little egret சின்னக் கொக்கு; (Egretta garzetta)

 

The little egret (Egretta garzetta) சின்னக் கொக்கு அல்லது சிறு வெண்கொக்கு is a species of small heron in the family Ardeidae. It is a white bird with a slender black beak, long black legs and, in the western race, yellow feet. As an aquatic bird, it feeds in shallow water and on land, consuming a variety of small creatures. It breeds colonially, often with other species of water birds, making a platform nest of sticks in a tree, bush or reed bed.  

 

          Egrets, especially the all-white species, are widely seen as symbols of purity, clarity, and elegance due to their pristine plumage and graceful movements.  Known for their ability to stand motionless for long periods while hunting, egrets embody patience, mindfulness, and the wisdom of acting with intention rather than impulsiveness. 

In Greek mythology, herons/egrets were messengers for gods like Athena and Aphrodite. In Ancient Egypt, the heron was linked to the Bennu bird (a precursor to the phoenix), symbolizing creation, rebirth, and transformation. The Celts revered the egret for its keen observational skills and acute perception. They considered it a symbol of wisdom and intuition, attributing the bird with the ability to see beyond the ordinary and perceive hidden truths. It was believed that the egret could help humans develop their own intuitive abilities and tap into their inner wisdom.  The egret's life cycle, marked by its stunning plumage changes during breeding season, fascinated the Celts. They saw in this transformation a powerful metaphor for personal growth, change, and rebirth. The egret's ability to shed its old feathers and don a new appearance symbolized the potential for transformation and the cycle of life. The egret was also often regarded as a spiritual guide and protector. The Celts believed that the bird's ethereal presence signaled divine guidance and assistance on one's spiritual journey. 

 

The little egret was formally described by the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus in 1766 in his Systema Naturae under the binomial name Ardea garzetta.  Egrets use a variety of methods to procure their food; they stalk their prey in shallow water, often running with raised wings or shuffling their feet to disturb small fish, or may stand still and wait to ambush prey.  

When moving about in the water hunting for fish, the species can look ungainly, but, observed in repose, they are extremely elegant creatures. In the breeding season, they develop long plumes on the breast and tail, and crest feathers on the back of the neck. In Europe, especially in UK – by the 19th century, the plumes of a little egret were more valuable than gold !! For centuries, these plumes were a highly desirable clothing accessory. The 17th-century ornithologist Francis Willughby, author of the ground-breaking, posthumously published Ornithologia (1676), wrote of their ornamental use on caps and headpieces, ‘sold very dear in the cities subject to the Turk’.  In late 1800s with each little egret producing about 1g of plumes, these could fetch £15 an ounce (28g) on the European market (about £900 in today’s prices). Trade was worldwide, with the little egrets — together with their relatives, such as the great and snowy plumed egrets — systematically farmed.  

Demand from milliners for the plumes for fashionable female headwear reached such a height that there were fears the little-egret population was being devastated. Such were the concerns that, after a series of meetings chiefly involving Society women, the Society for the Protection of Birds was formed in Manchester in 1889 and merged with the London-based Fur, Fin and Feather Folk in 1891; it was granted a Royal Charter in 1904 to become the RSPB. Its first leaflet, Destruction of Ornamental Plumaged Birds, focused on the plight of little egrets, together with grebes, and most of the charity’s early campaigning was directed against the plumage trade. 

Interesting !

 
Regards – S Sampathkumar
13.11.2025