Snowy Egret
Egretta thula
This medium-sized heron has a white plumage, long black legs that end with bright yellow feet, and a long black bill. These birds are commonly seen on the salt marsh and barrier islands where they hunt aquatic animals. They will forage for fish, frogs, worms, and crustaceans in saltmarsh pools, tidal channels, and inlets. When nesting season arrives the male will establish the nesting site before finding a mate and once they find a female the female will switch to nest building. The nest is a shallow oval made of loosely woven twigs and grass on top of branches in a woody vine, tree, or shrub. They will lay 2-6 eggs and incubate them for 24-25 days and when the chicks hatch both parents will care for the young.
