Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis) - Although now quite common in the United States, Cattle Egrets are originally from Africa and Asia. They made their way to South America in the second half of the 19th century and then expanded their range to North America in the 1950's. Much less dependent on wet habitat than other members of the heron family, Cattle Egrets are opportunistic feeders, usually feeding in flocks in grassy fields where insects are stirred up by moving cattle, machinery, or even fires. This bird was photographed at the heronry in Audubon Park on 23 April 2008.