So, from an evolutionary perspective, birds are reptiles, but that's not why I am posting this photo of dozens of Cattle Egrets following tractors around.
As I drove to work yesterday and saw these precocious birds feasting on all of the grasshoppers that were being kicked up by the hay cutting activity, it occurred to me that very few people would interpret this activity as the egrets "chasing" the farmers.
Absent the elements of ignorance and fear, it is easy to discern that this behavior is a perfectly understandable and admirable adaptation to disturbed environments (and an example of why Cattle Egrets have successfully self-colonized the known world so easily).
In other words, these are just hungry critters looking for an easy meal. The fact that humans are present is totally inconsequential to the animals, who only perceive an opportunity for survival.
At the same time, it occurred to me how differently such behavior is interpreted when snakes are involved. Any time a watersnake investigates a fisherman's stringer, we end up with another story of how a blood-thirsty cottonmouth tried to eat a hapless human.
When wildlife educators try to explain these encounters from the snake's perspective, people often become defensive and even irate, insisting, "You weren't there. I know what I saw- that snake chased me!"
The truth is that no animal is sinister (a trait exclusive to humans). If we are receptive to education, we soon find that all of the organisms we share the planet with are fascinating and deserving of our cooperation.
If only we could view all of creation through inquisitive eyes rather than fear and animosity, what a world we would live in.
For more explanation of snake behavior, visit bit.ly/snakechase
Or, join our educational group at LIVE Snake Identification and Discussion
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