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In the late 80's I was part of a banding (ringing) program
involving Cattle Egrets (Ardea ibis in Australia). My site was a
heronry on the northside of Brisbane, Australia. During the last decade
the size of the heronry in a Melaleuca swamp has reduced dramatically from over
10,000 nests in the mid 80's. It is now deserted and the birds have moved
to a new site about one kilometre away. It is part of a reserve known as
the Deagon Wetlands, and the birds are nesting in an area known as Third Lagoon,
close to Sandgate. This years breeding is almost complete but there appear
to have been several thousand nests.
However the birds are nesting in the reeds at the waters
edge and not in any type of trees or other bushes. They have been doing
this in increasing numbers over a few years. I am planning to write up
this behaviour but would like any comments regarding this before I do. Have
others observed Cattle Egrets nesting in this manner elsewhere in the
world?
Cheers
Roy Sonnenburg
Birding Services Brisbane
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