DOCSLIB.ORG

Great Egret (Ardea Alba) Francesca J

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Great Egret (Ardea Alba) Francesca J Great Egret (Ardea alba) Francesca J. Cuthbert Kensington Metro Park, Oakland Co., MI 5/2/2009 © Jim Ridley (Click to view a comparison of Atlas I to II) According to A.C. Bent (1926), the Florida (Lake St. Clair). These colonies appear to have persisted into the mid-1970s when W. Scharf et plume hunters called the Great Egret the “long al. (1978) documented egrets at these sites in white;” “as it springs into flight with neck and 1976. Although these colonies were no longer legs extended, and flaps majestically away on its active at the time of the 1989-91 Great Lakes broad white wings, it seems to be the longest, Colonial Waterbird Census, Sharf and Shugart the slenderest, and the most ethereal of the (1998) reported new colonies in Saginaw Bay herons.” Today, the Great Egret is a powerful and at Pte. Mouillee, Monroe Co. MBBA I symbol of early conservation efforts that were confirmed breeding in six townships, all in the mounted to safeguard it and other species from SLP. At the time of MBBA II, observations overhunting for their feathers in the 1800s. clearly demonstrate that the distribution of Protection in the early 1900s is credited with breeding Great Egrets is still concentrated in the population recovery and establishment of the SLP, especially southeastern and southwestern Great Egret as a breeding species in Michigan Michigan. For example, confirmed breeding approximately 50 years ago. This cosmopolitan increased from five to nine townships between species now breeds locally in the U.S. north to the two atlas survey periods. However, results the Canadian border, and winters primarily in from MBBA II also document that this species the southern states and along the Pacific Coast has recently expanded north in the state as Great as far north as Oregon (McCrimmon et al. Egrets were confirmed breeding in four 2001). townships in the NLP and two in the UP. In contrast, during the MBBA I period, there were Distribution no confirmed breeding records in either the NLP Great Egrets reach the northern edge of their or the UP. The Great Egret is a colonial nester U.S. distribution in Michigan. Historically, there with colony size ranging from a few pairs to is no evidence that this species nested in more than 100 nests. In Michigan, egrets Michigan until the 1950s. For example, Barrows typically nest on forested islands, or at forested (1912) and Wood (1951) did not report Great inland sites, and often co-occur with Great Blue Egrets as breeders in Michigan at the time of Herons or Double-crested Cormorants. Black- their studies, but Kelley et al. (1963) confirmed crowned Night-Herons may be present in the nesting in 1954 by nine pairs on Stoney Island lower canopy. (Detroit River) and seven on Dickinson Island © 2010 Kalamazoo Nature Center Great Egret (Ardea alba) Francesca J. Cuthbert Breeding Biology pairs at four sites in Lake Huron and two on Spring arrival of Great Egrets to Michigan Lake Michigan (Cuthbert unpublished data). begins in late March but the peak return is in Estimates for inland colonies are not available. April. Clutches of 3-4 eggs are laid in early to mid-May. Nests are platforms constructed of Conservation Needs sticks and twigs located on or near the top of Although once close to extirpation in the U.S., trees or woody vegetation; height of nest above the Great Egret has recovered to historical ground is variable and occasionally birds nest numbers and expanded its range (McCrimmon on the ground (McKrimmon et al. 2001). The 2001). However, this species remains vulnerable incubation period is approximately 26 days, and to a number of threats such as contaminants, nestlings are able to fly at about 51 days of age wetland loss, destruction