Have you noticed the large white birds with long necks and legs around Murfreesboro? If so, you aren’t alone. The Great Egrets have created quite a stir over the last few months, with several neighbors asking about these birds, wondering what they are and getting excited when spotting them in the natural places around town.

What exactly is a Great Egret? These beautiful white wading birds, scientifically known as Ardea alba, are members of the heron family (Ardeidae) and can be found throughout Tennessee, often near ponds, rivers, creeks and other areas with shallow water. Their long legs and necks make them perfectly suited for moving through the water in search of their next meal.

Much like the more commonly spotted Great Blue Heron, one of the most fascinating things about Great Egrets is the way they hunt. They can stand almost perfectly still in shallow water, patiently watching for fish, frogs, crayfish and other small creatures. Their patience is often their greatest hunting tool, as they spend long periods carefully watching the water before making their move. Then, in an instant, they extend their long neck and strike with its long pointed bill, often catching its meal before it has much of a chance to escape.

Around Murfreesboro, Great Egrets have been spotted in a variety of wet habitats, including along the Stones River and around Murfree Spring. Murfree Spring, in particular, has become a place where people are enjoying watching the elegant birds as they wade through the water and search for food. Their presence has brought a little extra excitement to an area already abundant with wildlife, giving visitors another reason to slow down and take in the natural activity happening around them.

Great Egrets are found throughout much of the United States during the warmer months, and Tennessee is part of their range. They move south as temperatures drop, making late summer and early fall a prime time for sightings. Their striking, bright white feathers make them especially noticeable against the green landscape, and their movements, along with the availability of food and suitable habitat, can make their presence more noticeable at certain times of the year.

Their striking white plumage has also played an unfortunate role in the history of the species. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, feathers from Great Egrets and other wading birds were highly prized for decorating fashionable hats and clothing. The demand for these plumes led to widespread hunting of the birds, contributing to serious declines in their populations.

The decline helped spark the early conservation movement in the United States. The Great Egret eventually became a symbol of that effort and was chosen as the emblem of the National Audubon Society. Today, seeing these birds around Murfreesboro is a reminder of how far conservation efforts have come and how important it is to protect wildlife and the habitats they depend on.

How lucky are we to witness the fruits of historic conservation efforts, even here in the heart of Murfreesboro? There is something special about local residents getting excited over a Great Egret sighting, asking questions and pointing them out to one another. A bird once hunted to near extinction in North America can now be found wading through our local waterways right here in Murfreesboro, giving the community one more reason to appreciate the wild places that remain among us.