This is bird note.

On the Gulf of Mexico, a long low sandbar marks the entrance to a protected expanse of water, a lagoon.

Small fish dart across the lagoon, rifling the ankle deep water.

A reddish egret waits, watching alertly. The reddish egret waits, watching alertly.

The reddish egret, a particularly glamorous heron,

is named for the ruffled plumes of its long neck,

which gleam like burnished copper.

The egret stands nearly three feet tall on lanky, cobalt blue legs. Its bill, a long pink dagger, is tipped in black.

Exquisite, yes, but reddish egrets are best known for their startling antics in capturing fish.

When fishing, the egret sprints across the lagoon, weaving left and right,

simultaneously flicking its broad wings in and out while stabbing into the water with its bill.

Fish startled at the egrets crazed movements become targets of that pink dagger.

This is just one of the reddish egrets several fishing tactics.

At times, the bird will raise its wings forward over its head,

creating a shadow on the water.

It then freezes in this position for minutes. Fish swim in, attracted by a patch of shade, and, well, you know the rest.

For Bird Note, I'm Michael Stein.

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