The idiom "dressed to kill" refers to someone who is dressed very stylishly or glamorously. No expense has been spared in their choice of clothing. At one time, critters that were "dressed to kill" were often killed because of their raiment. Furs, bones and feathers were all the rage until someone came up with the idea that "Hey! You know, that might not be too fun for the animal/bird!" This thought saved the lives of countless critters that might have actually been hunted to extinction although it was too late for some. Many critters were mass slaughtered because they were too pretty.
The Great Egret is a perfect example of how near a critter can come to being killed completely from the face of the earth merely because of its beauty. In the late nineteenth century, plumes were highly sought and since the Great Egret had remarkably showy plumes, they were targeted. The birds were killed by the millions. Ladies with "style" wore their plumes proudly. They strutted about wearing dead bird parts on their hats and dresses. Plumes adorned sitting rooms and fans. All this while the bird population was becoming fewer and fewer. The birds became nigh on extinct. Then that bright person mentioned above had that light bulb moment and things slowly changed. Two fine ladies started the Audubon Society and urged Congress to pass laws protecting birds from this mass slaughter. Harriet Hemenway and Minna Hall started the ball rolling and things sort of spiraled upward from there. The egrets were protected by law but had a hard road ahead of them to replenish their population. Entire rookeries had been decimated.
I watched a Great Egret today as it waded in the Bayou. I could not get out to photograph it as we are in the midst of some weird storm that is supposed to dilly-dally around here for the next week. I did recall a photograph from months back that showed the bird in its full glory. I was witness to hundreds of Great Egrets that had gathered in the back of the Bayou during breeding season. Each bird wore its finest plumes and roosted in the treetops to preen. Occasionally, a large plume would float to the ground. I remember thinking how much nicer it would have been to collect those plumes as the birds molted and not kill such a majestic creature. I am sure glad that Ms. Harriet and Ms. Minna made the effort to have laws passed to protect critters. Had they not, chances are that I would not have had the opportunity to ever witness the beauty of these birds.
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.
