This beautiful Great Egret, seen at Delta Ponds, is beginning to show its breeding plumage. They "were hunted nearly to extinction for their plumes in the late nineteenth century, sparking conservation movements and some of the first laws to protect birds."

Above quote from 'All About Birds' More COOL FACT -
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"The pristinely white Great Egret gets even more dressed up for the breeding season. A patch of skin on its face turns neon green, and long plumes grow from its back. Called aigrettes, those plumes were the bane of egrets in the late nineteenth century, when such adornments were prized for ladies’ hats."