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Article: Aerial foraging over open water by Great Egrets and Snowy Egrets on schooling freshwater fish.(Short Communications)
- Article from:
- Wilson Bulletin
- Article date:
- June 1, 2003
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2003 Wilson Ornithological Society. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Egrets exhibit a variety of foraging behaviors (Parsons and Master 2000, McCrimmon et al. 2001), with detailed descriptions given by Kushlan (1976) and Willard (1977). Many of the behaviors in their repertoire are used only rarely. The most common behaviors reported for Great Egrets (Ardea alba) are Stand and Wait and Wade Slowly (Kushlan 1976, Willard 1977, Rodgers 1983), while Stand and Wait, Wade Slowly, Active Pursuit, and Foot-Stirring are most commonly used by Snowy Egrets (Egretta thula; Kushlan 1976, Willard 1977, Rodgers 1983). Kushlan (1976) described several types of aerial foraging. Great and Snowy egrets may grab prey while in direct flight by skimming the ...