Birdland

Tyrannosaurus Rex of the Flats

The Reddish Egret is a long-legged, long-necked wader of coastal regions. Audubon notes that this bird, which is classified as threatened, is more tied to salt water than any of our other herons or egrets. Author Pete Dunne, who nicknamed the Reddish Egret the “Tyrannosaurus Rex of the Flats,” has a fine description of the angry-looking bird: “Moves like a mad linebacker, crouching and charging across the flats, leaping vertically with wings spread, turning, rearing its neck, jabbing left … right … then charging off again, with a bouncing, foot-pounding gait.” This Reddish Egret was photographed in Cozumel, Mexico, by Park Hill resident Mark Silverstein.