China is a country with a rich diversity of wildlife, including 20 species of birds in the heron family. Among these species, those belonging to the genus Egret are particularly prized.
In Chongqing, China, there is the Heron Nature Reserve, the first egret habitat in the country following the construction of the Baisanxia dam.
The reserve is home to more than 20,000 herons of various species. Meanwhile, Xiamen boasts 10 species of herons, accounting for 50% of the total number of bird species in the heron family in China.
Among them, five species of the genus Egret still exist in their natural habitat, which highlights the advantages of Xiamen's geographical location and wetland environment in terms of heron resource distribution.
In recent years, the number of heron species in Xiamen has reached 30,000 per year. The intertidal zone of Xiamen's waters and the surrounding lakes are important wetlands for heron species in China and even internationally, according to international standards.
The breeding season of egrets occurs between May and July each year.
During this time, they build nests on islands near the coast, on rocks at coastal overhangs, or between the branches of dwarf trees.
Surprisingly, some people have found up to 14 nests on the top of an overhanging rock that is only about 20 square metres.
In addition, on the top of an adjacent rock that is only about 10 square metres, there were 11 more nests, each only 14-76 centimetres apart.
In Taiwan, there have also been instances of mixed nesting groups of Yellow-billed Egrets, Cattle-backed Herons, and Night Herons.
The egret's nest is shallow and saucer-shaped, with a simple structure made up mainly of dead grass stems and leaves.
The nest is built in a low tree, with the highest height from the ground not exceeding 1 metre or in the grass underneath.
Each clutch contains two to four ovoid-shaped, pale blue eggs. The incubation period is 24 to 26 days.
Egrets have high-value plumage, mostly white with long, decorative nuptial plumage during the breeding season.
Their habits are broadly similar to those of other heron species, but some have courtship displays, including showing off their plumage.
The word egret (or aigrette) in English also refers to the plumage of egrets.
They nest in large flocks and are defenceless, making them vulnerable to indiscriminate human capture. However, strict conservation measures have been implemented, leading to an increase in the number of egrets.
Egrets are wading birds that frequent marshes, lakes, wet forests, and other wetland environments to feed on small fish, amphibians, reptiles, mammals, and crustaceans in shallow water. They build large, messy nests on trees or shrubs, or the ground.
China is home to a wide variety of bird species, including 20 species of herons, of which the Egret species is the most precious.
The Heron Nature Reserve in Chongqing and the wetland environment in Xiamen provide excellent habitats for herons, including the Egret.
However, due to human activities, these birds have become endangered. Fortunately, conservation measures have been taken to protect these valuable bird species.
Egrets are fascinating creatures with high-value plumage, and they play an essential role in their ecosystem by controlling the population of small aquatic animals.
