Audubon's Birds/BIRDSVER1_3.BIN/dp/0063/00631.txt

Text File | 1992-08-27 | 27KB | 387 lines

$Unique_ID{BRD00631}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{The Reddish Egret}
$Subject{Ardeinae; Ardea; Egretta; rufescens; Reddish Egret}
$Journal{Birds of America:  Volume VI}
$Volume{Vol. 6:139-147}
$Family{Ardeinae}
$Genus{Ardea; Egretta}
$Species{rufescens}
$Common_Name{Reddish Egret}
$Log{
Plate CCCLXXI*00631P1.scf
Family*00621.txt
Genus*00622.txt
}

       Portions copyright (c) Creative Multimedia Corp., 1990-91, 1992

                       B I R D S   O F   A M E R I C A .

                    By John James Audubon, F. R. SS. L. & E.

                   ------------------------------------------
                                   VOL.  VI.
                        --------------------------------


                               THE REDDISH EGRET.
                                [Reddish Egret.]


                             ARDEA RUFESCENS, Gmel
                              [Egretta rufescens.]


                        PLATE CCCLXXI.--ADULT AND YOUNG.


     While sailing towards the Florida Keys, my mind was agitated with
anticipations of the delight I should experience in exploring a region whose
productions were very imperfectly known.  Often did I think of the Heron named
after TITIAN PEALE, by my learned friend the Prince of MUSIGNANO.  Mr. PEALE
had procured only a single specimen, and in the winter season, but whether or
not the species was abundant on the Keys of Florida remained to be discovered.
No sooner had I been landed and formed an acquaintance with Mr. EGAN the pilot,
who was well acquainted with the haunts of many of the birds of those islands,
than I asked him respecting the various Herons which might be found there or on
the shores of the mainland.  Before answering me, he counted his fingers slowly,
and then said that he could recollect only "twelve sorts;" "but," added he,
"these birds change their colours so curiously, that it is past wonder with me
to believe that any one man could know them without watching them as I have done
for many years."  I then inquired if I was in good time to procure all the sorts
which he knew.  He answered in the affirmative; but felt some doubt as to my
procuring the eggs of one kind at least, which breed earlier than the rest, and
was pure white from the shell, and the largest of all.  Thinking the species to
which he alluded might be the Ardea alba of LINNAEUS I asked if it had long
thread-like feathers over the tail during the breeding season.  "Oh no, Sir,"
said he, "it never has; it is as tall as yourself, and when you see some on the
wing, you will be pleased, for their wings are as large as those of the Brown
Pelican.  The one I guess you mean, mostly goes farther to the eastward to
breed, along with a very small one, also always white, with the feathers over
the tail as you say, and curled upwards.  These are the only three sorts that
are white."  I begged him to describe the colours of the others, which he did so
well that I recognised ten species in all; but the large white one, and another
of a grey and purple colour, were unknown to me, and I told him so, stating at
the same time how anxious I was to procure them if possible.  "If possible!
nothing in the world can be more easy, for if they have no eggs left, they have
young ones enough to load your schooner.  I can take you straight to their
breeding place."
     You may suppose, reader, how my spirits were raised by this intelligence,
and how surprised I was that PEALE's Egret was not in the number of the Florida
Herons.  We speedily embarked in Mr. THRUSTON's boat, spread our sails to the
breeze, and passed several keys, on which we procured two young birds of the
large white species, which I saw at once was unknown to me.  As we approached
the next island, I saw twenty or thirty pairs of Herons, some of which were pure
white, others of a light blue colour, but so much larger than the Blue Heron,
Ardea coerulea, that I asked the pilot what they were, when he answered, "the
very fellows I want to shew you, and you may soon see them close enough, as you
and I will shoot a few by way of amusement."  Before half an hour had elapsed,
more than a dozen were lying at my feet.  Some of them were as white as driven
snow, the rest of a delicate purplish tint, inclining to grey on the back and
wings, with heads and necks of a curious reddish colour.  Males and females
there were, but they were all of one species, for my companion assured me that
"this sort bred before they turned to their natural colours," by which he meant
before attaining their full plumage at the age of three years.  Well, the
immature birds were the very same as the individual to which, as the
representative of a new species, the name of Peale's Egret had been given.  This
I saw at once, for so good is the representation of it in the fourth volume of
BONAPARTE's American Ornithology, that from the mere recollection of it I was
enabled to recognise the bird at once.  You may imagine the pleasure I felt, as
well as that which I experienced on becoming better acquainted with this
species, which I found in many places both with eggs and with young.
     The Reddish Egret is a constant resident on the Florida Keys, to which it
is so partial at all seasons that it never leaves them.  Some individuals are
seen as far east as Cape Florida, and westward along the Gulf of Mexico.
Whether it may ever betake itself to fresh water I cannot say, but I never found
one in such a situation.  It is a more plump bird for its size than most other
Herons, and in this respect resembles the Night Heron and the Yellow-crowned
species, but possesses all the gracefulness of the tribe to which it belongs.
In walking it lifts its feet high, and proceeds at a quiet pace, but sometimes
briskly; it alights with ease on trees, and walks well on the larger branches.
It rarely feeds from the edges of the water, but resorts to the shallows of the
extensive mud or sand flats, so numerous about the keys.  There, twenty or
thirty, sometimes as many as a hundred, may be seen wading up to the heel (or
knee-joint as it is usually called) in pursuit of prey, or standing in silence
awaiting the approach of an animal on which it feeds, when it strikes it, and
immediately swallows it, if not too large; but if so, it carries it to the
shore, beats it, and tears it to pieces, rarely, however, using its feet for
that purpose, and certainly never employing its pectinated claws, which no Heron
that I know of ever uses for any other object than that of scratching its head,
or perhaps of securing its steps on rocky bottoms.  These birds remain on the
flats thus employed, until the advance of the tide forces them to the land.
     The flight of this Heron is more elevated and regular than that of the
smaller species.  During the love season, it is peculiarly graceful and elegant,
especially when one unmated male is pursuing another, a female being in sight.
They pass through the air with celerity, turn and cut about in curious curves
and zigzags, the stronger bird frequently erecting its beautiful crest, and
uttering its note, at the moment when it expects to give its rival a thrust.
When these aerial combats take place between old and immature birds, their
different colours form a striking contrast, extremely pleasing to the beholder.
While travelling to and from their feeding grounds, or from one key to another,
they propel themselves by easy, well-sustained, and regular flappings of their
extended wings, the neck reposing on the shoulders, the legs stretched out
behind like a rudder, while their beautiful thready trains float in the breeze.
On approaching a landing place, they seldom fail to perform a few
circumvolutions, in order to see that all around is quiet, for they are more shy
and wary than the smaller Herons, and almost as suspicious as the two larger
species, Ardea occidentalis, and A. Herodias; and this becomes apparent as soon
as they discontinue the feeding of their young, when you find it extremely
difficult to approach them.  After this period I rarely shot one, unless I
h