The little egret is a small, white heron. If you want to see one it is best to head to the Għadira and Simar Nature reserves this weekend, although even if it is a common spring and autumn migrant, there is no guarantee you will always find one there.
A fishing little egret can be very entertaining. It eats fish, insects, amphibians, crustaceans and reptiles which it catches by wading in shallow water or by standing on a small rock.
When hunting, it runs after its prey raising its wings to keep its balance. Alternatively, it walks slowly in the water, shuffling its yellow-toed feet to disturb small fish.
Sometimes it just stands still waiting patiently and looking attentively at the water for a suitable prey to approach. Such a technique, which is the preferred fishing method of the grey heron, however, is not as entertaining as the energetic hunting.
The name id-dimonju (the devil) is used by hunters because the bird is so tame and easy to shoot that it leads you into temptation – just like the devil – to shoot it
A week ago, a little egret was fishing on the rocks along the shore at Mistra Bay. When I saw it, I was talking to an elderly man who was fishing and who until recently was also a bird hunter.
He said that the little egret had been in the bay for more than three days and that it had become relatively tame and easy to approach.
In Maltese, the little egret is known as agrett abjad but the elderly man insisted it was called id-dimonju (the devil).
This is an unusual name for a bird but according to the ex-hunter, it is used by hunters because the bird is so tame and easy to shoot that it leads you into temptation – just like the devil – to shoot it, despite the fact that it is illegal to do so.
In recent years, the shooting of protected birds did decrease considerably, mainly because of strict enforcement, but attitudes are difficult to change as we have seen during this spring hunting season, during which, in spite of stern warnings and a heavy police presence in the countryside, several hunters continued to break the law – a situation which has led to the early closing of the hunting season.
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