are snowy egrets rare

What is the snowy egret known for?

Known by its contrasting yellow feet, could be said to dance in the shallows on golden slippers. The species was slaughtered for its plumes in the 19th century, but protection brought a rapid recovery of numbers, and the Snowy Egret is now more widespread and common than ever.

Why are snowy egret plumes protected?

At one time, the beautiful plumes of the snowy egret were in great demand by market hunters as decorations for women's hats. This reduced the population of the species to dangerously low levels. Now protected in the United States by law, under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, this bird's population has rebounded.

Where do egrets live in the winter?

During the breeding season, snowy egrets feed in estuaries, saltmarshes, tidal channels, shallow bays, and mangroves. They winter in mangroves, saltwater lagoons, freshwater swamps, grassy ponds, and temporary pools, and forage on beaches, shallow reefs, and wet fields.

When did they stop hunting the snowy egret?

In the early twentieth century, the snowy egret was hunted extensively for their long breeding plumes that fashionable ladies wore on their hats. This trade was ended in 1910 in North America but continued for some time in Central and South America. Since then populations have recovered.

See more

Where do snowy egrets live?

The snowy egret is native to North, Central and South America. It is present all year round in South America, ranging as far south as Chile and Argentina. It also occurs throughout the year in the West Indies, Florida and coastal regions of North and Central America. Elsewhere, in the southern part of the United States, it is migratory, breeding in California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi. It is found in wetlands of many types; marshes, riverbanks, lakesides, pools, salt marshes and estuaries. It is not found at high altitudes nor generally on the coast. The snowy egret has occurred as a vagrant in Europe, in Iceland, Scotland and the Azores.

What kind of colonies do snowy egrets breed in?

Breeding. Snowy egrets breed in mixed colonies, which may include great egrets, night herons, tricolored herons, little blue herons, cattle egrets, glossy ibises and roseate spoonbills. The male establishes a territory and starts building the nest in a tree, vines or thick undergrowth.

Why are snowy egrets protected?

At one time, the plumes of the snowy egret were in great demand as decorations for women's hats. They were hunted for these plumes and this reduced the population of the species to dangerously low levels. Now protected in the United States by law, under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, this bird's population has rebounded.

What is a snowy heron?

Snowy egret. "Snowy heron" redirects here. For the 1958 Japanese film, see The Snowy Heron. The snowy egret ( Egretta thula) is a small white heron. The genus name comes from Provençal French for the little egret, aigrette, which is a diminutive of aigron, 'heron'.

Where are snowy egret fossils found?

Fossils of the snowy egret have been reported from the Talara tar seeps of Peru and in Bradenton in Manatee County and Haile XIB in Alachua County in Florida, United States. The deposits were dated to the Late Pleistocene.

When did the snowy egret stop being hunted?

This trade was ended in 1910 in North America but continued for some time in Central and South America. Since then populations have recovered.

What is the name of the bird with white legs and black eyes?

Description. Adult snowy egrets are entirely white apart from the yellow lores between the long black bill and the eye, black legs, and bright yellow feet. The nape and neck bear long, shaggy plumes known as aigrettes. Immature snowy egrets have duller, greenish legs. Measurements:

How old is the Snowy Egret?

The oldest Snowy Egret on record was at least 17 years, 7 months old. It was banded in Colorado in 1970 and found in Mexico in 1988.

What is the breeding of snowy egrets?

Breeding Snowy Egrets grow filmy, curving plumes that once fet ched astronomical prices in the fashion industry , endangering the species. Early conservationists rallied to protect egrets by the early twentieth century, and this species is once again a common sight in shallow coastal wetlands. More ID Info.

What are snowy egrets' feathers?

During the breeding season, adult Snowy Egrets develop long, wispy feathers on their backs, necks, and heads. In 1886 these plumes were valued at $32 per ounce, which was twice the price of gold at the time. Plume-hunting for the fashion industry killed many Snowy Egrets and other birds until reforms were passed in the early twentieth century. The recovery of shorebird populations through the work of concerned citizens was an early triumph and helped give birth to the conservation movement.

What is the most elegant heron?

