Local News
An Albino Great Blue Heron - No
By Douglas H. Domedion
Great Egret.
Years ago when first getting familiar with the “Alabama Swamps” I thought I had spotted an albino Great Blue Heron out in one of the marshes. Trying to get out in the middle of that area to get a picture was almost impossible, but the attempt was made. The large white bird did not cooperate and the pictures gotten were not very good.
However, the pictures were good enough to show that the legs were black, not like the gray legs of a Great Blue Heron. After checking my bird books I learned that this bird was actually a Great Egret.
During those earlier years of hanging around the “Swamps” only a few more were ever seen. However, in recent years the numbers of these beautiful birds in this area have increased to a point where it is quite easy to find one.
These egrets are not as large as the Great Blue Heron, their length being about 40 inches from the tip of their bill to the end of their tail. The Blue Heron is about 46 inches long and has a wingspan of around six feet (compared to about 50 inches of the egrets). Of course the white color sometimes makes them look as big as the “blues.”
The Cattle Egret is another white bird you may see in this area, but it is much smaller (20 inches long and stocky looking) and it is quite rare in this area.
The Great Egret is a wetland bird and eats a large variety of foods including fish, crayfish and many other smaller aquatic species. They are sometimes seen in grassy fields hunting mice, snakes and grasshoppers.
I believe there are a few nesting egrets in this area, probably back in the large GBH nesting colony east of Route 63 in the flooded woods. They usually nest in colonies and build their nests with sticks similar to the method used by the Great Blue Heron. They have a habit of stealing sticks from other nests that are abandoned or unprotected by their owners.
Incubation begins shortly before the second, of possibly four eggs, is laid. The young will thus vary in size as they will hatch at differ times. In years of a low food supply the older and larger young may kill the smaller ones, which is true of many species; it is Mother Nature’s way of making sure some do survive.
In the late 1800s and early 1900s, these birds were heavily hunted for their beautiful white plumes. This greatly reduced their population. Laws were eventually passed to protect them. Thie allowed them to recover. They are still protected, of course, and they are no longer considered threatened. However they are vulnerable to loss of wetlands (such as stone quarries draining wetlands).
If you would like to see some of these beautiful birds, go to the state Tonawanda Wildlife Management Area on the south side of Route 77 on what is called West Ruddy Marsh. They are drawing down the water to rejuvenate the marsh, and this has concentrated the fish and other aquatic food to the remaining shallow waters. Great Egrets and Great Blue Herons are flocking there to gather the fish as the water becomes shallower.
Although you are allowed to hike or fish on this State WMA remember no vehicles are allowed and do not disturb the wildlife that maybe in the area.
You may also spot some of these beautiful white birds on some of the marshes on the Iroquois NWR and on the State Oak Orchard WMA.
For those of you who need to take the NYS Hunter Education Course so that you can get your first-time hunting license, the Holley Rod and Gun Club will be having a class on Aug. 13 from 5:30 - 9:30 p.m., continuing on Aug. 15, from 5:30 - 9:30 p.m., and concluding on August 16th from 8am to 1pm. This will be at their club grounds on Pumping Station Road just south of Holley. Students must have attained their 11th birthday to attend the class. Anyone can preregister by filling out and leaving the completed Student Registration Form, in person, at the Holley Rod & Gun Club between the hours of 5 and 8 p.m. on Thursday evenings. At that time you will receive your student workbook.
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