Cattle Egret Hawaii

Cattle egrets originated from africa arriving in south america in the late 19 th century before spreading through most of the continental united states in the 1940s. Cattle egrets are considered a pest as they are nest predators of hawaiian stilts and hawaiian coots.

Cattle Egret Hawaii Imported By State Officials From Florida In The Late 1950s In An Attempt To Control Insect Pests On Bird Species Beautiful Birds Cattle

A cosmopolitan amid hawaii s birds standing tall and graceful the white plumaged cattle egret has been recorded in iceland belgium and egypt.

Cattle egret hawaii. Look for their perfect v formation as they fly in flocks. It is popular with cattle ranchers throughout the world for its role as a biological control of ticks biting flies and other cattle parasites pecking the little nasties directly off the skin of stock animals. Nonnative species in hawaii displace compete with and consume native species some of which are endangered threatened or otherwise in need of additional protection.

The cattle egret was first introduced to hawaii in 1959. By 1981 the statewide population was estimated at 30 000 birds. The cattle egrets thrived in hawaii and by the early 1970s colonies of up to 1 500 2 000 breeding birds were reported from oahu and kauai.

They pose a threat to native water birds. Cattle egret bubulcus ibis. The cattle egret bubulcus ibis is a cosmopolitan species of heron family ardeidae found in the tropics subtropics and warm temperate zones it is the only member of the monotypic genus bubulcus although some authorities regard two of its subspecies as full species the western cattle egret and the eastern cattle egret despite the similarities in plumage to the egrets of the genus egretta.

Easy to spot these 20 inch long white birds are often seen in large groups usually near ponds. In breeding plumage there is a reddish tinge on the breast plumes. The cattle egret is white with a yellow bill and dark grey legs.

The cattle egret is extremely widespread since its introduction to hawaiʻi from florida in 1959 to control insect pests. Bird length is about 50 cm 20 inches. It forages at the feet of grazing cattle head bobbing with each step or rides on their backs to pick at ticks.

We monitored behavior of cattle egrets bubulcus ibis during a population control program to reduce egret aircraft strike hazards from a small heronry near the hilo hawaii airport. Originally from africa it found its way to north america in 1953 and quickly spread across the continent. They were first introduced to the hawaiian islands in 1959 by the board of agriculture and forestry in conjunction with local cattle ranchers.

Cattle egret bubulcus ibis see images below description. This stocky white heron has yellow plumes on its head and neck during breeding season. The short thick necked cattle egret spends most of its time in fields rather than streams.

To protect native species we have proposed a regulation to allow control of cattle egrets bubulcus ibis and barn owls tyto alba two introduced migratory bird species. Native to africa and asia it s established on all the continents except for antarctica.

Cattle Egret Bubulcus Ibis Animal Photo Animals Cattle