Alamo Heights officials warn residents about white egrets in the area

You know those long-legged wading white birds that frequently cause a ruckus at Brackenridge Park? Yes, egrets. Alamo Heights officials are warning residents about the birds and advising locals how to deal with them as they migrate to the area this spring.

In an alert to the city, Alamo Heights warned how wildlife mitigation activities near the Olmos Basin have resulted in migrating birds settling in trees on properties north of Patterson Avenue and Torcido Drive, near Olmos Creek. If white egrets appear to be settling in trees on your private property, Alamo Heights is encouraging others to make loud noises and sounds — by legal means — to encourage the birds to relocate elsewhere. 

Once a nest is established, the birds may not be distributed. So, swift action may be needed to prevent that. For more information, please contact the City of Alamo Heights. 

Great egrets breed from early March to early August, according to the Texas A&M AgriLife Research. Their eggs have been found from March to June and nestlings from May to August. In San Antonio, the birds are known to reside at Brackenridge Park.

Tim Morrow, President and CEO of the San Antonio Zoological Foundation, told MySA that six different species nest in the north area of the park, including the yellow crown night herons, cattle egrets, snowy egrets, tri-colored egrets, blue herons, green herons, and crested cormorants.