City Of Fort Worth: Egret Nesting Season Is Around The Corner

Dallas TX

09 February, 2022

4:58 PM

Description

Press release from City of Fort Worth: February 09, 2022 Over the past few years, North Texas cities like Coppell, Carrollton, Arlington and, yes, Fort Worth have become home to nesting egrets. Sometimes as many as 200 birds nest in a single neighborhood. What comes along with nesting is an immense amount of falling white poop and plumage that literally cover roofs, trees, sidewalks, vehicles and driveways. Then there is the smell. What residents need to know ahead of scout or sentry birds arriving in mid- to late February is how to protect their neighborhood from allowing the birds to nest in the first place. Residents should look for a yellowish-colored bird named the yellow-crowned night herring. Nesting season is typically from the end of February through June. Once the birds — cattle egrets and snowy white egrets — start nesting and producing eggs, they're protected from harassment under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918. Egrets, which fly between the United States and Canada, are granted protected status under the treaty in an effort to ensure wildlife diversity and conservation. Fort Worth neighborhoods such as Tanglewood, Candleridge, Wedgwood, Candle Ridge West, Kingswood Place and Sterling Creek have learned from the past what helps keep the nesting birds away: Trimming trees is the first and most important task. Residents need to work together for a "neighborhood tree trim." Others tools can include air horns, loud bells, banging pots and pans and hanging reflective streamers in the trees. Scary-eye balloons filled with helium are a good deterrent, but they must fly above the trees to be effective. The city can assist neighborhoods with guidance, if needed. Trimming trees is the first and most important task. Residents need to work together for a "neighborhood tree trim." "No one wants to hurt or injure the birds," said Dr. Tim Morton, Code Compliance assistant director with oversight of Fort Worth Animal Care & Control. "We just want them to find a wild or native area to nest that will be a safe area as well as protecting personal property." Learn more online or contact the City Call Center at 817-392-1234.     Photo: The snowy white egret looks beautiful, but they can be major nuisances when nesting in neighborhood trees.     Get articles like this in your inbox. Subscribe to City News.   This press release was produced by City of Fort Worth. The views expressed here are the author's own.