of nest trees to (McKrimmon et al 2001). Egrets forage in development and shooting at aquaculture ponds shallow water, often coastal wetlands. Their diet and fish hatcheries (McCrimmon 2001). Great is variable and includes fish, invertebrates, Egrets nest inland in Michigan but may prefer amphibians and occasionally small mammals Great Lakes islands where predation by (McKrimmon et al 2001). Post-breeding, mammals (e.g. raccoons) and other disturbance individuals disperse widely, likely accounting is minimized. Because colony sites are few in for many reports of Great Egrets throughout number, they should be protected from habitat Michigan in the fall. loss and human intrusion. Abundance and Population Trends Historical records do not provide evidence of Literature Cited breeding by this species in Michigan until after the 1940s. Various reports (Scharf et al. 1998; Barrows, W.B. 1912. Michigan Birdlife. East Cuthbert unpubl. data; Brewer et al. 1991) Lansing, Michigan Agricultural College indicate an increase in number of nesting birds Special Bulletin. since at least the mid 1970s through MBBA II. Bent, A.C. 1926. Life Histories of North For example, townships with confirmed American Marsh Birds. U.S. Natl. Mus. breeding increased from six to 15 between Bull. 135. MBBA I and II and townships with possible Brewer, R, GA McPeek, and RJ Adams Jr. nesting increased from 41 to 91 in the same time 1991. The Atlas of Breeding Birds of period. Additional evidence of a growing Michigan. Michigan State University Press. population is provided by the decadal Great East Lansing, MI. Lakes Colonial Waterbird Census. In the period Cuthbert, F.J., J. McKearnan, L.R. Wires, and 1989-1991 Scharf and Shugart (1998) reported A. Joshi. 2003. Distribution and abundance egret colonies at five coastal sites and estimated of colonial waterbirds in the US Great 47 pairs at four sites plus 25-50 at Pte. Mouillee. Lakes: 1997-1999. Draft report submitted to A single pair was found in Alpena Co. on Gull USFWS, Ft. Snelling, MN. Island. During the third Great Lakes Colonial Kelley, A.H., D.S. Middleton and W.P. Nickel. Waterbird Census in 1997-99, Cuthbert et al. 1963. Birds of the Detroit Windsor Area: A (2003) estimated 377 pairs of egrets nesting at 10 Year Survey. Cranbrook Institute of only two coastal sites in Michigan, Little Science. Bull 45. Bloomfield Hills, MI Charity Island and the Confined Disposal p119. Facility, both in Saginaw Bay. Data from the fourth Great Lakes Census (2007-09) showed that coastal nesting egrets increased to over 500 © 2010 Kalamazoo Nature Center Great Egret (Ardea alba) Francesca J. Cuthbert McCrimmon, D.A. Jr., J.C. Ogden, and G.T. Bancroft. 2001. Great Egret (Ardea alba), In The Birds of North Americ, No. 570 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North American, Inc., Philadelphia, PA. Scharf, W.C., G.W. Shugart and M.L. Chamberlain. 1978. Colonial birds nesting on man-made and natural sites in the US Great Lakes. Technical report D-78-10, U.S. Army Engineer Waterways Experiment Station. Vicksburg, Mississippi. Scharf, W.C. and G.W. Shugart. 1998. Distribution and abundance of tree-nesting heron and marsh-nesting tern colonies of the U.S. Great Lakes, 1989-1991. (W.W. Bowerman and A.S. Roe, Eds.) Publication No. 2, Gale Gleason Environmental Institute, Lake Superior State University Press, Sault Ste. Marie, MI. Wood, N.A. 1951. The Birds of Michigan. Ann Arbor, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology Miscellaneous Publication No. 75. Suggested Citation Cuthbert, F.J. 2010. Great Egret (Ardea alba). In Chartier, A.T., J.J. Baldy, and J.M. Brenneman (eds.). 2010. The Second Michigan Breeding Bird Atlas. Kalamazoo Nature Center. Kalamazoo, MI. Accessed online at: <www.mibirdatlas.org/Portals /12/MBA2010/GREGaccount.pdf >. © 2010 Kalamazoo Nature Center .
