Great White Egret
Length: 94cm. Wingspan: 155cm
Weight: 870g
I absolutely love observing and photographing the Great White Egret and this has to be one of the most photogenic birds. Graceful, composed, elegant, it’s just fabulous to watch as it comes in to land. Changing its position as it stretches out – legs and feet down, straightening its body with neck and head reaching high.
The angle of the wings changes from horizontal to vertical as the bird slows its speed and then with the most delicate touch dips its toes in the water and gently lands.
Landing or taking off, if you are close enough and all around you is quiet, you can hear the wings beat.
What can possibly go wrong when you take a photograph of one? Well, the Great White Egret is rather tall but it will probably always be far enough away to fit in the frame.
If you remember to dial down your exposure compensation to avoid blowing out the white feathers you should get the perfect image every time – when it doesn’t land behind the reeds of course!
Sadly, in the 18th and 19th centuries, the beautiful feathers of the Great White Egret and many other exotic birds were used in hat making, which led to millions of birds being killed for their feathers. In fact during the years around 1886 birds were being killed for the millinery trade at a rate of five million a year; many species faced extinction as a resulIt. It is quite frankly sickening to see that feathers are still being used in hat making – and other adornments. Whilst the adverts say that the feathers are responsibly and sustainably sourced, why would any conscionable person knowing the gruesome history want to wear them?
