The Great Egret (Ardea alba) stands over 3 feet tall with a wingspan averaging 5 feet. Nearly hunted to extinction for its elegant plumes in the 1800s and early 1900s, the great egret is now the official symbol of the National Audubon Society. During breeding season long plumes grow from its back, called aigrettes, which were the bane of egrets in the late nineteenth century, when such adornments were prized for ladies’ hats.
Location: Lake Martin, Louisiana. May, 2005.
Photo # DSC_0152bwc.
(c) Kelly Shipp Photography.
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2 comments:
What a gorgeous creature, Kelly, and such a beautiful photograph.
Thanks Lisa
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