Egrets good for cows, but rookeries a pain

By JOSH NEWTON

TAHLEQUAH DAILY PRESS May 13, 2008 03:23 pm

— Maybe you don’t consider migratory birds as ambassadors, but organizers of this year’s World Migratory Bird Day do.
The theme for this year’s celebration, May 10-11, was “Migratory Birds – Ambassadors for Biodiversity.” A posting on the official Web site, worldmigratorybirdday.org/2008, says these creatures of the air are “important for monitoring changes in the environment, as they are inhabitants of virtually all ecosystems in the world.”
Locally, the egret is probably the most well-known migratory bird to move into town in April. The white birds can be found all summer long on nearly any patch of land that hosts cattle.
Egrets are generally a nuisance only because of their nesting habits, according to Game Warden Brady May. They often colonize in large rookeries.
“I have received no complaint in the county this year [of rookeries],” said May.
All birds, May said – except starlings, sparrows and pigeons – are protected by state or federal law. That means local residents must stay proactive between summer and spring to clean up areas the birds might make home when they return in April.
“They desire real dense underbrush, real jungle-like,” said May. “They prefer immature, secondary growth. You need to clean out that underbrush before they return,” which is generally around the first of April. “If you waited, you’re too late. Legally, you can’t get rid of a rookery [now].”
But May said officials from the Fish and Wildlife Department Animal Damage Control may be able to intervene and harass the egrets away. Those who think they may need that assistance can contact the state wildlife officials.
May primarily enforces state law, but he said game wardens are federal reserve deputy game wardens.
“Egrets are doing good in pastures,” May added. “They’re basically helpful.”
Roger Williams, agriculture educator with the OSU Extension Office in Cherokee County, said egrets moved in to the country little by little.
“The birds have a relationship with cattle,” said Williams.
Egrets get to eat bugs cattle dig up while foraging pastures, and the birds also help take the bugs off cattle themselves.
But, Williams said, “like coyotes, [egrets] find a way to exploit any situation.”
Numerous Web sites state that an egret’s diet is mostly insect-based, but can also include frogs, lizards, baby birds and other small reptiles and amphibians.
Migratory birds move country to country, continent to continent, according to the WMBD Web site.
“... Some of them from the tundra to the tropics, linking different ecosystems,” the site states. “By conserving them and their environment, we ensure the conservation of biodiversity on a wider scale.”

Learn more
For more information on the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, visit the Web site at www. wildlifedepartment.com. A list of district contacts can be found by clicking on “Law Enforcement.” For more information on birding in Oklahoma, visit www.biosu rvey.ou.edu/OkWildBird or www.birdsofoklahoma.net. A large list of bird links can be found at www.suttoncenter. org/other.html.