This week’s highlighted visitor: The Great Egret!

A wading bird you can spot near wetlands and lakes, Great Egrets are tall, elegant birds with long, slender necks and bright white feathers. These graceful hunters move slowly through the shallow water, pausing to strike with precision at fish or small amphibians. Their quiet, deliberate steps and their soaring, expansive wings make them a striking sight as they glide across the sky, often silhouetted against the setting sun.

Due to habitat loss and overhunting in the late 19th century, this stately heron’s numbers declined drastically. Conservation efforts helped the species recover during the 20th century, but its populations remain below historical levels. Since Teaneck Creek Park’s ecological restoration, the Great Egret has become a frequent visitor to the park. During the summer, it is rare to walk through the park without seeing at least one.

 

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