1. Great egret – Egretta alba
Great egret is a large bird with a body length of 80-100 cm, a wingspan of 131-145 cm, and a weight of 900-2000 g. In an adult, the plumage is pure white in all outfits. The large cheepura has long, thin legs that help it walk in shallow water.The beak is black, long and thin.
Great egret is common in Eurasia, Africa and Australia. In Ukraine it nests throughout the territory, except for the Crimea.
The great egret is a migratory bird. It winters in Africa, South Asia and Australia. Great egret breeds in shallow water, among reeds or other coastal vegetation. It builds its nests on the ground, in a small pit. There are 3-5 eggs in the clutch of the great egret. The eggs are incubated by the female and the male in turn. Chicks hatch after 24-26 days. After hatching, the chicks grow quickly and begin to fly after a few weeks.
Great egret feeds on fish, small crustaceans, and other aquatic invertebrates it finds in shallow water.
Great egret is a fairly common species, but in some regions its numbers are declining. The reasons for this are pollution of water bodies, destruction of coastal plants and poaching.
In Ukraine, great egret is listed in the Red Book in the status of "Vulnerable".
Photo: Volodymyr Kucherenko