The cattle egret, a member of the heron family, is native to Africa. Somehow, maybe in a strong storm, a number of these flew across the Atlantic Ocean and found their way to South America. They were first recorded there in the 1940s.

The cattle egret in its native Africa, fed among elephants, zebras, rhinos, Cape buffalo and other large mammals. In South America, they found “elephant substitutes” in the horses and cattle common there. Cattle egrets rely on grazing animals to disturb large insects (such as grasshoppers), frogs or small reptiles. They hustle or dash between the legs of the mammals or just behind them to feast on the “grub” their mammal companions unwittingly disturbed. The egrets have adapted by perching on the backs of elephants or rhinos in Africa, and of course, the cattle and horses they found in this hemisphere. The birds don’t bother the mammals while they use these perches to scan for food to quickly drop down to gobble up a frog or two.

Since the 1940s these birds have steadily moved northward, through Central America and Mexico and across the Gulf Coast states. They have now extended their range up the Atlantic Coast and are commonly found in Maryland and New Jersey. I recorded one at Beltzville Lake in 1975. I have also seen them in the Lancaster County area since, and now may breed in our state.

If vacationing in Ocean City, Maryland, take a short 8-mile drive south to Assateague Island State or National Parks where wild ponies roam the Island. Many visitors take the drive just to see the wild ponies. While you are snapping photos of them, look for cattle egrets often close by or even riding “bare back.” The ponies fill the role of the elephants here.

Cattle egrets are basically all white birds with yellow bills and some orange feathers on their necks and backs. They stand about 20 inches tall and appear rather hunchbacked. They are usually observed in loose flocks and seldom seen feeding alone.

A close relative native to North America is the snowy egret. It is thinner, usually more solitary and stands 24 inches tall. The snowy egret has a thin black bill, black legs and sports yellow feet.

The common egret meanwhile is much taller and probably would not be mistaken for a cattle egret. Also, I have never seen either a snowy egret or common egret sitting on the backs of cattle (cows) or horses. In your travels through southern Pennsylvania, New Jersey or Maryland look for cattle egrets in pastures with livestock.

Today, cattle egrets here have “mastered” a new method of feeding. They have learned to follow farm machinery through the fields, especially while mowing or cutting hay. The mechanized “livestock” provide the same results as grazing animals. They disturb frogs or grasshoppers, and these opportunistic egrets can easily find food in the wake of a cutting bar.

Keep your nature eyes open for the cattle egrets as their range expands into the Times News region.

Test Your Outdoor Knowledge: First-time Boy Scout campers at Trexler Scout Reservation were often sent on “wild goose chases” to the headquarters to retrieve a “left-handed smoke shifter” or a snipe. True or False: A snipe is a type of bird species.

Last Week’s trivia answer: All are familiar with the striped skunk’s scent glands, characteristic of all mustelids. However, weasels, mink and otters are also mustelids (mammals with scent glands.)

Contact Barry Reed at breed71@gmail.com.