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Courtship and Pair Formation in the Great Egret
    COURTSHIP AND PAIR FORMATION IN THE GREAT EGRET Joca• H. Wt•s• THv. reproductivebehavior of the Ardeidaehas receivedconsiderable attention (Verwey 1930; Meanley 1955; Cottrille and Cottrille 1958; Meyerriecks1960 and in Palmer 1962; Baerendsand Van Der Cingel 1962; Blaker 1969a, 1969b; Lancaster 1970). Although Meyerriecks (in Palmer 1962) summarizedthe behavior and McCrimmon (1974) described two sexual displays in detail, the reproductive behavior of the Great Egret (Casmerodiusalbus egretta) remainsessentially unknown. This paper describescourtship and pair formationin this little studied species. STLTD¾AREAS AND METIIODS Most of the observations were made at Avery Island, Iberia Parish, Louisiana, 91ø 30' W, 29ø 30• N. Great Egrets nested on five bamboo platforms (ranging from 4 by 20 m to 7 by 35 m, approximate]y) 2 m above the water surface in "Bird City," a 5-ha freshwater pond in the center of the island. Short lengths of bamboo twigs were provided for nest material. The five bamboo platforms supported 430 •-• 15 nesting pairs of Great Egrets in 1974. This number represented a drastic decline from previous years (E. M. Simmons, pets. comm.) and coincidedwith the establishmentof a second heronry 1 km southeast of Bird City. Additional observationswere made at Headquarter Pond, St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge, and Smith Island, Wakulla County, Florida, 84ø 10' W, and 84ø 19• W, 30ø 05' N, and 30ø 03' N, respectively. At Headquarter Pond Great Egrets nested in willows growing in open water more than 0.6 m in depth. The number of nesting egretsdecreased from 38 pairs in 1971 to 9 pairs in 1972 (see below).
    [Show full text]
  • Effects of Nest Characteristics and Black Rat Rattus Rattus Predation on Daily Survival Rates of Great Egret Ardea Alba Nest
    Effects of nest characteristics and black rat Rattus rattus predation on daily survival rates of great egret Ardea alba nests in mangrove forest in the Hara Biosphere Reserve, the Persian Gulf Authors: Elnaz Neinavaz, Ahmad Barati, Jessi L. Brown, Farzaneh Etezadifar, and Besat Emami Source: Wildlife Biology, 19(3) : 240-247 Published By: Nordic Board for Wildlife Research URL: https://doi.org/10.2981/12-087 BioOne Complete (complete.BioOne.org) is a full-text database of 200 subscribed and open-access titles in the biological, ecological, and environmental sciences published by nonprofit societies, associations, museums, institutions, and presses. Your use of this PDF, the BioOne Complete website, and all posted and associated content indicates your acceptance of BioOne’s Terms of Use, available at www.bioone.org/terms-of-use. Usage of BioOne Complete content is strictly limited to personal, educational, and non-commercial use. Commercial inquiries or rights and permissions requests should be directed to the individual publisher as copyright holder. BioOne sees sustainable scholarly publishing as an inherently collaborative enterprise connecting authors, nonprofit publishers, academic institutions, research libraries, and research funders in the common goal of maximizing access to critical research. Downloaded From: https://bioone.org/journals/Wildlife-Biology on 04 Apr 2019 Terms of Use: https://bioone.org/terms-of-use Wildl. Biol. 19: 240-247 (2013) Original article DOI: 10.2981/12-087 Ó Wildlife Biology, NKV www.wildlifebiology.com Effects of nest characteristics and black rat Rattus rattus predation on daily survival rates of great egret Ardea alba nests in mangrove forest in the Hara Biosphere Reserve, the Persian Gulf Elnaz Neinavaz, Ahmad Barati, Jessi L.
    [Show full text]
  • Great Egret Ardea Alba
    Great Egret Ardea alba Joe Kosack/PGC Photo CURRENT STATUS: In Pennsylvania, the great egret is listed state endangered and protected under the Game and Wildlife Code. Nationally, they are not listed as an endangered/threatened species. All migra- tory birds are protected under the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918. POPULATION TREND: The Pennsylvania Game Commission counts active great egret (Ardea alba) nests in every known colony in the state every year to track changes in population size. Since 2009, only two nesting locations have been active in Pennsylvania: Kiwanis Lake, York County (fewer than 10 pairs) and the Susquehanna River’s Wade Island, Dauphin County (fewer than 200 pairs). Both sites are Penn- sylvania Audubon Important Bird Areas. Great egrets abandoned other colonies along the lower Susque- hanna River in Lancaster County in 1988 and along the Delaware River in Philadelphia County in 1991. Wade Island has been surveyed annually since 1985. The egret population there has slowly increased since 1985, with a high count of 197 nests in 2009. The 10-year average count from 2005 to 2014 was 159 nests. First listed as a state threatened species in 1990, the great egret was downgraded to endan- gered in 1999. IDENTIFYING CHARACTERISTICS: Great egrets are almost the size of a great blue heron (Ardea herodias), but white rather than gray-blue. From bill to tail tip, adults are about 40 inches long. The wingspan is 55 inches. The plumage is white, bill yellowish, and legs and feet black. Commonly confused species include cattle egret (Bubulus ibis), snowy egret (Egretta thula), and juvenile little blue herons (Egretta caerulea); however these species are smaller and do not nest regularly in the state.
