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Egretta thula and Egretta rufescens: Distribution and Impact

Alyssa Larson

Oceanography
Professor Heather Moody
March 22, 2016

Introduction
Bird diversity is an important factor in ecosystem health and has a significant impact on
the world around us. This paper will research the Reddish and Snowy Egrets and their
importance to the coastal environments they inhabit. Some are protected and valued as
a part of the worlds ecosystems, and humans are becoming more aware of their habitat
destruction a common event threatening global ecosystems. Following, evidence will be
given to support threatening the importance of protecting their habitats as part of
maintaining healthy coastal ecosystems.
Types of Birds: Snowy and Reddish Egret

Diversity in bird species is important to the biodiversity of the

worlds ecosystems. Florida is one of many global ecosystems full
of diverse living organisms, and birds are one of many of those
organisms. The Snowy Egret and Reddish Egret are two examples
of bird species. It is easy to differentiate
which bird is which. The Snowy Egret as its
Picture 1: Egretta
thula Source: (Snowy
egret (Egretta thula)
2001)

name implies has white feathers all over its

body with a black and bright yellow bill

(Snowy egret (Egretta thula) 2001). It also has black legs and
bright yellow feet as seen in picture 1. However, the Reddish
Egret has two different feather colors. The gray feathers cover
the body and the chestnut red feathers starts from its neck and
covers its head (Reddish Egret (Egretta rufescens) 2001). Red

Picture 2: Egretta
rufescens Source:
(Reddish egret
(Egretta rufescens)
2001)

and gray are not the only colors. It also possesses turquoise blue legs and a pink and
black bill during mating season, and afterward the legs turn black and the bills become
a dusky color (Reddish Egret (Egretta rufescens) 2001).
Background of the Egret: Global and in Florida
Snowy Egrets are only located in specific places in the Western Hemisphere. Included
are the birds migratory paths, if flown during the year. The northern limit range extends
from northern California to southern Montana, central Kansas, and Tennessee, east to
the Atlantic coast, and then north to coastal Maine during the summer months (Snowy
egret (Egretta thula) 2001). The southern limits include central Argentina and southern
Chile (Snowy egret (Egretta thula) 2001). During the winter they are located in North

America extending from northern

California to Arizona, along the
northern Gulf coast, and along the
Atlantic coast to South Carolina
(Snowy egret (Egretta thula) 2001).
There are Reddish Egrets located
sporadically across the Nearctic and
Neotropical eco zones especially

Figure 1: This is the map for the Egretta

thula; showing its residents and locations.
Source: (Sohl 2003)

extending east from the Baja California peninsula, including the Gulf of California,
Yucatan Peninsula, the northern coast of Gulf of Mexico to the Peninsula Florida, and
islands in the Caribbean (Gray 2014). The egrets located in Florida make their homes
Figure 2: This is a map showing the
location and where some of the Egretta
rufescens could migrate to. Source:
(Lowther and Paul 2002)

there year round. Egretta thula or the Snowy Egret is

broadly spread out through Floridas peninsula
decreasing further inland where there is development
and human impact (Snowy egret (Egretta thula)
2001). However the Reddish Egret or Egretta
rufescens is mostly located on both the Gulf coast
and the Atlantic coast from Pinellas County and

Brevard County south through the Florida Keys which holds an estimated two-thirds of
the Florida population in Florida Bay, and in the Lower Keys (Reddish egret (Egretta
rufescens) 2001). The non-breeding range extends north along both coasts such as
Ponce Inlet (Reddish egret (Egretta rufescens) 2001). Interviewing Keith Flynn, a
marine biologist at the Marine Science Center, resulted in the following information: the

birds do not migrate and if they do it is not very far. Also, they are being endangered by
coastal development and are affected by the pollution runoff into their ecosystems.
Habitats
The Snowy Egret and Reddish Egret establish niches to provide protection from
predators and creating a safe living place. The Snowy Egret will erect its home in small
constructed wetlands as well as nesting both
inland and in coastal wetlands with their

Picture 3: Mangrove and wooded shrubs

where Egretta thula is creating its nest.
Source: Picture taken by author

nests placed in many types of woody shrubs,

especially mangroves and willows (Herring
2007; Snowy egret (Egretta thula) 2001). A
naturalist during our trip revealed that
diversity has a great effect on the egrets
ecosystem with many birds like the Brown Pelicans, Great White Egrets, and Cattle
Egrets living in close quarters to each other and sharing space. These birds nesting
habits intermixed, creating living environments that are even more biodiverse within the
ecosystem. It also creates a healthy environment for the birds to live in. In order to
support breeding colonies there needs to be 5-7 miles of diverse wetland available as
the birds prefer to nest over shallow waters or on islands that are separated from shore
by open water (Snowy egret (Egretta thula) 2001). Conversely the Reddish Egret makes
its home in coastal tidal flats, salt marshes, shores, and lagoons; although when it
comes to nesting habits they usually build their nests in red mangrove swamps in
Florida (Audubon). Nest building is conducted by both the male and female egret,
typically off the water in mangrove trees 3-15 feet above the water surface (Audubon).

