The Golden Egret

    For all of time, egrets have been white. Their plumage glimmers in the sunlight and moonlight alike.  There is no mistaking the elegant bird for any other. They are a sight to behold. Their feathers have caught the eye of many.  Then, there was a time when the birds' feathers were nigh on the cause of their extinction.  Hunters came in droves to seek out the egret for its lovely plumes.  These were used to adorn hats to be worn by ladies of distinction. Millinery shops paid hefty sums for the finest of plumes.  In the nineteenth century, a perfect plume was quite the emblem of high society.  The poor birds suffered greatly because of vanity of humans.  

  It was outrage caused by the slaughter of so many egrets (and other waders) that actually was basis for the founding of the National Audubon Society.  This group came together to give protection to the birds and form wildlife sanctuaries as places for the birds to be safe. Without the help of this group, the egret was fast nearing extinction due to over-hunting. The egret soon became the "golden" bird for the society and was inducted as the symbol of their works.  It was the society's aim to protect this, and all birds, from needless slaughter.

  I was thinking of how terrible it would be if the trend had continued and all egrets had been killed.  What a waste!  How sad it would be if my grandchildren would never be able to view the beauty of this elegant bird!  It made me thankful for the handful of ladies that started the National Audubon Society and insisted that laws be passed to protect the birds.  Life would definitely be different here on the Bayou had Harriet Hemenway and Minna Hall not have the foresight to see what was happening.  It was because of these two ladies way back in 1896 that egrets can grace our waterways today.  We all owe a huge thank you to these ladies and to the Society as a whole.