Dr. James J. S. Johnson

 “And the stork, the heron after her kind, and the lapwing, and the bat.” (Leviticus 11:19)

This is just a quick note, from my part of Texas, to report seeing some white egrets lately.

So much of (our part of) Texas is urbanizing–and suburbanizing. So, frequenting a rural area, where birdwatching is convenient, is like hunting for an endangered species.

Last Sunday, in a journey that included driving through parts of Denton County and Tarrant County (Texas), my wife drove our car, as I looked out my car window–for birds in pastures and ponds. Ponds attract heron-like birds, such as foraging Great White Egrets (a/k/a “Great White Heron”). Likewise, pastures (with bovine cattle grazing), attract foraging Cattle Egrets.

Thankfully, I saw several kinds of birds, from place to place, in field and trees, and besides ponds and drainage ditches. Among those birds, observed that day, were two kinds of heron-like wading birds–Great White Egret and Cattle Egret. Which led to composing this limerick:

GREAT WHITE & CATTLE EGRETS, OBSERVED WHILE TRAVELLING

Cute critters—some are wild, some are pets;

Yesterday, I observed white egrets!

Standing, beside a pond;

Others, in grass beyond …

Go birding—you’ll have no regrets!

It’s good to know that, so far, there are still some pastures and ponds, where we can still view egrets.

Yes, we can all thank the Lord for making and sustaining these oft-ignored (yet magnificent) wild white wonders (Job 9:10).

(Regarding Cattle Egrets, see JJSJ’s “Cabin Fever, Cattle Egrets, and Pasture-land Partnerships” http://www.icr.org/article/cabin-fever-cattle-egrets-pasture-land-partnership/ .)