As Egrets begin their annual migration to Arlington, looking to settle in for the nesting season, residents are being offered advice on diverting the feathered visitors from urban neighborhoods. Arlington Animal Services has been actively working on non-invasive strategies to prevent Egret rookeries from forming in residential areas, which can be sources of significant noise and unpleasant odors. According to the City of Arlington, these efforts respond to the birds' historical patterns of returning to familiar locations yearly.
It’s vital, however, to recognize that Egrets are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, meaning it's illegal to harm these birds or disturb their nests once they begin laying eggs. With the protection of both Egrets and Herons in mind, Arlington Animal Services advises residents on the legal means available to dissuade the birds from roost nesting. Residents have access to tools like noisemakers and are guided on using long extension poles to remove early nesting materials from trees - all before the birds can settle down and lay eggs.
For those looking to take proactive measures into their own hands, recommended items such as air horns, bright streamers, water nozzles, and "scare eye balloons" are available for purchase to help keep the birds at bay. These items are part of a broader set of tactics suggested by the city to prevent the establishment of rookeries in unwanted areas. In conjunction with these efforts, Arlington Animal Services is also coordinating with local neighborhood groups, particularly those with past experiences of the issues associated with rookery presence, to implement these bird-deterrent strategies effectively.
Arlington boasts 4,651 acres of parklands, including River Legacy Parks, which features 41 hardwood forests primed for refuge-seeking Egrets. By gently auditing the birds away from neighborhoods, residents and the City hope to redirect them to this more suitable habitat.
