Day 4: Great Egret Sibling Rivalry Intensifies

On the fourth day of observing a Great Egret nest, the harsh realities of sibling rivalry came into focus. After capturing a video the previous day hinting at trouble, I rushed to the Seaside Seabird Sanctuary early this morning, hoping to find help for the smallest chick. Sadly, I arrived too late—the tiniest sibling was already gone, its fate unclear. An adult egret was busy feeding the two remaining chicks, who quickly turned their attention to each other. With the little one out of the picture, the pair unleashed their rivalry, squabbling and pecking relentlessly. Nature’s brutal competition was on full display.