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I Got Here First! (30)
manyee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3067 W: 231 N: 6168] (21076)
The egrets are back in force at our local rookery. This is my first shot of one this season.

Snowy Egret
Egretta thula

The snowy egret is about two feet in length and has a wingspan of about three feet. It has white feathers, a yellow patch of skin around its eyes, a black bill and black legs with bright yellow feet. In breeding season, it has lacy plumes on its head, neck and back. Males and females look alike.

Range
The snowy egret breeds on the Atlantic Coast, the Pacific Coast and the Gulf Coast. It is also found in some inland areas. It winters from California south to South America on the west coast and from Virginia south to the West Indies on the east coast.

Habitat
The snowy egret can be found in marshes, swamps, shorelines, mudflats and ponds.

Diet
The snowy egret runs after its food. It eats shrimp, minnows and other small fish, crustaceans and frogs. It often feeds in groups.

Life Cycle
The male selects a breeding area. Both the male and female build the nest. The male collects the materials and the female does the constructing. The nest is made of reeds and twigs and is placed in a bush or on the ground. The female lays three to five eggs and both parents share incubation duties. The eggs hatch in about three weeks. Both parents care for the chicks and feed them regurgitated food. The chicks fledge when they are about a month old.

Behavior
Like other egrets, the snowy egret was once killed for its plumes. Its population was seriously damaged in the 1800's. It has made a recovery and is no longer hunted.

Source
Altered Image #1

manyee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3067 W: 231 N: 6168] (21076)
Crop, adjust contrast, brightness
Edited by:Finland_in_Eton Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 156 W: 23 N: 225] (876)
Hi, I did a crop to bring the head/eye out of the center of the image. Picked up the color a bit using color fade tool, and adjusted the contrast and brightness by using unsharp mask, set low and then the clarify tool ... all in PSPPXI. Hope you don't mind. :-)