April 6, 2026

I am known as a Great Egret

As an adult or chick, I show elegance and grace

I swear I could be a fashion model

As long as you don't look me direct in the face.

Location: Orlando Wetlands, Christmas FL

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Great_Egret/id

Photo and text © 2026 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

If you are reading and enjoying this blog, please consider supporting me on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/deeat8am, or purchase my current book, The Rhyming Guide to Florida Spiders (details at https://deeateightam.blogspot.com/p/rhyming-guide-to-florida-spiders-now.html). Thank you for being a reader and friend of Dee at 8 A.M.

November 20, 2025

I am known as a Great Egret
I'm sitting high up on a roof

It's usually a stork

You see doing this work

I don't do babies, I'm much too aloof.

Location: Jones Pier Conservation Area, Vero

Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stork#Associations_with_fertility

Photo and text © 2025 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

If you are reading and enjoying this blog, please consider supporting me on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/deeat8am, or purchase my current book, The Rhyming Guide to Florida Spiders (details at https://deeateightam.blogspot.com/p/rhyming-guide-to-florida-spiders-now.html). Thank you for being a reader and friend of Dee at 8 A.M.

February 5, 2025

I am known as a Great Egret

In general, I'm calm and attractive 

Except when I'm looking straight into a lens - 

Then I look mean and combative.

Very special thanks to today's guest photographer, Jessica Sodano.

Location:  Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Great_Egret/overview

Photo and text © 2025 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

If you are reading and enjoying this blog, please consider supporting me on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/deeat8am, or purchase my current book, The Rhyming Guide to Florida Spiders (details at https://deeateightam.blogspot.com/p/rhyming-guide-to-florida-spiders-now.html). Thank you for being a reader and friend of Dee at 8 A.M.

July 12, 2024

I am known as a Great Egret

I'm doing some sky art

I like to call it post modern

That started as a small fart.

Location: Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge, Benton Township, Ohio

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Great_Egret/id

Photo and text © 2024 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

If you are reading and enjoying this blog, please consider supporting me on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/deeat8am, or purchase my current book, The Rhyming Guide to Florida Spiders (details at https://deeateightam.blogspot.com/p/rhyming-guide-to-florida-spiders-now.html). Thank you for being a reader and friend of Dee at 8 A.M.

February 26, 2024

I'm known as a Great Egret

I'm not endemic like a Florida Scrub Jay

But I'm native to Florida and breed here

You know cause I'm wearing a fancy négligé . 

Location: Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Great_Egret/id

Photo and text © 2024 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

If you are reading and enjoying this blog, please consider supporting me on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/deeat8am, or purchase my current book, The Rhyming Guide to Florida Spiders (details at https://deeateightam.blogspot.com/p/rhyming-guide-to-florida-spiders-now.html). Thank you for being a reader and friend of Dee at 8 A.M.

November 28, 2023

I am a Great Egret

Hanging out in the Pickerel Weed

I am the very embodiment 

Of the torture that retirement is to Dee.

Location: TM Goodwin WMA, Broadmoor Unit

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Great_Egret/overview

Photo and text © 2023 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

March 4, 2022

I am known as a Great Egret

I prefer to live near water

My lores turn green and my feathers get fancy

When I'm ready to have a son or a daughter.

Location: Sebastian Inlet State Park

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Great_Egret/overview

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

December 2, 2021

A Boat-tailed Grackle, an Osprey, a Great Egret

They seem disparate, but have two things in common:

They each have four separate subspecies

And none could survive eating only ramen.

Location: Goodwin Wildlife Management Area, Fellsmere

Sources: https://www.nwrafting.com/articles/ospreys-a-unique-bird-of-prey

Photo and text © 2021 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

August 5, 2021

This is the wing of a Great Egret

I have no idea how it died

Great Egrets have no non-human* predators

Due to their aggressive behavior - not to mention their size.

* In the past, egrets and herons were hunted for their feathers. They are protected from hunting now, but they are still quite  vulnerable to human caused habitat loss, water pollution, and air pollution.

Location: Goodwin Wildlife Management Area, Fellsmere

Sources: https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Ardea_alba/

Photo and text © 2021 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

May 23, 2021

I am known as a Great Egret

Shown here with my egg on my nest

I'll sit on the egg for 24 days

Then my kid will hatch with eyes opened and fully dressed.

