A Snowy Egret (Egretta Thula) comes in for a graceful landing in a brackish pond in the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. The Snowy Egret preys on small fish, crustaceans, and insects in the marsh. Snowy Egrets in Central Florida usually stay year-round, or may just stay the winter and return north.
Space Coast Photography Studios
- They/Them
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Two Central Florida photographers with an interest in nature, landscape, bird, flower, space, technology, and architecture photography.
A Snowy Egret (Egretta Thula) in its high breeding plumage. The male egret builds a nest, often in colonies with other water fowl, including other herons and egrets, and then attempts to attract a mate by calling, making acrobatic aerial displays, fanning his trail, and showing his bold colors against his normally-white feathers.
This photo was taken at the St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park. This site, full of alligators, is preferentially selected by the birds nesting here because the alligators keep them safe from other predators, and usually aren't interested in the birds as prey.
