Einstein the Egret

by Jennie Breeze

Title

Einstein the Egret

Artist

Jennie Breeze

Medium

Photograph - Original Img_2706

Description

Recently received HONORABLE MENTION at the OC Fair, Costa Mesa, Cal. The Snowy Egret (Egretta thula) is a small white heron. It is the American counterpart to the very similar Old World Little Egret. Adults are typically 24 in long and weigh 0.83 lb. The area of the upper bill, in front of the eyes, is yellow but turns red during the breeding season, when the adults also gain recurved plumes on the back, making for a "shaggy" effect. The juvenile looks similar to the adult, but the base of the bill is paler, and a green or yellow line runs down the back of the legs. Their breeding habitat is large inland and coastal wetlands from the lower Great Lakes and southwestern United States to South America. They nest in colonies, often with other waders, usually on platforms of sticks in trees or shrubs. Their flat, shallow nests are made of sticks and lined with fine twigs and rushes. Three to four greenish-blue, oval eggs are incubated by both adults. The young leave the nest in 20 to 25 days and hop about on branches near the nest before finally departing. Some Snowy Egret are permanent residents. The birds eat fish, crustaceans, insects and small reptiles. They stalk prey in shallow water, often running or shuffling their feet, flushing prey into view, as well "dip-fishing" by flying with their feet just over the water. Snowy Egrets may also stand still and wait to ambush prey, or hunt for insects stirred up by domestic animals in open fields.

Uploaded

May 9th, 2013

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