While standing on the eagle observation deck at Jordan Lake yesterday, I observed two Great Egrets chasing one another over the water. These majestic birds can be quite aggressive! This is not unusual behavior as Great Egrets are very territorial when it comes to courtship, nesting and feeding.
Prey such as Frogs, snakes, crayfish, fish, mice, crickets, aquatic insects, grasshoppers, and many other insects constitute the typical diet of these competitive birds. However, it has been found that Great Egrets are highly aggressive in many situations even when food is not limited.
Guess these two don’t want to share, even when there is plenty of food to go around.. I’m not sure why they were fighting but it was truly an interesting moment to photograph!