    [Show full text]
  • Guidance for Time of Year Restrictions on Colonial Water Birds and Wading Birds
    Guidance for time of year restrictions on colonial water birds and wading birds Abatement Plan Because time of year restrictions likely cannot be avoided and the project area is within areas known to be occupied by nesting shorebirds, we recommend that a bird abatement plan be developed in coordination with the Service and the LDWF. The abatement plan should include a monitoring plan including pre-construction and construction monitoring, anticipated abatement procedures, a report outline of daily monitoring and abatement activities, and include a post- construction report. Brown pelican (For use when only pelicans are present; for all nesting shorebird species, see “Colonial Nesting Waterbirds” further below in this document) The proposed project may affect nesting habitat for the brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis), which was officially removed from the List of Endangered and Threatened Species on December 17, 2009. Brown pelicans nest in Louisiana from April 1 through September 15. Nesting periods vary considerably among Louisiana’s brown pelican colonies, so it is possible that this breeding window could be altered based upon the dynamics of the individual colony. The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries’ Coastal and Nongame Resources Division (225/765-2811) should be contacted to obtain the most current information about the nesting chronology of individual brown pelican colonies. Brown pelicans are known to nest on barrier islands and other coastal islands in St. Bernard, Plaquemines, Jefferson, Lafourche, and Terrebonne Parishes. Current nesting locations include Raccoon Point on Isles Dernieres, Queen Bess Island, Plover Island (Baptiste Collette), Wine Island, Rabbit Island in Calcasieu Lake (Cameron Parish), and islands in the Chandeleur chain.
    [Show full text]
  • New York City Audubon Harbor Herons Project
    NEW YORK CITY AUDUBON HARBOR HERONS PROJECT 2007 Nesting Survey 1 2 NEW YORK CITY AUDUBON HARBOR HERONS PROJECT 2007 NESTING SURVEY November 21, 2007 Prepared for: New York City Audubon Glenn Phillips, Executive Director 71 W. 23rd Street, Room 1529 New York, NY 10010 212-691-7483 www.nycaudubon.org Prepared by: Andrew J. Bernick, Ph. D. 2856 Fairhaven Avenue Alexandria, VA 22303-2209 Tel. 703-960-4616 [email protected] With additional data provided by: Dr. Susan Elbin and Elizabeth Craig, Wildlife Trust Dr. George Frame, National Park Service David S. Künstler, New York City Department of Parks & Recreation Don Riepe, American Littoral Society/Jamaica Bay Guardian Funded by: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s Hudson River Estuary Habitat Grant and ConocoPhillips-Bayway Refinery 3 ABSTRACT . 5 CONTENTS INTRODUCTION . 7 METHODS . 8 TRANSPORTATION AND PERMITS . 9 RESULTS . 10 ISLAND ACCOUNTS . 12 Long Island Sound–Pelham/New Rochelle. 12 Huckleberry Island. 12 East River, Hutchinson River, and 2007 Long Island Sound ............................ .13 Nesting Survey Goose Island. .13 East River ......................................14 North Brother Island. 14 South Brother Island. .15 Mill Rock. 16 U Thant. .17 Staten Island – Arthur Kill and Kill Van Kull . .17 Prall’s Island. 17 Shooter’s Island . 19 Isle of Meadows . 19 Hoffman Island . 20 Swinburne Island . .21 Jamaica Bay ................................... .22 Carnarsie Pol . 22 Ruffle Bar. 23 White Island . .23 Subway Island . .24 Little Egg Marsh . .24 Elders Point Marsh–West. .25 Elders Point Marsh – East . 25 MAINLAND ACCOUNTS . 26 SPECIES ACCOUNTS . 27 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS . 29 Acknowledgements . .33 Literature Cited . 34 TABLES . 35 APPENDIX .
