Betty White (Common Egret)
Egretta alba
Egrets are slender white
birds. They stand tall on their long black legs and pose with slim necks pulled
in until a fish or frog is located in the water. In careful, slow movements, the
long neck stretches out and the bird stalks in slow-motion until it is within
striking distance. Then-a sudden flash of a long yellow sword-beak and fish or
frog is caught, twisted about, swallowed. Not many years ago, egrets almost
went extinct. It was fashionable for ladies to wear egret plumes on their hats,
and to satisfy this whim the hunters slaughtered thousands of adult birds at a
time when young were in the nests. Finally laws were passed prohibiting the
possession of the plumes. They have recovered and are now plentiful (Eifert, 10).
Betty White is missing her
left wing from a collision with a guide wire. She lives in a mew where she can
easily get to her water and food. She is even able to occasionally sneak up on
a visiting sparrow and supplement her diet. She has lived at Critter Creek for
ten years and has settled in fairly well with the wildlife station's routine.
She is still shy and prefers to keep people at a distance.