How Habitats are Affected

Egrets habitats are mostly concentrated in mangroves and the destruction of them
could threaten future populations of these species. Human pollution and other human
impacts degrade their habitats; however nature can destroy the birds domains as well.
The rise in sea levels is one of the anthropogenic destructive forces causing the
mangroves to disappear. Mangrove system tree roots do not adapt quickly to changing
sea-level, creating a rate of change in

Figure 3: Graph depicting the Egretta thula and the

nesting pairs. Source: (Colonial waterbird trends
Figure 4: Graph depicting the Egretta rufescens 2016)
and
the nesting pairs. Source: (Colonial waterbird trends
water elevation that the mangrove
2016)

sediment surface is unable to adjust

to, possibly causing problems for
nesting grounds for both species of
egret (Duke 2007). Another factor to
destruction of mangroves are the
many naturally occurring storms that seasonally impact Florida. Defoliation and tree
mortality can be due to the increased intensity and frequency of storms (such as
hurricanes) as a result of global warming. Therefore there is a great potential to damage
mangroves and its ecosystem. It was stated, In addition to causing tree mortality,
stress, and sulfide soil toxicity, storms can alter mangrove sediment elevation through
soil erosion, soil deposition, peat collapse, and soil compression ( Duke 2007). These
are only some of the natural and anthropogenic causes that result in the destruction to
the mangroves. In some cases there is also the possibility the tree saplings are affected
in a negative way by these events (Duke 2007).
Human Impacts (Threats)

Humans have created the greatest problem for survival of

both egret species through hunting and destruction of their
habitats via coastal development and other activities
(FFWCC 2011). The Reddish Egret began to decline prior to
1900 due to plume hunting for decoration of ladies hats
(Lowther and Paul 2002). Their feathers became a fashion
statement for women. Plume hunting had the earliest impact on the egret bird
population in Florida, as well as, globally. Keith Flynn talked about plume hunting as
well as coastal development is what started the decline in these bird species in the
Indian River Lagoon. As time passed, new and different threats took shape.
Impoundment or ditching as well as dredging are contributing factors to population
decline of these birds species (Schmatzer, 1995). Impounding is used in conjunction
with pesticides to control the mosquito population by building up rock and sediment
around the perimeter of a mangrove forest. This allows artificial flooding to occur during
the breeding season, killing mosquitos and their offspring (Connelly and Ray 2001).
Impounding in the early 1900s allowed massive quantities of
dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) to be applied to control mosquito populations in
salt marshes and mangroves, and this resulted in many organisms obtaining DDT
metabolites in tissues, as well as, thinning the egg shells of birds (Schmatzer 1995).
Keith Flynn also told the group about how there was many different pesticides used in
the Indian River Lagoon. Later at the Ponce de Leon Lighthouse the group learned that
the area was called Mosquito Inlet. As DDT bio accumulated and magnified, causing
major ecological problems and concerns, other methods were used. Ditching was one

of these solutions but this caused declines in biodiversity of mangroves. Filling of

earthen dikes resulted in many more problems like stirring up sediment, killing off other
species, and more unnecessary flooding (Schmatzer 1995). These are some of the
major human impacts to the egret
population and their habitats, leading to
Picture 4: 1900s feather plume
hat Source: (Kramzar 2014)

population decline.
Restoration and

Conservation
Conservation of global and Florida
wildlife is needed to retain the

Picture 5: Damage to vegetation due to over

flooding impoundments. Source: (Connelly and Rev
2001)

biodiversity of coastal ecosystems, and should be implemented and followed. The

Egretta rufescens is a special species of bird since it is one of the rarest herons, and
only 2,000 pairs are thought to breed in the United States (Reddish egret (Egretta
rufescens) 2001). The Reddish Egret was identified as a priority along with 13 other
species that was in need of critical recovery or immediate management in 2006
(FFWCC 2011). Not only is it listed as near threatened on the International Union for the
Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species, it is labeled as red, a
species realized to be one of the greatest conservation concerns (FFWCC 2011).
Educating the public about Floridas sensitive coastal wildlife and its disturbances, and
also increasing or raising more money to supplement surveying, monitoring, and
patrolling is an effective tool for restoring the egret populations (Reddish egret (Egretta
rufescens) 2001). During the boat tour with the Marine Discovery Center the tour guide
explained ways in which wildlife were protected. The boat traveled past mangrove trees

