Don Balke (B. 1933) "Utah Snowy Egret" Signed lower right. Watercolor on Illustration Board. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting was originally published on the Fleetwood commemorative cover for Balke's Shorebirds of the 50 States, cancelled January 4, 1986. One of the daintiest and most exquisite of all marsh birds, the Snowy Egret is a majestic member of the Heron family. The Snowy Egret is smaller than the Great Egret, and undoubtedly the most handsome of all Herons. In breeding season, its spotless white plumage is adorned with waving nuptial plumes. The plumes contrasts with the bird's jet-black bill and legs, and brilliant yellow feet. Its plumage was so prized by professional hunters, that great numbers of these shy birds were tragically destroyed. Not a prolific breeder in spring, the Snowy Egret may lay up to five pale blue-green eggs at a time, although rarely do more than two or three incubate to hatching. The young leave the nest within four weeks of hatching and quickly mature by season's end. Highly social, adult Snowy Egrets form colonies of up to a thousand pairs of mating birds, or they may form smaller colonies with other Herons and Ibises. However, they usually feed in small groups, frightening their prey by stirring the bottom of shallow ponds and marshes with one foot while balancing on the other. They have also been known to hover like petrels, then drop to the water to catch their victim with their sharp bills. Also known as Brewster's egret, lesser egret or little white egret the Snowy Egret can attain a flight speed of over thirty miles an hour. Image Size: 11 x 12.5 in. Overall Size: 19 x 21 in. Unframed. (B09956)