Among the most elegant of the herons, the slender Snowy Egret sets off immaculate white plumage with black legs and brilliant yellow feet. Those feet seem to play a role in stirring up or herding small aquatic animals as the egret forages.

Do snowy egrets have feet?

A closer inspection will likely reveal the yellow facial skin and feet of a Snowy Egret. Male and female Snowy Egrets take turns incubating their eggs. As one mate takes over for the other, it sometimes presents a stick, almost as if passing a baton. Both parents continue caring for the young when they hatch.

Do snowy egrets mate with other herons?

Snowy Egrets sometimes mate with other heron species and produce hybrid offspring. They have been known to hybridize with Tricolored Herons, Little Blue Herons, and Cattle Egrets. The oldest Snowy Egret on record was at least 17 years, 7 months old. It was banded in Colorado in 1970 and found in Mexico in 1988.

Why are snowy egrets endangered?

In the early twentieth century, the Snowy egret was hunted extensively for their long breeding plumes that fashionable ladies wore on their hats. This trade was ended in 1910 in North America but continued for some time in Central and South America. Since then populations have recovered. Today, these beautiful birds suffer from pollution, competition with other bird species, and from the decline of wetland environments, as Snowy egrets depend on wetland areas for food. In some areas, eggs are contaminated by pesticides, which cause death.

Where do snowy egrets live?

They also occur throughout the year in the West Indies, Florida and coastal regions of North and Central America. Elsewhere, in the southern part of the United States, they are migratory, breeding in California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. Snowy egrets live in wetlands of many types; this includes marshes, riverbanks, lakesides, pools, salt marshes, mangroves, and estuaries.

Why are snowy egrets important?

Snowy egrets keep their ecosystem in health and habitat quality. The absence of egrets in wetlands may cause pollution, contamination of water, habitat loss, or human disturbance. Snowy egrets are also at the top of the food chain and thus control populations of fish and insects within their range.

How do snowy egrets breed?

Snowy egrets are monogamous, which means that both males and females have only one partner. The breeding season starts in spring. The male establishes a territory and starts building the nest in a tree, vines or thick undergrowth. He then attracts a female with an elaborate courtship display which includes dipping up and down, bill raising, aerial displays, diving, tumbling and calling. The female finishes the construction of the nest with materials brought by the male. It is constructed from twigs, rushes, sedges, grasses, Spanish moss, and similar materials and may be 15 in (38 cm) across. The female lays up to 6 pale bluish-green eggs which hatch after about 24 days. The young are altricial and covered with white down when first hatched. They leave the nest after about 22 days and become reproductively mature at 1 to 2 years of age.

What do snowy egrets do?

They stalk prey in shallow water, often running or shuffling their feet, flushing prey into view by swaying their heads, flicking their wings or vibrating their bills. They may also hover, or "dip-fish" by flying with their feet just above the water surface. Snowy egrets may also stand still and wait to ambush prey, or hunt for insects stirred up by domestic animals in open fields. These birds are usually silent; during courtship displays, when threatened or defending their territory they make a harsh squawk.

What is the color of a snowy egret?

100 cm. The Snowy egret is a small but elegant white heron. Adults are entirely white in color apart from the yellow lores between the long black bill and the eye, black legs, and bright yellow feet. The nape and neck bear long, shaggy plumes known as aigrettes.

Do snowy egrets clean their nests?

Snowy egrets keep their nests clean ; they always remove the egg shells and debris outside of the nest.

How tall is a snowy egret?

The snowy egret is a small and active wading bird that can reach a height of 26 inches (66 centimeters) with a 39 inch (100 centimeters) wingspan (Parsons and Master 2000). This species has a full white body, black legs, bright yellow feet, yellow marks around the eyes, and a black bill.

What are the threats to the snowy egret?

Today’s threats to the species are not well understood, but coastal development, recreational disturbance at foraging and breeding sites, habitat degradation, human disturbance, and increased pressure from predators are primary concerns (Rodgers et al. 1996, Kushlan et al. 2002, Stolen 2003). Similar to other wading birds that depend on fragile estuaries and wetlands for foraging and breeding, snowy egrets are at risk of exposure to persistent contaminants such as heavy metals (ex. mercury) and pesticides (Rodgers 1997, Spalding et al. 1997). Snowy egrets compete for nesting sites with growing numbers of cattle egrets, which can be aggressively territorial at colony sites, but the relationship to productivity is not well understood (Parsons and Master, 2000). Other potential threats to snowy egret populations are alterations to the hydrology of foraging areas, and oil spill impacts to critical breeding, foraging, and roosting sites.

