Spring Finery

The Great Blue Herons and Great Egrets moving into our area for the summer are sporting their breeding plumage. This Heron displays its neck and chest plumes while landing in this photograph.

Not to be outdone, a Great Egret shows off its breeding plumage. Those plumes, called aigrettes, almost led to their extinction. The wholesale slaughter of Egrets to harvest their plumes for fashion purposes led to conservation movements in the early 20th century. The plumes do look much nicer on the bird than on a hat.