Ardea Alba 

Biological Overview

Habitat  

Egrets live in a freshwater habitat with marsh/swamp areas  

Diet  

The egret diet consists of fish, amphibians, reptiles, and many small mammals.  

Role in Ecosystem  

Egrets help by eating animals, preventing the overpopulation of many species of organisms.  

Behavior  

The behavior of the egret is a grateful flyer with big wings and a neck that lies low to the ground to catch fish. 

Human Impact

In North America, between 1996 to 2016, there were over 9 million egrets on the continent, but in the 19th century it was a different story. Many egrets were being killed because many people in the 19th century wanted feathers for their hats or clothes. Thankfully, in the 1910s, plume hunting was banned, and the egret population began to go up again. Then in the 1930s, humans began to destroy their habitats due to construction, which caused the birds to have to move to a new habitat. Actually, egrets are very flexible and can easily move to new habitats, but eventually there will be no new habitat for the birds to move to. So, overall, humans are destroying the great egrets habitat, and that changes their life and can lead to extinction of the great egrets 

Creative Exploration

As it glides high,  
up into the sky,   
It spots it next victim,   
And begins to dive.  
It dips down to the water, and catches its fish,  
Then comes up from the horizon,   
With a lovely dish.  
It bites, chews, and finally swallows, 
Then walks to the shore as the golden rays follow.  
As we see this creature’s beautiful light   
The great egret, then, says goodnight. 

Brij Hearring, Helena Icenhour

Book 2