Brush garzette

The Aigrette garzette ( Egretta garzetta ) is a Oiseau of the family of the Ardéidé S.

Description

Sometimes called héron white, it is of intermediate size (length from 55 to 65 cm; scale from 90 to 105 cm). Its bluish slightly gray black nozzle at the black base and its legs with the yellow fingers make it easily identifiable. In bridal period, it carries on the nape of the neck two long fine feathers (20 cm), the brushes.

Ecology

Habitat

The brush meets in all the Wetlands with not very deep water with a predilection for brackish water. It generally forms dormitories in conifers to spend the night.

Reproduction

The brush niche in colony, often with other Ardéidés, in the trees, where it builds a made nest of reeds and brushwood. One will see sometimes colonies on the ground in roselières. The laying made up from 3 to 5 eggs greenish blue takes place at the end of April/at the beginning of May. The couple broods alternatively for a period from 21 to 25 days. The parents nourish the young people during forty days.

Food mode

The Brush garzette nourishes small fish, frogs, insects watery and small shellfish.

Distribution

It is present in Europe of the south, on all the Mediterranean circumference as far as sub-Saharan Africa. Generally migrating, the major part of the population winters in Africa but a part is also present in France and Spain. The species strongly progressed these last years, by massively colonizing the French Atlantic facade (60% of manpower French nichor in 2000). It nested for the first time in Ireland in 1997 (12 to 55 couples of 1997 to 2001) and in Great Britain in 1998 (68 to 77 couples in 2000).

Song

Quiet most of the time, it emits a raucous cry left “aahh” or “kark” when it is disturbed or on the colony.

Statute

Registered on appendix 1 of the Directive birds

See too

Taxonomic references

Brush garzette - photo

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