shorebirds of North America, Europe, and Asia
Shorebirds of North America, Europe, and Asia: A Guide to Field Identification (Princeton Field Guides)
Amazon Price: $26.60 (as of 07/06/2009)
Shorebirds of North America, Europe, and Asia is divided into two sections for easy use. The first section shows the shorebirds in standard poses and the second shows them in flight. I prefer this field guide to the others because shorebirds rarely stay still long enough to identify them. With flight illustrations I have a better chance at identifying them.
Two by Two
Mating and Nesting
.jpg)
The Snowy Egret nests in large colonies with other waders. The male selects the breeding area, but they both build the nest. It's a team effort with the male collecting the materials and the female constructing it. The nest is usually located in pile of twigs on the ground, in a bush or in a tall tree. The norm is a bush or tree about 5 feet off the ground. The female lays 3 to 4 bluish-green eggs and are incubated by both adults. The eggs hatch three weeks later. Both parents care for the young feeding them with regurgitated food. The young start branching (hopping out onto branches close to the nest) around 20 to 25 days, and leave the nest a few days later. Snowy Egrets will follow along behind domestic animals eating the insects stirred up by their passing.
Voice
The Snowy Egret has two distinct sounds, a low croak and a bubbly walla-walla-walla. More Snowy Egrets
Snowy Egret
Snowy Egret_MG_49720...
Snowy egret
Flight3
snowy egret2
Flight2
Snowy Egrets will often roost with other heron,or even the Red Ibises.
Diet
The Snowy Egrets eat fish, crustaceans, frogs, and insects. They have several different hunting techniques. They will stalk their prey in shallow water, running or shuffling their feet to flush their prey into view, or they can fly low over the water and dip down to grab its prey. Another alternative is to stand still and wait for the fish to swim into range. 
Nature at its best.
Selecting a Pair of Binoculars
-
Selecting a Pair of Bird Watching Binoculars
-
When I look out my window and watch the birds flutter around the birdfeeder, I really don't need a pair of binoculars or a scope to enjoy the sight. I frequently stop by the window and watch the birds for a minute or two between household tasks. (Occ...
Some of My Favorite Waders
Have you seen any interesting birds lately?
fotolady49 wrote...
What a majestic bird of prey! Love birds, love the lens...5*****
Posted November 02, 2008
naturegirl7 wrote...
We've seen these yellow footed beauties in our pond and down by the river. Welcome to the Naturally Native Squids group. Don't forget to add your lens links to the appropriate plexos and vote for them.
Posted October 25, 2008
OhMe wrote...
I think this is the bird that is down on our creek. Would that be possible in upstate SC?
Posted October 18, 2008
JaguarJulie wrote...
Yep, we have this fella in our community as well. He loves to hang down the street from us at one lake in particular. I can watch him all day! I too love birds of a feather.
Posted October 11, 2008
Joan4 wrote...
Beautiful site! Welcome again to South Carolina group! Your lenses are always a joy!
Posted August 11, 2008
About the Author
Lensmaster ElizabethJeanAllen, aka Lizzy Jean, has been a member since March 16 2008, has rated 3,690 lenses, favorited 454, and has created 165 lenses from scratch. Lizzy Jean donates their royalties to Squidoo Charity Fund. This member's top-ranked page is "The Mallard Duck". See all my lenses
Why Birds Do That
Why Birds Do That: 40 Distinctive Bird Behaviors Explained & Photographed
Amazon Price: $12.44 (as of 07/06/2009)
Birds are fascinating. Their behavior is complex, often comical. Some sing while others do not. Why Birds Do That explains forty distinctive bird behaviors and is enhanced with numerous photographs. It is a must have book for both the backyard bird watcher as well as the avid birder.
Resources
Peterson, T.P. & Peterson, V.M. 2002. Birds of Eastern and Central North America, Fifth Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, New York, N.Y.
Cornell University Laboratory of Ornithology
The Snowy Egret, Department of Environmental Protection
The Snowy Egret, Salt Grass Flats
Seattle Audubon Society
by ElizabethJeanAllen
I tell my students to Learn from the Past, Live in the Present, and Plan for the Future. With Squidoo I can do all three.
(more) 
