1. Feathered Finery: Snowy egrets were nearly hunted to extinction in the late 19th and early 20th centuries due to demand for their breeding plumes, which were used to adorn fashionable hats. In 1886 the plumes of a breeding Snowy Egret were valued at a whopping $32 per ounce – twice the value of gold in those days, and nearly $1,000 per ounce in today’s currency!

2. Yellow Slippers: One of the most distinctive features of snowy egrets is their bright yellow feet, which stand out against their snowy white plumage. These colorful "slippers" are used to stir up prey in the water and provide stability while wading in shallow marshes.

3. Aerial Acrobats: Snowy egrets are agile flyers, capable of executing impressive aerial maneuvers as they hunt for prey or travel between feeding sites. With their wingspan of up to 3.3 feet, they glide effortlessly over marshes and estuaries, showcasing their grace and agility.

4. Global Travelers: While snowy egrets are primarily found in the Americas, they are known to undertake long-distance migrations, with some individuals traveling thousands of miles between their breeding and wintering grounds. Their migratory routes take them from North America to Central and South America, where they spend the winter months in warmer climates. They generally return to Colorado in late April.

5. Passing the Batton: both male and female Snowy Egrets incubate eggs, when they take over for each other the bird returning to the nest will sometimes present a stick to the bird leaving – literally passing the baton!