Great Egret | The Salt Marsh

The great egret is a large white wading bird. Unlike the snowy egret, the great egret has a yellow bill and black legs and feet. This bird is the symbol of the National Audubon Society. Their long, curved, frilly plume feathers were highly prized for use in ladiesí hats 100 years ago. To supply the feathers, plume hunters killed many egrets and nearly caused their extinction. The National Audubon Society was formed as a response, educating the public and stopping the hunting. Now all nongame birds are protected from hunting.