In a poem about the egrets, the egret’s combination of pigments, size of its body, and everything about the egret is described in minute detail. The poem goes, “The egret has begun to prepare for hatching, flying in and out to build a nest with grass. When the wind blows, its feathers resemble a wedding dress. It looks like a bride in a wedding dress when it flies in the air.”

Checking up on the egret habitat every two weeks means you’re bound to see something sad and unfortunate. There was tragedy this time I visited, where an egret lay unmoved and my mentor Larry , who is an ecologist from SFBBO said it was dead. I don’t know what the cause of death was as we never found out, but it saddened me. However, it was part of the circle of life.

Two months had passed since, and the baby egrets had finally hatched, breaking out of their shells and showing their small heads. It rushed to its mother, who proceeded to feed it. The parents of the babies were busy flying in and out of the nest, providing food for the newborns. The fluffy baby egrets were very cute, and I hope they grow up to be very healthy. Some of the baby egrets were already exploring and curious, wandering out of the nest and practicing flight.

The parents of the egrets were slowly guiding the little egrets, and they seemed to be a happy family. The birds were thriving in their natural environment, partly thanks to the help of SFBBO. Where I live, it is a bustling city and suburb. So I am grateful to have a place in nature to escape to and view the wonderful things that nature has to offer. In another two weeks, the little egrets will fully learn how to fly and the egret flock will leave. The island will return to its pre-breeding silence. I am saddened to know that the egrets will be leaving us for the season to go to other habitats across North America, but I am happy to have the chance to witness the circle of life in front of me.