Cattle Egrets
by Robert Bales
Title
Cattle Egrets
Artist
Robert Bales
Medium
Photograph - Photo
Description
The Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis) is a cosmopolitan species of heron (family Ardeidae) found in the tropics, subtropics and warm temperate zones. It is the only member of the monotypic genus Bubulcus, although some authorities regard its two subspecies as full species, the Western Cattle Egret and the Eastern Cattle Egret. Despite the similarities in plumage to the egrets of the genus Egretta, it is more closely related to the herons of Ardea. Originally native to parts of Asia, Africa and Europe, it has undergone a rapid expansion in its distribution and successfully colonised much of the rest of the world.
It is a white bird adorned with buff plumes in the breeding season. It nests in colonies, usually near bodies of water and often with other wading birds. The nest is a platform of sticks in trees or shrubs. Cattle Egrets exploit drier and open habitats more than other heron species. Their feeding habitats include seasonally inundated grasslands, pastures, farmlands, wetlands and rice paddies. They often accompany cattle or other large mammals, catching insect and small vertebrate prey disturbed by these animals. Some populations of the Cattle Egret are migratory and others show post-breeding dispersal.
The adult Cattle Egret has few predators, but birds or mammals may raid its nests, and chicks may be lost to starvation, calcium deficiency or disturbance from other large birds. This species maintains a special relationship with cattle, which extends to other large grazing mammals. The cattle egret removes ticks and flies from cattle and consumes them. This benefits both species, but it has been implicated in the spread of tick-borne animal diseases.
The short, thick-necked Cattle Egret spends most of its time in fields rather than streams. It forages at the feet of grazing cattle, head bobbing with each step, or rides on their backs to pick at ticks. This stocky white heron has yellow plumes on its head and neck during breeding season. Originally from Africa, it found its way to North America in 1953 and quickly spread across the continent. Elsewhere in the world, it forages alongside camels, ostriches, rhinos, and tortoises�as well as farmers� tractors.
Uploaded
February 11th, 2014
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Comments (41)
Jeannie Rhode Photography
Robert, Congrats on your recent Features ! Nice capture of these Egrets with nice light. V
Robert Bales replied:
Thanks so much Jeannie for the Vote and the congrats. I took these from my car window while my wife was shopping in a little country store.
Mitch Shindelbower
Great shot Robert looks like a good conversation in going on there .L
Robert Bales replied:
Thanks! They were the last of the flock in the field and they were deciding is it time to leave. (LOL) Thanks for the Like!!
Belinda Low
A nice threesome! I love looking at birds each morning and see how they picked on the grass and looking for food! They seem to look out for each other! Great shot! f/v