Great Blue Heron - Brookgreen Gardens, Murrells Inlet, SC 3-25-11 The largest and most widespread heron in North America, the Great Blue Heron can be found along calm freshwater and seacoasts. Usually nests in trees near water, but colonies can be found away from water. Although the Great Blue Heron eats primarily fish, it is adaptable and willing to eat other animals as well. Several studies have found that voles (mice) were a very important part of the diet, making up nearly half of what was fed to nestlings in Idaho. Occasionally a heron will choke to death trying to eat a fish that is too large to swallow. - The Nature In Us

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Cattle Egret - Brookgreen Gardens, Murrells Inlet, SC 3-25-11
A small heron of pastures and roadsides, the Cattle Egret is more at home foraging in grass than in water. It follows cattle, horses, and tractors to catch the insects they stir up. The Cattle Egret is native to Africa and Asia, and only reached the Americas in the late 19th century. It was first found in northeastern South America in 1877, having probably arrived there from Africa. It reached the United States in 1941, and started nesting by 1953. In the next 50 years it became one of the most abundant of the North American herons. It has occurred all the way to Alaska and Newfoundland, and has bred in nearly all states. See video of cattle egrets at beginning of album.

VIDEO: Cattle Egrets at Pond - Brookgreen Gardens, Murrells Inlet, SC 3-25-11
The white ibis lives in a variety of coastal freshwater, saltwater and brackish marshes, rice fields, mudflats, mangrove swamps and lagoons. The white ibis about two feet tall and has a wingspan of about three feet. The white ibis wades in the water sweepings its heads form side-to-side in search of food. It uses its long, curved bill to probe in the mud for crabs and crayfish. It swallows its prey whole. It also forages for food on land and it may also eat insects, frogs, snails, marine worms, snakes and small fish. Flocks of white ibis will move to different locations in search of food. Other wading birds often follow behind the white ibis and catch prey that's been disturbed by the probing ibis! It is entirely white except for its black-edged wings which may not be noticeable when the ibis is at rest, but easily seen in flight. The legs are long and gray, except during breeding season when they turn reddish-orange. The white ibis can be found on the Atlantic Coast from Virginia south to Florida and along the Gulf Coast west to Texas. It is also found in Mexico and Central America.

Juvenile Black-crowned Night Heron - Brookgreen Gardens, Murrells Inlet, SC 3-25-11
With a range that spans five continents, including much of N. America, this is the most widespread heron in the world. It is most active at dusk and at night, feeding in the same areas that other heron species frequent during the day. Adult Black-crowned Night-Herons do not distinguish between their own young and those from other nests, and will brood chicks not their own.

Juvenile Black-crowned Night Heron Maturing Into First Year Plumage - Brookgreen Gardens, Murrells Inlet, SC 3-25-11
With a range that spans five continents, including much of N. America, this is the most widespread heron in the world. It is most active at dusk and at night, feeding in the same areas that other heron species frequent during the day. Adult Black-crowned Night-Herons do not distinguish between their own young and those from other nests, and will brood chicks not their own.

Adult Black-crowned Night Heron - Brookgreen Gardens, Murrells Inlet, SC 3-25-11
This heron is 23-28 inches tall. It has a wingspan of almost four feet. It is a medium-sized heron with a stocky body and short legs and neck. It has a black crown and back, gray wings and a white underside. Adults have red eyes and yellow legs and feet. In breeding season adults have two long white plumes on their heads. Females and males look alike, but females are a little smaller.

Great Egret in Breeding Plumage - Brookgreen Gardens, Murrells Inlet, SC 3-25-11
In breeding plumage, the Great Egret has white plumage with long feathers on the back, extending beyond the tail. Here they are flowing forward from the breeze as he sits watching for a meal and a pretty missy. The bill is normally yellow with dark tip. In high breeding season, the bill may become orange-yellow with green lores as you saw was evident in the other Great Egret, but not this one.

Great Blue Heron - Brookgreen Gardens, Murrells Inlet, SC 3-25-11
The largest and most widespread heron in North America, the Great Blue Heron can be found along calm freshwater and seacoasts. Usually nests in trees near water, but colonies can be found away from water. Although the Great Blue Heron eats primarily fish, it is adaptable and willing to eat other animals as well. Several studies have found that voles (mice) were a very important part of the diet, making up nearly half of what was fed to nestlings in Idaho. Occasionally a heron will choke to death trying to eat a fish that is too large to swallow.

White Ibis in Breeding Season - Brookgreen Gardens, Murrells Inlet, SC 3-25-11
The white ibis lives in a variety of coastal freshwater, saltwater and brackish marshes, rice fields, mudflats, mangrove swamps and lagoons. The white ibis about two feet tall and has a wingspan of about three feet. The white ibis wades in the water sweepings its heads form side-to-side in search of food. It uses its long, curved bill to probe in the mud for crabs and crayfish. It swallows its prey whole. It also forages for food on land and it may also eat insects, frogs, snails, marine worms, snakes and small fish. Flocks of white ibis will move to different locations in search of food. Other wading birds often follow behind the white ibis and catch prey that's been disturbed by the probing ibis! It is entirely white except for its black-edged wings which may not be noticeable when the ibis is at rest, but easily seen in flight. The legs are long and gray, except during breeding season when they turn reddish-orange. The white ibis can be found on the Atlantic Coast from Virginia south to Florida and along the Gulf Coast west to Texas. It is also found in Mexico and Central America. See two videos of the Ibis in the beginning of this album.

VIDEO: White Ibis Feeding and Juvenile Black-crowned Night Heron - Brookgreen Gardens, Murrells Inlet, SC 3-25-11
The white ibis lives in a variety of coastal freshwater, saltwater and brackish marshes, rice fields, mudflats, mangrove swamps and lagoons. The white ibis about two feet tall and has a wingspan of about three feet. The white ibis wades in the water sweepings its heads form side-to-side in search of food. It uses its long, curved bill to probe in the mud for crabs and crayfish. It swallows its prey whole. It also forages for food on land and it may also eat insects, frogs, snails, marine worms, snakes and small fish. Flocks of white ibis will move to different locations in search of food. Other wading birds often follow behind the white ibis and catch prey that's been disturbed by the probing ibis! It is entirely white except for its black-edged wings which may not be noticeable when the ibis is at rest, but easily seen in flight. The legs are long and gray, except during breeding season when they turn reddish-orange. The white ibis can be found on the Atlantic Coast from Virginia south to Florida and along the Gulf Coast west to Texas. It is also found in Mexico and Central America.

Great Blue Heron - Brookgreen Gardens, Murrells Inlet, SC 3-25-11
The largest and most widespread heron in North America, the Great Blue Heron can be found along calm freshwater and seacoasts. Usually nests in trees near water, but colonies can be found away from water. Although the Great Blue Heron eats primarily fish, it is adaptable and willing to eat other animals as well. Several studies have found that voles (mice) were a very important part of the diet, making up nearly half of what was fed to nestlings in Idaho. Occasionally a heron will choke to death trying to eat a fish that is too large to swallow.

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