Great Egret

Ardea alba

Look for this tall, all-white wader in the lagoon inlet or salt marsh. The Great Egret’s larger stature, yellow bill, and black feet distinguish it from the smaller Snowy Egret, which has a black bill and yellow feet. Egret populations were nearly decimated in the late 19th and early 20th centuries when they were hunted for their plumes, used mainly to decorate ladies’ hats. The near-extinction of this beautiful bird inspired the nation’s first environmental movement.

Fun Fact:
The Great Egret is the symbol of the National Audubon Society, one of America's first environmental organizations

What’s for Lunch:
Fish, crustaceans, frogs, and insects

Where’s Home:
The lagoon year-round; nests in trees near the wetlands