While out in California I came across several Great Egrets. Usually I see them foraging along the edge of small ponds, but I saw a couple of them enjoying the sun, high up in the trees.

They are known to nest high up in the trees, usually between 10 – 40 feet above the water or ground, but they’ve been seen nesting as high up as 90 feet!

In the early 1800s these beautiful birds were almost completely wiped out of the US because they were killed for their feathers to be used for fashion! In the 20th century they were laws protecting them and they have since made a comeback!

The Great Egret is the symbol of the National Audubon Society.