Wading birds are part of a larger group called Colonial-nesting waterbirds. These birds all gather in colonies at nesting time and get most or all of their food from the water.
Herons, egrets, bitterns, spoonbills, and storks are all members of this group. What makes them different than seabirds is that they feed in fresh water.
As global warming and pollution damage wetlands and beaches, wading birds are becoming endangered. Because they migrate long distances, any area along their path that is destroyed affects the birds.
Websites designed for parents or teachers, or to sell products or services, will not be accepted.
Sites about specific wading birds (storks, egrets, etc.) should be submitted to the appropriate subcategory.
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Egrets are members of a large family of wading birds that includes 65 species of egrets, night-herons, typical herons, tiger-herons, and bitterns. Their long necks, longer than their bodies, are retracted during flight, which is how watchers can tell them from storks and cranes.
These great hunters feed on fish, frogs, crayfish and snakes. Some stir up the mud with their feet to attract prey. When feeding in flocks, it is common to see egrets leap-frog over each other, or plunge into the water.
The biggest threat to egrets in the past was the demand for their decorative feathers. Although most species are recovering, the destruction of wetlands has added a modern threat.
Websites designed for parents or teachers, or to sell products or services, will not be accepted.
Herons are members of a large family of wading birds that includes 65 species of night-herons, typical herons, tiger-herons, egrets, and bitterns. They fly with their long necks retracted, which is how watchers can tell them from storks and cranes.
Great hunters, the Black Heron spreads its wings like a canopy and waits for prey to seek shelter in the shade. Other herons flick bits of feathers on the water or stir up the muddy bottom to attract prey.
In February 2005, a Canadian scientist announced that he had a method to measure birds' intelligence, based on the ways they hunt. Herons were named among the most intelligent birds based on this scale.
Websites designed for parents or teachers, or to sell products or services, will not be accepted.
Storks are all members of the group of birds called Wading birds. What makes them different than seabirds is that they feed in fresh water.
As global warming and pollution damage wetlands and beaches, wading birds are becoming endangered. Because they migrate long distances, any area along their path that is destroyed affects the birds.
Websites designed for parents or teachers, or to sell products or services, will not be accepted.
Sites about other specific wading birds (herons, egrets, etc.) should be submitted to the appropriate subcategory.
more information (editors only)