Today in Nature: Great Egrets and the Audubon Society

September 28th: This is a Great Egret, which has played an important part in the conservation movement. The Audubon Society was created in the late 19th century to protect the Great Egret. Its long head plumes ( only seen during breeding) had become fashionable for ladies' hats, and the bird was on the verge of being hunted to extinction in North America. Efforts to protect the Great Egret led to laws forbidding the shooting of wading birds that migrate, which is one reason we can enjoy their beauty today.

Today in Nature: The Tool-Using Heron

September 21st: Today was my birthday, and nature gave me a present, by having this wonderful creature fly across my path as I was riding in High Park. Green Herons are the lest common of the herons in Toronto, and are quite small. But they are smart- they are one of the few bird species that have been observed using tools. They sometimes use twigs or bread in the water to lure fish closer.  So, it was a real treat to see this one today. We are surrounded by wonders....