This is the first of two articles publishing images of large wading birds landing near their nests. Here the Great Egret pulls back to make a soft landing on a cypress tree in a swamp.
The large wing span held out allows the bird to almost stand upright.
Flight is slowed significantly, and quickly.
Click, or double tap, an image below to view the gallery.
Great Egret Landing By The Nest – click to enlarge
Great Egret Landing By The Nest – click to enlarge
Great Egret Landing By The Nest – click to enlarge
Great Egret Landing By The Nest – click to enlarge
Great Egret Landing By The Nest – click to enlarge
The Great Egret and Great Blue Heron use similar techniques to land. Both are big, but very light weight birds.
Wings like a big shawl – incredible!
Their wing span is almost as big as a person is tall.