You do not want egrets in your yard. Take steps to deter them now

Published on February 14, 2023

Over the past several years, North Texas cities such as Coppell, Carrollton, Arlington, and yes, Fort Worth have become home to nesting egrets. Sometimes as many as 200 birds converge on one neighborhood.

What this means: Nesting involves an immense amount of falling white poop and plumage that literally cover roofs, trees, sidewalks, cars and driveways. Oh, then there’s the smell.

What to know: Scout or sentry birds arrive in mid- to late February. But residents can protect their neighborhood by discouraging the birds to nest in the first place. Nesting season is typically from the end of February through June.

Once the birds — called cattle egrets and snowy egrets — start nesting and producing eggs, they are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918. Egrets, which fly between the United States and Canada, are granted protected status under the treaty in an effort to ensure wildlife diversity and conservation.

How to deter egret nesting

Fort Worth neighborhoods such as Tanglewood, Candleridge, Wedgwood, Candle Ridge West, Kingswood Place and Sterling Creek have learned from the past what helps keep the nesting birds away:

• Trimming trees is the first and most important step. Residents need to work together on a “neighborhood tree trim.”
• Other tools can include air horns, loud bells, banging pots and pans and hanging reflective streamers in trees. Scary-eye balloons filled with helium are a good deterrent, but they must fly above the trees.
• The City has and will continue to assist neighborhoods with guidance if needed.

These measures are not meant to hurt or injure the birds, but to direct them to find a wild or native area to nest that will be safe, while protecting Fort Worth residents’ personal property.

Learn more: Visit the City website or call the City Call Center at 817-392-1234.

Photo: An egret stands in his nest.

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