It seems like every year there are more Cattle Egrets nesting at the St. Augustine Alligator Farm rookery, and they were particularly bright, in their breeding colors, this year.

It is tempting to think of them as “non-native birds” since they have only been breeding here in North America since the early 1950s. However, the Cattle Egret got here under its own power, naturally, crossing the Atlantic to South America in the early 1900s and becoming established there by the 1930s. It then moved out, breeding in Canada by the 1960s, and, by now, having spread over much of North and South America.

And it has spread on the other continents as well. Originally it was native (?) to the Iberian Peninsula and North Africa (that is to say, that is were it was found when we first began to pay attention). From there it spread all through Africa, crossed over the the Americas, colonized Asia (reaching Australia by the 1940s and New Zealand by the 60s). It is now working north through Europe, and east, island by island, across the Pacific Ocean.

It goes, and can survive, and thrive, where ever humans raise cattle. Simple as that. Because of its specialization, it does not normally seriously compete with native species. That helps it to become established fairly quickly…as does it ability to blend in in communal heron/egret/stork rookeries like the one at the Alligator Farm in St. Augustine. Interesting bird.

Canon SX40HS. Program with iContrast and –1/3EV exposure compensation.  1) 840mm equivalent field of view, f5.8 @ 1/640th @ ISO 160. 2) 440mm equivalent, f5 @ 1/320th @ ISO 160, 3) 840mm, f5.8 @ 1/400th @ ISO 200. 4) 840mm, f5.8 @ 1/250th @ ISO 100.

Processed in Lightroom for intensity, clarity, and sharpness.