Hatchlings/Juveniles
After the incubation period, the eggs will hatch, and out
come hatchlings that have been called “so ugly that they are
actually cute.” Both parents will go out foraging for food,
and both feed their brood by regurgitation. For a large bird,
they grow very quickly. Juvenile egrets may climb out of the
nest by four weeks and generally are flying in six to seven
weeks. Nestlings compete fiercely for food. When breeding
conditions are poor (with food scarce), in a nest of three the
two first-born hatchlings may team up and kill the third.
The fewer there are in the nest, the more food for each. The
parents will sit in nearby branches and ignore this process.
Conservation Status
In the late 1800s, the showy white breeding plumage of the
great egret was coveted by the fashion industry and was
worth more than a comparable weight of gold. This led to
overhunting of the breed and a precipitous decline in egret
populations worldwide. Reforms passed in the early twentieth
century are credited with saving the species from extinction.
In recognition of this early conservation success, the
Audubon Society has adopted the great egret as its symbol.
Happily today, its current conservation status is “Least
Concern.”
All photos this page: Hatchlings and juveniles.
As I have observed and studied these fascinating birds,
I have learned to appreciate them and their interesting and
intriguing habits. I hope that this article has helped you
develop the same appreciation for this magnificent bird. NK
WINTER/SPRING 2019 • VOLUME 41
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