Cattle Egret - Anchor Point

[Douglas Clark]

I'm not actually clear on the original source (I think facebook photos), but a couple days ago a pair of Cattle Egrets was reported from Anchor Point on the Northern Peninsula. After, I have gathered, many hours of leg work, John and Ivy Gibbons managed to relocate one of them feeding on insects inside of town this afternoon. They courteously reported them through the wire so that a lazybones like me could drive north, show up, and see it.

As it happened, I found both birds feeding together (apparently the first time they've been seen since at least Thursday) on a lawn elsewhere in town. They look for all the world like their evolutionary niche is to eat insects on northern Newfoundland lawns; they appear very happy, healthy, and active. Anchor Point is not a big town - in population or in density - so given the birds' activity levels a good strategy may be simply to drive around until you find them.

Doug Clark, mooching off the hard work of John and Ivy Gibbons

[Veronica Bowes]

We live on the Avalon Peninsula and we do have cattle..Lately we have had a Cattle Egret following our cows and sleeping between them for warmth we are assuming.. We are worried about what will happen when the Cattle go into the barn for the winter which is coming sooner than we would like.. It flies around with no issues but what can we do to protect it when the snow hits???

[Jared Clarke]

Hi Veronica,

Hopefully the Cattle Egret will decide to head south before the weather turns too cold, but otherwise will face some challenges in the weeks ahead. I'm not sure there is much that can be done but keep an eye on it for now. There "may" be opportunities to house the bird for winter months if at some point you can approach and capture it (after the weather worsens), but I'm not sure how realistic that is. Please keep us in the loop, and I/we can help you research the possibilities should the time arise.

Cheers,
Jared