Cattle egret (Linnaeus, 1758, Bubulcus ibis)
Family: Ardeidae, (Herons and Bitterns).
Length: 45 to 59cm Wingspan: 82 to 95cm Weight: 300 to 400g Lifespan: up to 10 years.
The Cattle Egret has now established itself worldwide in tropical, subtropical and mild climatic countries. Over the last century, its population has successfully colonised worldwide with the help of livestock farming. The Cattle Egret socialises with various farm animals, (mostly, cattle, sheep and goats by removing ticks and flies) In return unintentionally, the livestock disturbs the ground for various insects to surface, which the Cattle Egret takes full advantage of. In Africa, Cattle Egrets will be seen in vast numbers close to various herd of wild animals, including Antelopes, buffaloes and other large wild animals, including Elephants. In the evenings they can be seen in vast numbers settling down to roost in trees.
This heron is unlike most herons, more often it will be seen feeding from the dry ground, instead of depending on water for prey. Although it will take the opportunity to feed from the water’s edge for various amphibians and fish. As the name suggests, it is a bird known for following large livestock and feeding on small prey disturbed by the hooves of these animals. The Cattle Egret Will always take the opportunity to forage on freshly ploughed fields, for worms and other small prey that have been uncovered by the plough. Here locally in Alicante, I often see just one lonely Cattle Egret, searching for small lizards and insects on natural open ground spaces.
Habitat: The Cattle Egret often associated with livestock, prefers more open and drier habitats than other heron species. Will feed on scrublands, dry grasslands, freshly ploughed farmlands, wetlands and will even be seen, scavenging on refuse tips.
Nesting: A Shallow nest, made of various sized sticks and reeds, often constructed in trees near water. 4 to 5 pale blueish, oval shaped eggs. Incubation lasts around 23 days, both parents will take turns in looking after the eggs. The young will fledge around 30 days and become self-dependant after a further 10 days or so. One brood April to June/July
Feeding: various small animals such as, small lizards, frogs, mice and most invertebrates. Also take advantage of aquatic prey, but has a greater preference for terrestrial animals, especially insects.
The Cattle Egret has just a few predators here in Southern Spain; nests are occasionally raided by animals such as squirrels and rats. Birds like Magpies, Crows and Jay’s will take the opportunity to raid a nest for eggs, when the adult bird is absent.