Location: Goodwin Wildlife Management Area, Fellsmere

Sources: https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Ardea_alba/

Photo and text © 2021 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

March 5, 2021

I am known as a Great Egret

I stand about one meter tall

Although I'm pretty big as birds go

I'll never fulfill my dream to play basketball.

Location: Stormwater park, Sebastian

Sources: https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Ardea_alba/

Photo and text © 2021 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

July 29, 2020

Location: Taylor Creek/Nubbins Slough Conservation Area, Okeechobee

I am a Great Egret
I hang out in shallow water to hunt frogs and fish
I strike quickly using my long neck and beak
And eat my prey with panache and relish.

Sources: Cornell Lab All About Birds - Great Egret

Photo and text © 2020 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

March 19, 2020

Location: Goodwin Waterfowl Management Area, Fellsmere

I am known as a great Great Egret
I'm here in the rookery with my socius
I start breeding around 2-3 years old
I guess you can call me precocious.

Sources: Audubon Guide  to North American Birds - Great Egret

Photo and text © 2020 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

February 25, 2019

Location: Sebastian Inlet

At the top there is a Great Egret
At the bottom there is a Snowy.
The  Snowy Egret is slender and lithe,
The Great Egret is a tad more doughy.

Sources: Cornell Lab All About Birds - Compare Great Egret and Snowy Egret

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

February 23, 2019

Location: Fellsmere, St. Sebastian Preserve State Park

I am known as a Great Egret
I'll be in full breeding plumage soon.
Notice my lores are starting to turn green,
And my plumes will soon make the girls swoon.

Sources: Cornell Lab All About Birds - Great Egret

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

January 1, 2019

Location: Vero Beach Wetlands

On the left is a Great Egret, on the right a Tricolor,
They appear to both be the same size.
But the Tricolor is in water to his ankles,
And the Great Egret is up to his thighs.

(This picture illustrates the concept that often binoculars, or in this case a camera lens,  can distort the size of a bird. I know that Great Egrets are larger than Tricolored Herons, but it wasn't till I looked closely that I could see why they appearer to be the same size.)

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

December 31, 2018

Location: Vero Beach Wetlands

I am known as a Great Egret
My mate and I share feeding our young.
First we eat fish, crustaceans or reptiles,
Then we feed via regurgitation.

Sources: Audubon Guide to North American Birds - Great Egret

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

December 29, 2018

Location: Vero Beach Wetlands

I am a Great Blue Heron
I've got my mouth full of fish.
Of course the Great Egret and Wood Stork show up
It's everyone's favorite dish.

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

August 3, 2018

Location: Lakeland, Circle B Bar Reserve

I am known as a Great Egret
My legs and feet are both black.
My feathers are white, and I've a sharp, yellow bill,
That I snap out when I want a snack.

Sources: Cornell Lab - Great Egret

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

January 1, 2018

Location: Cocoa, City dump, Cocoa Christmas Bird Count

I am a Great Egret,
I used to be killed for my plumes, which are long and distinct.
Fortunately the Audubon Society
Fought to save me from going extinct.

Sources: Audubon Guide to North American Birds - Great Egret

Photo and text © 2017 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

A note from Dee: Welcome to the new year! I have a few changes to the blog going forward. First, you probably have figured out that the pictures are not always posted on the day that I take them. I realized about halfway into 2017 that I would not be able to keep up the blog if I walk, photograph, edit, research and write every day as I still have a day job. It's easier (and I think the quality is a better) if I photograph, edit and get ahead of the blog rather than try to do it all every day. I still try to walk every day, but you won't necessarily see photos on the day that I take them.

Second, to keep the blog fresh, I will occasionally have guest photographers contribute photos since there are people like David who travel and see different species than I do. If you have a photo you would like to contribute, drop me an email.

And finally, also new for 2018 - my goal is to make at least one video entry every month. These will be production videos, continuing my Birding With Dee series. I would love your input here. If you have a topic you would like to see covered, or if you have a birding question you would like to see addressed, or if you just have a favorite bird that you would like to see covered more in depth, please post a comment here or on Facebook or drop me an email, I really would love to hear your input!

Thanks so much for reading and your continued support of my blog. I look forward to writing and producing videos for you in 2018!