Texas Fauna Project

Snowy Egret

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Rob Sawyer is a geologist, author and historian long interested in Texas' waterfowl, hunting culture, and coastal ecosystems. Here he describes commercial waterbird hunting for feathers to decorate women's hats and gowns. The killing quickly undercut populations of cranes, herons, terms, spoonbills, and many other birds. Snowy egrets, dubbed "the bonnet martyrs", were particularly hard-hit.