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with many different birds nesting in them, but there were buoys set up around them to
warn boats that it was illegal to get any closer to the birds. That was a great example of
how to educate people about what distance is needed to protect these wild animals.
The Snowy Egret has similar conservation methods used as protection, such as the
following: preventing rapid changes in rising water depth in wetlands that could
adversely affect the quality of foraging and the natural
hydroperiods, stabilizing seasonal patterns in water

Picture 6: the Florida Fish and Wildlife

Conservation Commission logo
Source: (FFWCC 2011)

levels from combining storage capacity of wetlands and

the water budget, and restoring or maintaining degraded
areas of wetland (Snowy egret (Egretta thula) 2001).
Breeding should also be protected, by preventing people
from disturbing the bird habitat. The Florida Fish and
Wildlife Conservation Commission and the Department
of Environmental Protection of Florida have developed
an expansive set distances around wading bird colonies of 330 feet. Signs and laws
accompany this set distance to protect their habitat and nesting area (Snowy egret
(Egretta thula) 2001). State agencies are also taking preventive measures, as
previously stated, to protect, bird wildlife and habitats.
Conclusion
All wildlife, not just bird species should be protected and conserved for all to enjoy. Birds
are amazing creatures, but they are a part of a larger system inhabited with humans.
These birds should automatically invoke interest and increase the responsibility of care.

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Works Cited

2001. Reddish egret (Egretta rufescens). Field Guide to the Rarest Animals of Florida.
1-2 p. Available from: http://www.fnai.org/FieldGuide/pdf/Egretta_rufescens.pdf.

2001. Snowy egret (Egretta thula). Field Guide to the Rarest Animals of Florida. 1-2 p.
Available from: http://www.fnai.org/FieldGuide/pdf/Egretta_thula.pdf.

2016. Colonial waterbird trends. Galveston Bay Status and Trends. 1-8 p. Available:
http://galvbaydata.org/LivingResources/ColonialWaterbirds/ColonialWaterbirdTrends/tab
id/361/Default.aspx

Audubon. Reddish egret (Egretta rufescens). In: Guide to the North American Birds
[database on the Internet]. Audubon [accessed 2016 Mar 20]. Available from:
https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/reddish-egret.

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Connelly, RC and Jorge RR. 2001. Mosquito control impoundments. 1-6 p. In: IFAS
Extension [database on the Internet]. University of Florida [accsessed 2016 April 13].
Available from: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/IN/IN19200.pdf

Duke, NC. 2007. Threats to mangroves from climate change and adaptation
options. ELSEVIER. 1-14 p. Available from:
http://cmsdata.iucn.org/downloads/aquatic_botany_mangrove_articles2008.pdf.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FFWCC). 2011. Biological status
review report for the reddish egret (Egretta rufescens). 1-13 p. In: Florida Fish and
Wildlife Conservation Commission FFWCC [database on the Internet]. Available from:
http://myfwc.com/media/2273367/Reddish-egret-BSR.pdf.

Gray, T. 2014. Reddish egret (Egretta rufescens) conservation action plan. 1-54 p.
Available from: http://www.reddishegret.org/REEG_plan_final_single.pdf.

Herring, G and HK. 2007. Novel snowy egret foraging behavior. 119(1): 116-17. In:
Wilson Journal of Ornithology [database on the Internet]. EBSCOhost [accessed 2016
Mar 10]. Available from: http://web.b.ebscohost.com

Kramzar, T. 2014. Corkscrew swamp. 1-3p. In: Fiber Artist [database on the Internet].
Available from: http://terrykramzar.com/2014/01/corkscrew-swamp/

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Lowther, PE. and Paul RT. 2002. Reddish Egret (Egretta rufescens). The Birds of North
America Online. Available from: http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/633.

Schmalzer, PA. 1995. Biodiversity of saline and brackish marshes of the indian river
lagoon: historic and current patterns. 57(1): 37-48. In: Bulletin of Marine Science
[database on the Internet]. Springer [accessed 2016 Mar 10]. Available from:
http://springer.com.

Sohl, T. 2003. Snowy egret range map. In: South Dakota Birds and Birding [database on
Internet]. Available from: http://sdakotabirds.com/species/maps/snowy_egret_map.htm