Great Egret
—Ross Feldner

The Great Egret, sometimes called the Common Egret, is not a picky eater. They are omnivores who eat mainly small fish but also consume reptiles, amphibians, birds, as well as invertebrates like crayfish, shrimp, dragonflies, and grasshoppers, and even small mammals.
    They employ various hunting strategies that are as flexible as their diet. They may wade in groups or alone, moving through shallow water. Or, the may stand perfectly still waiting for their prey. This method ends with a lightening quick strike of its long bill. They may even hunt on land in grassy areas.
    Their beautiful breeding plumage led to a precipitous decline in their population in the late 19th and early 20th century. Their delicate plumes were prized decorations for ladies’ hats which led to a massive slaughter of Great Egrets. Plume hunters wiped out entire colonies of breeding Great Egrets, leaving their young to starve. By 1897, the newly formed Massachusetts Audubon Society worked to convince the Massachusetts legislature to outlaw the wild bird feather trade and soon, other Audubon societies formed around the United States. This movement led to the creation of the National Audubon Society, which uses the Great Egret as its symbol.