Bird of the week 2023 | Week 19

Great egret [MichaelWarren.com]

Great egret

The spectacular great egret is found on every continent except Antarctica. It’s common in Florida and other wet and warm habitats. During the 19th century, it was hunted aggressively in Florida for the beautiful feathers that were used in women’s hats. The Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 protected these and a thousand other bird species in the United States and Canada, which enabled their populations to re-cover. This bird was photographed at the Ocala Wetland Recharge Park.