Ornithology (Bird) Thread

[New_Windsor_NY]

Interesting.....

Thank you Tom.

[New_Windsor_NY]

Another article from an August 1946, New York newspaper.

[Paladin]

Another article from an August 1946, New York newspaper.

They were my main target when I was a youngster. I remember picking up a wounded one and that little sucker clamped down on my index finger. He kinda had the skin and meat on the palm-side of the finger and it was painful. I had to shake and shake to get him to turn loose.

Ray

[New_Windsor_NY]

Another article from an August 1946, New York newspaper.

[New_Windsor_NY]

An article from a September 1946, New York newspaper.

[1967redrider]

These birds have been hanging around the cows all day today, never seen any before. At first my brother thought the chickens were out. White feathered bodies and head, yellow beaks and gray legs. When I tried to get close they would take off. They looked like a cross between a young white turkey and a seagull.

[Paladin]

These birds have been hanging around the cows all day today, never seen any before. At first my brother thought the chickens were out. White feathered bodies and head, yellow beaks and gray legs. When I tried to get close they would take off. They looked like a cross between a young white turkey and a seagull.

Cattle egrets, maybe?

Ray

[1967redrider]

These birds have been hanging around the cows all day today, never seen any before. At first my brother thought the chickens were out. White feathered bodies and head, yellow beaks and gray legs. When I tried to get close they would take off. They looked like a cross between a young white turkey and a seagull.

Cattle egrets, maybe?

Ray

Thanks, Ray! Do you think they would be in the Mid-Atlantic mountains? Never seen these before.

[Paladin]

Well, we do have them, or similar, here but I have no idea as to their range.

Ray

[1967redrider]

Well, we do have them here, or similar, here but I have no idea as to their range.

Ray

They do seem to gravitate towards the cows.

[Quick Steel]

They definitely appear to be cattle egrets in their winter plumage. They like to hang out in fields where cattle stir up insects like grasshoppers. Yours do appear to be a bit farther north than usual which could be due to many reasons: local weather, insect supply, even climate change. They do live in eastern Texsas. Originally from Africa, then to South America. In Hawaii as well.

[1967redrider]

Maybe these are the new norm? If they eat bugs, especially flies, bring them on.

[treefarmer]

1967redrider,
I'll agree they are what we know as Cattle Egrets here in Florida. They forage along with the cows, grabbing grasshoppers, frogs etc. that are disturbed by the cow's movement through the pasture. They also will pick insects off the cow's back as they graze along. A couple of your pictures show them standing on the backs of the cows that are lying down. Cattle Egrets will also follow a tractor or a lawn mower, same strategy, catching bugs, etc. that are disturbed by the equipment. On many occasions I would start in a field and a lone egret would fly in and land, in a minute or two another and another till you couldn't keep a count. They must have learned to come to the sound of an engine that remains in a general area.
Tried to eat one many years ago, tough doesn't even come close, even after parboiling then pan frying the breast. Good flavor probably due to the seasoning, never again.
Treefarmer

[1967redrider]

1967redrider,
I'll agree they are what we know as Cattle Egrets here in Florida. They forage along with the cows, grabbing grasshoppers, frogs etc. that are disturbed by the cow's movement through the pasture. They also will pick insects off the cow's back as they graze along. A couple of your pictures show them standing on the backs of the cows that are lying down. Cattle Egrets will also follow a tractor or a lawn mower, same strategy, catching bugs, etc. that are disturbed by the equipment. On many occasions I would start in a field and a lone egret would fly in and land, in a minute or two another and another till you couldn't keep a count. They must have learned to come to the sound of an engine that remains in a general area.
Tried to eat one many years ago, tough doesn't even come close, even after parboiling then pan frying the breast. Good flavor probably due to the seasoning, never again.
Treefarmer

Thanks for the info, tree! I thought about sniping one with the .22 just to get a closer look. But you guys have saved me the trouble. Plus I didn't know if they were protected or not, don't need any Game Warden run-ins.

[treefarmer]

I just looked up info concerning the Cattle Egrets being protected. They are, as they are considered a migratory bird and are protected by the "Migratory Bird Treaty Act" of 1918. Who knew? Since they originated in Africa and came to Florida in 1941, I suppose they are migratory. Once the weather in the Panhandle cools down we wont generally see them til it warms up in the spring. Maybe they head back to Central or South Florida for the winter, kinda' like some snowbirds.
Treefarmer

[TPK]

These birds have been hanging around the cows all day today, never seen any before. At first my brother thought the chickens were out. White feathered bodies and head, yellow beaks and gray legs. When I tried to get close they would take off. They looked like a cross between a young white turkey and a seagull.

Cool pictures John. I can't remember ever seeing those birds in MD before either. Of course we moved away from there around 1985 so I probably wouldn't even remember it if I did.

[1967redrider]

I just looked up info concerning the Cattle Egrets being protected. They are, as they are considered a migratory bird and are protected by the "Migratory Bird Treaty Act" of 1918. Who knew? Since they originated in Africa and came to Florida in 1941, I suppose they are migratory. Once the weather in the Panhandle cools down we wont generally see them til it warms up in the spring. Maybe they head back to Central or South Florida for the winter, kinda' like some snowbirds.
Treefarmer

More great info, thanks, tree! Glad I didn't "pull the trigger" for a closer look too. It seems like they are gone today . . .

[DM11]

We've had them here in Kansas for many years. I dont recall seeing any lately for some reason.

[Quick Steel]

In Hawaii, when the sugar cane fields are burned, the egrets come from all over Ohau to feast on the roasted insects and critters. Hundreds of them.

[joeradza]

I’m not much of a bird photographer but when they stand there and pose even I get lucky. Taken at J.R. Ding Darling on Sanibel Island, Florida.

[New_Windsor_NY]

I’m.....

You could've fooled me.
That's a GREAT shot joeradza!

[Waukonda]

In Hawaii, when the sugar cane fields are burned, the egrets come from all over Ohau to feast on the roasted insects and critters. Hundreds of them.

Garry, that sounds awesome, must be quite a sight!

[joeradza]

I’m.....

You could've fooled me.
That's a GREAT shot joeradza!

Thanks Skop. Like I said it stood there like it was trained.

[Waukonda]

I’m not much of a bird photographer but when they stand there and pose even I get lucky. Taken at J.R. Ding Darling on Sanibel Island, Florida.

Exceptional photo!

[joeradza]

I’m not much of a bird photographer but when they stand there and pose even I get lucky. Taken at J.R. Ding Darling on Sanibel Island, Florida.

Exceptional photo!

Thank you