Though by tradition February 14th (Valentine's Day) is the date birds pair up for the breeding season the following month is when many species start to show mating behaviours. As the bird in this photograph shows, the little egrets on the River Wye at Ross on Wye have developed the long plumes characteristic of their breeding season. These slender, decorative feathers were much prized, along with those of other species, by nineteenth century hat makers who topped off their fashionable creations with groups of trailing plumes. It took hard work by early twentieth century activists such as Etta Lemon (yes, really!), one of the founder members of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, before this fashion was abandoned.
photo © T. Boughen Camera: Nikon P900
