This is such a classic example of citizen science working well.

I learn so much being a part of Tweeters.
Thanks for all of you who contributed both your expertise and your time, and shared it with us.

Christine Southwick
N Seattle/Shoreline
clsouthwick at pugetsoundbirds.org


On Sun, 27 Feb 2011, D Richardson wrote:

> Date: Sun, 27 Feb 2011 19:30:37 -0800 (PST)
> From: D Richardson <d.lrichardson at yahoo.com>
> To: tweeters at u.washington.edu
> Subject: [Tweeters] Yellow legged egret at Nisqually
>
>
> Here is a summary of nearly two hundred photographs?of the Great Egret at Nisqually submitted to me after?I made an appeal on Tweeters last month, noting something strange
> about our egret (namely yellow legs).? The bird was first reported on Sept. 26, 2010?by Dennis Ellison, whose photographs caught refuge biologist?Marian Bailey's interest
> because of the leg coloring.? To be sure that this was not due simply to odd lighting or unusual photo quality I made my appeal.? Many photographers with superb equipment
> took hundreds of photos,?John Riegsecker, Tony Varela, Brian Hatch, Heather Rockely, John and Louise Whitehead and others.? The bird clearly had yellow tibia as well as
> yellow tarsus down to at least two inches below the ankle (in other words yellow legs).
>
> ?
>
> While lighting and quality of the photographs can account for some of the questions of leg coloring the evidence?is convincing that the yellow legged bird was at Nisqually
> from at least September 26 until Nov. 20, the last varifiable photo date.? Some of the earlier photos?revealed quite bright?legs.? The bird was caught in various kinds of
> poses, in some cases stretching its legs as if to taunt us for having failed to notice how different it was.??American Great Egrets don't have yellow legs, but subspecies of
> Eurasian Great Egrets do.
>
> ?
>
> All the photos of the Great Egret after Dec. 1 reveal black legs. The question we are left with is, did we have two different birds, or did our bird transition from leg
> coloring of post-breeding characteristics to non-breeding coloration???The literature on Eurasian subspecies as well as many photos?of such birds?that I examined on
> line?speek about this variable?leg coloration from breeding to nonbreeding. This is not characteristic of the American subspecies.? The bill coloration of the earlier photos
> also reveal an?orange tinge with a black tip? coloration of the bill on later photos seems to be more yellow with less or no black tipped coloration.
>
> ?
>
> Thanks for all the contributions.? The Great Egret is still at Nisqually and it looks like every other American Great Egret.? It is the?first one?reported to have
> overwintered at the refuge.? Pehaps that's because of the change of habitat with the dikes removed or perhaps it's because this bird came from the north rather than from the
> south.? We may find the answer to that question in the Spring, if the bird stays around.? We will all be looking for yellow legs to return.?
>
> ?
>
> David Richardson?
>
>
>
>
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