    [Show full text]
  • Intermediate Egret Egretta Intermedia: First Record for Qatar NEIL G MORRIS
    Intermediate Egret Egretta intermedia: first record for Qatar NEIL G MORRIS Whilst counting herons and cormorants at Abu Nahkla, Qatar’s premier grey water lagoons, on 22 January 2014, I noticed a white heron (Plates 1–4) being mobbed by two Grey Herons Ardea cinerea. The white heron was trying to join the Grey Herons in a particularly productive feeding area at the edge of the reedbed. The white heron would try to land and then be chased off by the Greys. It was immediately apparent that the white heron was significantly shorter in stature and less bulky than the Greys, and sported a relatively short orange bill. My first thought was Intermediate Egret Egretta intermedia, though this was not on the Qatar List. I spent a few minutes taking photographs and comparing the size and structure of the bird with its sparring partners. Along with the bill, I noted long black legs and feet, and an obvious long kinked neck, hence quickly ruling out Little Plates 1–2. Intermediate Egret Egretta intermedia at Abu Nahkla, Qatar, 22 January 2014. © Neil G Morris Sandgrouse 36 (2014) 195 Sandgrouse36-2-140716.indd 195 7/17/14 11:31 AM Plates 3–4. Intermediate Egret Egretta intermedia at Abu Nahkla, Qatar, 22 January 2014. © Neil G Morris E. garzetta, Indian Reef E. gularis and Cattle Egrets Bubulcus ibis. The jizz, especially the head and bill shape, also seemed to rule out a runt Western Great Egret Egretta alba. I also discounted an early juvenile heron/egret, given the clean white plumage, uniform bill colouration and also leg colour.
    [Show full text]
  • Great Egret Ardea Alba
    Great Egret Ardea alba Folk Name: Big Plume Crane, Big White Crane, Big White Heron Status: Migrant, Winter Visitor, local Breeder Abundance: Uncommon to Fairly Common Habitat: Lakes, rivers, ponds, wetlands, marshes The sight of a breeding Great Egret foraging along the water’s edge is truly a spectacular sight to behold. This very large all-white heron looks almost regal as its long breeding plumes, or “aigrettes,” trail behind. This stunning wader stands just 6 inches smaller than the Great Blue Heron. It has a long, pointed, all-yellow bill and long black legs, and at the height of breeding it has shamrock-green lores. The Great Egret, like our other egrets and herons, is This account was published inThe Chat in the summer an opportunistic carnivore. It stalks its prey slowly and of 1944: deliberately, using its strong bill to quickly catch or spear animals, anytime, anywhere something looks tasty. Great A large white bird was reported on a chimney of Egrets have been known to eat everything from fish, a house on Idlewild Circle shortly after noon, crayfish, and frogs, to snakes, dragonflies, grasshoppers, August 10th, and that evening a Charlotte News and even small birds and small mammals. In some areas, photographer and columnist Dorothy Knox were they regularly forage on upland sites like lawns at golf taking pictures and interviewing the Russell boys, courses, parks, and in neighborhoods. Erwin and Eddie, who had caught the bird in the In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, back yard of their home on Lexington Ave. Mrs.
