Submitted {{media.upload | relativeTime}}
Great Egret in Breeding Plumage. The specialized feathers, called “aigrettes,” grow from the bird’s back in breeding season, which is typically in the spring. These plumes were used to adorn ladies’ hats in the 19th century, so hunting nearly led to the birds’ extinction. After plume-hunting was banned in the early 20th century, the populations quickly rebounded, despite major habitat loss and degradation.