Although they live year-round in Florida, we’re now seeing greater numbers of these pristine white wading birds return to their favorite breeding haunts. Over the next month or two, I hope the rookeries will be filled with nesting Great Egrets in their dramatic breeding colors and plumage.
Though I’ve shared the story of the infamous plume trade before, it is always worth retelling:
“Large numbers of Great Egrets were killed in North America, including the Everglades, around the end of the 19th century so that their plumes could be used to decorate hats. In the late 1800s naturalist John James Audubon visited the Everglades, where wading birds had been nesting for thousands of years. Public outrage was growing to put a stop to the mass commercial hunting of wading birds for the plume industry. Sporting one of the most popular plumages, the Great Egret became the symbol of the National Audubon Society, one of the oldest environmental organizations in North America, founded to protect all species of wading birds from being killed for their feathers. More than 300 Great Egrets were required to yield just one kilogram of feathers,” (National Park Service-Everglades)!!
Birder's Journey 
I never get tired of looking at a great egret.
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I feel the same way! They are beauties.
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Very nice images! Enjoyed seeing them!
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Thank you for your visit, Reed. Glad you enjoyed them.
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So beautiful!
On Wed, Jan 26, 2022 at 3:00 PM Birder’s Journey wrote:
> Birder’s Journey posted: ” Although they live year-round in Florida, we’re > now seeing greater numbers of these pristine white wading birds return to > their favorite breeding haunts. Over the next month or two, I hope the > rookeries will be filled with nesting Great Egrets in the” >
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I wish you could be here again one day to see them!
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Truly elegant birds! Like you, can’t wait until they begin developing that outstanding breeding season plumage!
Great reminder about the bird’s history.
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Thanks, Wally. Sadly, I believe we’re going to see fewer Great Egrets nesting this season than we used to. The Wood Storks have been ‘taking over’ in recent years.
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Nothing like it! I cannot believe how many killed for so little. 😞
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It was such a tragedy, Yaffa 😥. I’m so grateful to all the advocates who worked to create laws to protect them a century ago.
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The wastefulness of it all, and that just for vanity! The Great Egret is a familiar species here too, and our wetlands would certainly have been poorer for it if we lost them.
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I didn’t realize that you also have great egrets in South Africa, de Wets. Yes, it was a dreadful waste of life for such a long time. Thank goodness things have changed so much for the better!
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If only that was true in all instances!
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Great captures, Carol. 🙂
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Thanks so much HJ!!
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Beautiful images. It’s awful to think that man will kill such wonderful creatures just to satisfy vanity. Thank goodness for the National Audubon Society.
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Absolutely, Ann…. And for all of those activists and politicians who were wise enough to create the migratory bird treaty act.
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Love these shots! Thanks for this link!!
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Thanks so much for visiting and for your comments, Tippy! And thanks for showing me that wonderful Chuck-will’s-widow. Always nice to see you!
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