    [Show full text]
  • The Contrasting Feeding Ecology of Great Egrets and Roseate Spoonbills in Limnetic and Estuarine Colonies
    Hydrobiologia (2015) 744:187–210 DOI 10.1007/s10750-014-2076-1 PRIMARY RESEARCH PAPER The contrasting feeding ecology of great egrets and roseate spoonbills in limnetic and estuarine colonies Vanessa Oliveira Britto • Leandro Bugoni Received: 5 November 2013 / Revised: 28 September 2014 / Accepted: 7 October 2014 / Published online: 17 October 2014 Ó Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2014 Abstract Multispecies colonies of wading birds colony fed on both estuarine and limnetic prey, frequently occur in both freshwater and estuarine expanding their isotopic niche considerably. Dietary environments, in locations with potentially safe places data confirmed this result, with the diets of egrets in for nesting where the nearby shallow waters provide the freshwater colony showing high similarity to the food for rearing chicks. In 2011/2012, we investigated diets of spoonbills in both freshwater and estuarine the feeding ecology of two large-sized waterbirds, the colonies. The isotopic niche overlap was the lowest great egret, Ardea alba, and the roseate spoonbill, between species in the estuarine colony, suggesting Platalea ajaja, which breed sympatrically in limnetic that the feeding plasticity of egrets reduces interspe- and estuarine colonies 65 km apart in southern Brazil. cific competition during breeding. Whole blood from chicks was sampled for d13C and d15N stable isotopes, and their diets were assessed Keywords Diet Á Pellets Á Stable isotopes Á Mixing using direct (conventional) methods. The diet of models Á Platalea ajaja Á Ardea alba spoonbills consisted of fish, insects, crustaceans, mollusks, and seeds, whereas great egrets fed mainly on fish, insects, and crustaceans. Bayesian stable Introduction isotope mixing models indicated that spoonbills fed exclusively in limnetic habitats, regardless of where Coexistence of sympatric species with similar mor- they bred, whereas egrets breeding in the estuarine phological characteristics and similar ecological roles implies there are some differences in the ways they explore the environment.
    [Show full text]
  • Great Egret Casmerodius Albus
    Great Egret Casmerodius albus Within Ohio, breeding Great Egrets have been largely confined to the western Lake Erie basin. While the history of this population was briefly described by Peterjohn (1989a), a more complete summary is provided below. In 1940 Ohio’s first confirmed nesting pair of egrets was discovered within a Great Blue Heron colony along Sandusky Bay in Sandusky County (Hicks 1944). This attempt was probably successful as large young were observed in the nest on July 5. The status of nesting Great Egrets was not determined between 1940 and 1945. While breeding was suspected on West Sister Island in 1945, nesting was not confirmed there until 1946 (Campbell 1947). The initial size of this colony is the subject of contradictory information. Campbell (1947) reported only six nests, five with young and one with unknown contents. How- ever, he later claimed there were 25 nests containing 10 young on June 16 (Campbell 1968). This colony reportedly consisted of 20 nests in 1947 and 30 in 1948 (Mayfield 1947, 1948). Its subsequent increases were poorly documented. As many as 125 nesting pairs were estimated in 1959 and similar numbers were believed to be present into the early 1970s (Campbell 1968, 1973). Elsewhere along western Lake Erie, nesting egrets were reported from a small colony at Winous Point (Ottawa County). Approximately 25 pairs nested there “prior to 1959”, but only one pair remained in 1960 (Anderson 1960). After 1960, only single pairs infrequently nested at this site. Mike Williams - ODNR Photographer During the Atlas Project, West Sister Island remained the stronghold of breeding Great Egrets within Ohio.
    [Show full text]
  • Commensal Feeding of Great Egrets with Black-Tailed Deer Garth Herring and Heidi K
    NOTES COMMENSAL FEEDING OF GREAT EGRETS WITH BLACK-TAILED DEER GARTH HERRING and HEIDI K. HERRING, Department of Biological Sciences, Florida Atlantic University, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton, Florida 33431-0991; [email protected] Commensal foraging associations are defined as those in which one species aids the foraging of another while incurring no significant costs and receiving no benefits (Wiens 1989). A common commensal association comprises a “beater” species unintentionally flushing and thus making prey available for an “attendant” species (Wiens 1989). Commensal foraging is relatively common among birds, with most such associations between two or more species of birds (see Baker 1980, Robbins 1981, Hino 1998). Foraging associations between birds and mammals are somewhat less common but have been observed with Nine-banded Armadillos (Dasypus novemcinc- tus; Komar and Hanks 2002), West Indian Manatees (Trichechus; Scott and Powell 1982), Maned Wolves (Chrysocyon brachyurus; Silveira et al. 1997), human beings (Skutch 1969), other primates (Stott 1947, Boinski and Scott 1988, Ruggiero and Eves 1998), and, most frequently, ungulates (Heatwole 1965, Dinsmore 1973, Grubb 1976, Dean and MacDonald 1981, Burger and Gochfield 1982, Källander 1993, Ruggiero and Eves 1998). Commensal foraging has been observed in several species of wading birds (see Kushlan 1978, Bennett and Smithson 2001). Kushlan (1978) reported that Great Egrets (Ardea alba) attend cattle, citing Rice (1954) and Caldwell (1956). Contrary to Kushlan’s (1978) citation, however, Rice (1954) did not observe Great Egrets foraging with cattle. Caldwell (1956) did observe one Great Egret foraging adjacent to cattle but claimed that the egret was attracted to the pasture by a large number of Snowy Egrets (Egretta thula) and that it would not have foraged by the cattle in the absence of the Snowy Egrets.
