Kiawah Island Egrets
E
Story and photographs by John Chapel
ver wonder what those large white birds are
that we see on Kiawah? Many of them are
egrets, and they come in a variety of sizes and
shapes. Egrets are one species of a large group
of wading birds and are often found feeding in quiet waters
along the edges of our ponds, marshes, and mud flats.
General
The surprise to most non-ornithologists is that egrets are
actually a subspecies of a family of birds that includes herons.
There are four egrets seen from time to time along the
Carolina coast: the great egret (Ardea alba), the snowy egret
(Egretta thula), the reddish egret (Egretta rufescens), and the
cattle egret (Bubulcus ibis). Most egrets on Kiawah are great
egrets or snowy egrets. Cattle egrets are present here but are
more frequently found inland on farms or ranches, as their
name implies. Reddish egrets are uncommon but present and
always fun to see in action. Generally speaking, we picture
egrets as white and herons as darker in color but note that
juvenile herons can be white, and reddish egrets are precisely
that. Identification of the various birds can be confusing as
one can find egrets, herons, Ibises, and similar species all
in the same area, feeding or nesting. While egrets like to
colonize, they do not monopolize an area and often nest near
herons and anhingas.
Above, great egret; below, snowy egret.
Differentiation
The great egret is only slightly smaller than the great blue
heron (Ardea Herodias). Great egrets look the same from youth
through adulthood, and juveniles are equal in size to adults.
They are easily identified by their elegant shape, dark legs,
and orange-yellow bill. They are very graceful as they slowly
move around the marsh searching for food with their heads
held high. Snowy egrets are smaller and easily distinguishable
because of their bright yellow feet and long black legs. The
snowy egret’s bill is all black as opposed to the orange-yellow
bill of the great. The area around the base of its bill (known
as the lore) is yellow but may turn reddish during breeding
season. That same area on a great egret turns brilliant lime
green during breeding season. I have enjoyed watching all these
birds on Kiawah Island, especially the elegant great egrets.
Because they were so captivating, I decided to observe and
photograph some of them from mating season through nesting
and the appearance of the next generation.
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