Reflection in White

The egrets and cormorants at Smith Oaks Bird Sanctuary on High Island in Texas have already begun nesting. This great egret has ventured down from the safety of...
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The egrets and cormorants at Smith Oaks Bird Sanctuary on High Island in Texas have already begun nesting. This great egret has ventured down from the safety of the trees to search for the perfect branch for its nest in the swampy shallows of the pond. It will pick up any likely looking branch in its beak or attempt to tug it free if it is tangled with others, and while it does so it will have to keep an eye out for predators. There is only one to worry about, and if the egret is not careful, it will not see the attack coming, as it will come from the water. Alligators protect the island in the middle of the pond where the birds nest from critters like raccoons and foxes that might snatch a chick from the nest, but will themselves feed on any that fall into the water.
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