Attending my grandson's little league game this past weekend, I was pleased to observe a quartet of snowy egrets, feeding in centerfield. Common summer residents in Metro Denver, they were the first I encountered this spring.
These sociable birds usually nest in colonies, often in groves of trees along lakes or streams. They feed on a wide variety of aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates as well as fish, amphibians, lizards, snakes and small mammals. Come autumn, they will head for Mexico or for coastal areas along the Gulf of Mexico or the Baja Peninsula.
Lest readers be concerned about the egrets' safety during the ballgame, be assured that, in my grandson's age group, balls rarely reach the outfield. Indeed, the ratio of walks to strikeouts generally determines the outcome of a game.
