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Mass Audubon State of the Birds

Find a Bird

Great Egret
Ardea alba

The Great Egret is a relative newcomer as a breeder to the state, first nesting in 1954, but then not again until the 1970s. Surveys by the Natural Heritage Program staff of coastal colonies suggest that the breeding numbers of this species are increasing in Massachusetts, despite the fact that its nesting sites are very restricted.
Conservation Status
No Action - Strong Increase

Tracking This Bird In Massachusetts

Climate Vulnerability Score

Least Vulnerable
Mass Audubon Mean likelihood of occurrence (current)
0.43
Mass Audubon Mean likelihood of occurrence (2050)
0.47
Mass Audubon Absolute change in likelihood of occurrence
0.04
U.S. Forest Service Climate Change Bird Atlas (Hadly Hi emissions scenario)a
11.30
National Audubon Societyb
n/a
a USFS model data for Massachusetts by 2100
b National Audubon Society's Climate Change Atlas was completed on a continental scale.

Breeding Bird Atlas

Atlas I Blocks
4
Atlas II Blocks
24
Percent of state occupied - Atlas I
0
Percent of state occupied - Atlas II
2
Percent change
500

Breeding Bird Survey

Annual trend 1966-2010
3%
P-value
not significant
Number of routes
4
Recent trend 2000-2010
4.1%

Christmas Bird Count

Trend (1963-2008)
3.9
Significantly different than zero
no
Trend (1963-1979)
0
Significantly different than zero
Trend (1979-2008)
4.7
Significantly different than zero
no

Habitat Usage

Breeding

Coastal, Open Freshwater Marsh, Rivers, Lakes, and Ponds

Wintering

Saltmarsh

Climate Suitability Current and 2050