    [Show full text]
  • Systematics and Evolutionary Rela Tionships Among the Herons (~Rdeidae)
    MISCELLANEOUS PUBLICATIONS MUSEUM OF ZOOLOGY, UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN, NO. 150 Systematics and Evolutionary Rela tionships Among the Herons (~rdeidae) BY ROBERT B. PAYNE and CHRISTOPHER J. RISLEY Ann Arbor MUSEUM OF ZOOLOGY, UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN August 13, 1976 MISCELLANEOUS PUBLICATIONS MUSEUM OF ZOOLOGY, UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN FRANCIS C. EVANS, EDITOR The publications of the Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan, consist of two series-the Occasional Papers and the Miscellaneous Publications. Both series were founded by Dr. Bryant Walker, Mr. Bradshaw H. Swales, and Dr. W. W. Newcomb. The Occasional Papers, publication of which was begun in 1913, serve as a medium for original studies based principally upon the collections in the Museum. They are issued separately. When a sufficient number of pages has been printed to make a volume, a title page, table of contents, and an index are supplied to libraries and individuals on the mailing list for the series. The Miscellaneous Publications, which include papers on field and museum techniques, monographic studies, and other contributions not within the scope of the Occasional Papers, are published separately. It is not intended that they be grouped into volumes. Each number has a title page and, when necessary, a table of contents. A complete list of publications on Birds, Fishes, Insects, Mammals, Mollusks, and Reptiles and Amphibians is available. Address inquiries to the Director, Museum of Zoology, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109. MISCELLANEOUS PUBLICATIONS MUSEUM OF ZOOLOGY, UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN, NO. 150 Systematics and Evolutionary Relationships Among the Herons (Ardeidae) BY ROBERT B. PAYNE and CHRISTOPHER J. RISLEY Ann Arbor MUSEUM OF ZOOLOGY, UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN August 13, 1976 CONTENTS PAGE INTRODUCTION .......................................
    [Show full text]
  • Heron and Egret Fact Sheet
    HERON AND EGRET FACT SHEET Great Blue Herons and Great Egrets By Helen Pratt Great Blue Herons and Great Egrets are long-legged, long-necked birds adapted for wading in shallow water such as lake edges, marshes and tidal flats and for capturing fish, frogs, small crustaceans and other aquatic prey. They also sometimes hunt for small rodents, grasshoppers, snakes and lizards in grassy fields. The Great Blue Heron is the largest North American wading bird. It stands up to 4 feet tall, weighs about 5 pounds, and has a wing span of 6 feet. In spite of its name, it looks grey under most viewing conditions. But when seen in flight from above, if the light is right, the wing feathers take on a bluish cast. The Great Egret weighs about 2 pounds and has a wing span of 4 1/2 feet. It is all white and is distinguished by long plumes or "aigrettes" that grow from the shoulder and can be elevated and spread fan-shaped during pair formation displays. The herons begin to occupy the nesting area at Audubon Canyon Ranch and throughout the Bay Area in late January or early February. Egg laying generally starts in late February or early March and peaks sometime in March. The egrets are more variable in their arrival dates than the herons. They usually arrive in mid-March and start laying in the fourth week of March, but they have arrived as late as the second week in April. Their laying peak is sometime in April. Both species lay 2-5 greenish-blue eggs.
    [Show full text]