Evening star., 1948-08-24
VIENNA, Va.


Dear sir:
II read with interest your report of the
presence Of the American egrets in this area
About a week ago on a morning after a
heavy rain was driving along a little Travelled
road in Fairfax County.
II came down a hill. around a curve and
across bridge over Difficult Run and there
was startled to see, standing stock still, tall.
white bird.
"He was standing in the middle of q field
which the rising water had flooded and as long
as watched he did not move
Il was loath to believe the bird an egret for
thought they were no longer to be seen here
abouts But evidently that was what he was,
after ALL My wife had suggested that he was
fugitive from the Geological Gardens.
Every truly, L.G"
Protection Of the herons has resulted In
bringing more of these interesting, beautiful
birds to cities along the Eastern seaboard.
Some of the specimens fly inland.
Herons are hungry birds.
They always want something to eat, remind
ing the observer Of healthy children.
Most herons are gregarious during the breed
ing period, putting their large nests side by
side in trees.
When it comes to their favorite sport, eating,
they want no companions around.
Most herons Che family To which the egrets
belong) capture thefNprey by standing notion
less, waiting for 1t to come close.
Others are waders and 60 out after food
Flight is achieved by Tapping wings. Unlike
neck is folded and the head drawn in close
TO the shoulders.
Cousins to the big American egret are the
bittern, least bittern, great white heron, great
blue heron, snowy egret, Louisiana heron, little
blue heron, green heron, black k-crowned night
heron and yellow-crowned night heron. -
The little blue heron is, as most people see
1t, pure white!
This comes about because they mainly
glimpse 1t when 1t is young.
The immature herons are white, with bit
OF blue on them but one must be close to see
the latter
This heron, although only about half as tall
~ the American egret, Is often mistaken for
the latter.
The little blue herons. in the white phase,
are tolerably common in and around WASH
ington. Small f1ocks of them. about q dozen or
more, often have been seen flying over the
Zoo grounds.
Herbert K. Job, one of the great birdmen
used to pitch tent housing his Photographic
equipment right In among the nests of the
Louisiana heron.
This one Is ~ inches long slate-purpie
ABOVE, Wnlte 0eICW. 1ne rOokeTleS arc III. y
wooded swamp. Mr.. job said that the birds
soon became accustomed to his tent "as q part
Of the landscape and, not being able to count
noses, would settle down to brood their eggs
or small young, or would come TO feed the
latter 1t was most interesting and exciting
to sit there" he went on "as though member
Of the tribe and watch all the singular, re-
markable ways and actions, selecting the
quaintest Of these for photographic records"
He stated that these rookeries are the more
interesting in that 1t Ia usual for various species
of herons to congregate together. In .such
colonies" he wrote, Il have found besides the
Louisiana heron, the snowy and American
egrets, black and yellow crowned night herons
little and great blue herons."
Mr.. Job said that the less said about
cleanliness and odor the better referring 70
the rookeries). And yet despite their slovenly
ways it is remarkable how clean and trim the
herons lodki They spend hours preening their
feathers, 20 that. litter all, In their own pecu-
liar way they are orderly"
The snowy egret, also being seen here. always
is mistaken for little blue heron. Legs OF
the snowy egret are black. and the feet bright
yellow. Both legs and feet Of the little blue
| heron are black.