While the colorful Roseate Spoonbills get most of the attention during nesting time at the Orlando Wetlands, you have to appreciate the beauty of the Great Egrets. In their breeding plumage, they certainly add a touch of elegance to the park.
Resplendent in white with just a touch of green and yellow, the chic Great Egrets put on quite a show.
As AllAboutBirds.org notes, “The pristinely white Great Egret gets even more dressed up for the breeding season. A patch of skin on its face turns neon green, and long plumes grow from its back. Called aigrettes, those plumes were the bane of egrets in the late nineteenth century, when such adornments were prized for ladies’ hats.”
More than 95% of the Great Egret population in North America was killed for those decorative plumes in the late 1800s and early 1900s. After plume-hunting was banned, they made a remarkable comeback.
And this is the time of year when they really show off their beauty. Whether it’s preening or gathering material for their nests, they’re very photogenic.
