Cattle Egrets (Bubulcus ibis) are a common sight here, especially since the occasional appearance of the Urban Herd became permanent. Interestingly, Bubulcus is the Latin word for ‘herdsman’ – they certainly do appear to keep a close eye on their ‘charges’ and their relationship with cattle, buffalo, and even zebra are interesting to observe. Each animal appears to have an egret in attendance, ready to pounce on insects flushed by these large animals as they move through the grass. I have occasionally seen an egret pecking at ticks on the tip of a cow’s tail. They are also known to feed on frogs, small mammals, worms and eggs.
These are elegant looking birds, both on the ground and especially when they catch the late afternoon sun when in flight home to their communal roosting spots. I see them flying over our garden singly, in twos or threes, and sometimes many of them together. The tree in which many of them used to roost in town was cut down in an effort to get rid of them, so I am not sure where they go, although they have been recorded as flying up to 20km to their feeding areas.
These ones appear to be resting from their labours. If you look very closely, you may count more than the alliterative eleven basking in the late afternoon sun.
Amazing world of nuture
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Nature
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Nature is filled with surprises 🙂 ‘Nurture’ is an interesting slip the typing finger brings to bear on the processes of nature 🙂 🙂
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Absolutely true😊😊
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We saw these with cattle on Maui, and when we first glimpsed them from a distance were puzzled by the “white things.” It’s a great partnership!
Why did the authorities want to get rid of them?
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The tree was in the garden of a block of flats – the residents there obviously didn’t like either the noise or the mess created by the birds; some sacred ibises also used to roost there.
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That was my question, too 😊 thanks for asking and answering.
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I’ve seen them here, too, accompanying cows.
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They have a very wide distribution 🙂
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Engaging etymology
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A permanently pleasing pastime, Derrick 🙂
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That really made me laugh 🙂
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Herdsmen indeed.
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It is pleasing to see the way the egrets follow the animals and pounce on the insects flushed from the grass.
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We could learn something from the egrets.
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You are right 🙂
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They are attractive and I imagine the cattle must appreciate them too.
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They certainly get along well together 🙂
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A beneficial relationship for both bird and cattle.
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It appears to be – in any event, they look good together.
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Egrets are very elegant birds. I would have to travel a bit to see one here.
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I read that while Cattle Egrets have begun breeding in the UK too, they are not commonly seen in Scotland.
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I don’t know about cattle egrets but we do have great and little egrets on the coast not far from us.
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Egrets are a common sight here too. They accompany cattle everywhere. Now I have begin seeing them in traffic circles walking on the grass looking for insects. They don’t seem to mind the traffic, so used are they to it!
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They do not seem to mind the passing traffic here either.
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