What does the great egret eat?
Great egrets feed mostly on small fish, amphibians, and aquatic insects and invertebrates. They hunt by wading in the shallows, leaning their neck forward and silently stalking their prey. What does the great egret sound like? The great egret’s call is a low, hoarse croak or kuk-kuk-kuk. Where does the great egret nest and breed? Great egrets are colonial nesters and are often found with other egrets, herons and ibises. One of the largest breeding colonies in the Chesapeake Bay region is in Canoe Neck Creek in St. Mary’s County, Maryland. • Great egrets usually begin arriving at their breeding colonies in mid-March; new breeders may continue to arrive into May. • The peak of egg-laying occurs from early April to mid-June. The average egret clutch size is four, but can vary from three to five. • The incubation period lasts about 24 to 25 days. Young egrets fledge about six weeks after hatching. • Most adults leave their breeding colonies from late August through mid-October. Other facts
