Two of my favorite shorebirds made a visit to the pier this morning. Not that either of these are rare nor that their appearance is something special to other folks, it is just that I like them. Both are members of the heron family. Both are egrets. Both are white. They are not the same type bird. One is a Snowy Egret while the other is a Great Egret. The one in the foreground of the photograph is the Snowy Egret. It is smaller, has bright yellow feet and a black bill (with just a touch of yellow). The one in the background is the Great Egret. It has black legs, a bright yellow bill and is much larger.
Both birds, however, have something else in common other than being egrets. Back during the nineteenth century, egrets were nearly annihilated. To adorn ladies' hats, the birds were hunted nearly to extinction. The large, white plumes brought such an exorbitant price that the birds were killed in great masses. This brought about the demand that laws be passed to protect birds and the National Audubon Society worked tirelessly to help the all birds. They chose the egret as their symbol. In the twentieth century while being protected, the bird recovered rapidly. The Migratory bird Protection Treaty gave the birds a chance. Now, however, that protection has changed. "Accidental" or "Incidental" deaths will be swept through a loophole and not be punishable. This is saddening. While this may not seem like a great deal, knowing how things get pushed and shoved around to benefit big business, the birds are the ones that will suffer and that, in itself, will hurt us all.
As I sat watching the egrets on the pier, I thought of how it would break my heart if my grandlittles were deprived of the chance to view these beautiful birds and any others. Yep, regulations are there for a reason.......too bad they can be bent, twisted and otherwise distorted to benefit big business. Things happen when folks turn a blind eye toward those in power.
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.
