Great Egret

Description:

Great egrets are less then 1 meter long from bill to tail, 1 meter tall, have a wingspan of 1.5 meters, and weigh about 912 to 1140 g. On average, males are larger than females. They are completely white with a long yellow bill and dark gray legs. During flight their neck is usually in an “S” shaped curve. They are very elegant birds with plumage resembling lace.

Habitat:

Spotted in Kalochori lagoon and estuaries of Gallikos river. The case of the lagoon Kalochori is unique in Greece, as it is a "new" wetland created gradually from the mid-'50s, as a result of ground subsidence caused by overexploitation of water from underground aquifers in conjunction with the loose of the soil (Anastasiadis et al 2004). Today the lagoon covers an area of 2,260 acres. The depth of the lagoon is 0.5 to 1 meter below the sea. Despite the general deterioration of the lagoon, due to drought, rubbish and waste, is one of the most important areas within the protected area because of the large number waders and water birds gathering here all year long.

Notes:

Greek common name: Αργυροτσικνιάς.