What do snowy egrets eat?

The diet of the snowy egret primarily consists of shrimp, small fish, and small invertebrates. It feeds in fresh and salt water habitats within flocks of other wading birds. The snowy egret begins breeding around late March to early April. This species nests with other wading birds in swamps and mangroves on islands.

Do snowy egrets compete for nesting sites?

Snowy egrets compete for nesting sites with growing numbers of cattle egrets, which can be aggressively territorial at colony sites, but the relationship to productivity is not well understood (Parsons and Master, 2000).

Where are snowy egrets found?

The Snowy Egret is confirmed from nine counties in New York State including Bronx, Erie, Kings, Nassau, New York, Queens, Richmond, Suffolk, and Westchester counties (McGowan and Corwin InPress, New York Natural Heritage Program 2007).

How to protect snowy egrets?

As habitat loss is the largest known threat to Snowy Egrets, continuing to protect lands such as the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge and other managed areas is important to the conservation of this species and other colonial waterbirds (Brown et al. 2001). Limiting predation and human activity through the use of predator exclosures, visitor education, and by posting restricted signs in breeding and foraging areas would also be beneficial. Any habitat restoration efforts should consider increasing the availability of pool and open water habitat, as foraging habitat availability may be a limiting factor for egrets (Trocki and Paton 2006). Another consideration for the management of breeding Snowy Egrets is the use of buffers around colonies to reduce flushing responses to human disturbance (Peters and Otis 2006). Vehicle disturbances, especially in undeveloped areas, have been shown to cause a decline in foraging rates for this species, with seasonal differences in behavioral response (Stolen 2003, Traut and Hostetler 2003). This suggests that buffer zones could provide additional protection.

Why do snowy egrets have yellow feet?

Snowy Egrets use their bright yellow feet to stir up sediments in the water and frighten prey out of hiding places (Willard 1977 and Hom 1983 cited in Parsons and Master 2000).

When did snowy egrets first appear in New York?

The first records of Snowy Egret breeding in New York occurred in the 1880s, in limited numbers, on the coastal islands of Long Island (McGowan and Corwin In Press).

What is the federal protection of migratory birds?

The Migratory Bird Treaty Act implements various treaties and conventions between the U. S. and Canada, Japan, Mexico and the former Soviet Union for the protection of migratory birds. Under this Act, taking, killing, or possessing migratory birds, including nests or eggs, ...

What is a protected bird in New York?

Protected Bird. Defined as a Protected Bird by New York State law, and the species may not be hunted or taken at any time in New York. Includes birds also defined as a game species, but for which no open seasons are set.

When is the rarest time of year for a squid?

On the coast, this species is rare before late March and after November (New York Natural Heritage Program 2007).

Where do snowy egrets breed?

They are most common along the coast, though they do breed patchily in inland wetlands. Snowy Egrets nest colonially, usually on protected islands, and often with other small herons. They concentrate on mudflats, beaches, and wetlands, but also forage in wet agricultural fields and along the edges of rivers and lakes.

What is the difference between a snowy egret and an immature egret?

They have a patch of yellow skin at the base of the bill. Immature Snowy Egrets have duller, greenish legs. Snowy Egrets wade in shallow water to spear fish and other small aquatic animals.

Why do snowy egrets wade in shallow water?

Snowy Egrets wade in shallow water to spear fish and other small aquatic animals. While they may employ a sit-and-wait technique to capture their food, sometimes they are much more animated, running back and forth through the water with their wings spread, chasing their prey.

What does a snow white heron eat?

Medium-sized snow white heron with a black bill and yellow feet. Immature birds look similar to adults, but have dull yellowish green legs. Often eats insects attracted to washed up beach debris. While foraging, sometimes they vibrate their bills, sway their heads, or flick their wings.

Overview

Description

Distribution and habitat

Diet

Breeding

Fossil finds

Status

Further reading