This is what egret love looks like. It’s not clear to me whether egrets feel love or just some undefinable urge to procreate. There is very little touching that goes on between males and females outside of the breeding season (March, April and May along the Gulf Coast). During that time, they migrate to a rookery and pair up. The pairing process begins when the male builds the foundation for a nest and uses his “home-building” skills to attract females. The male will also stretch his neck attract females. Once they pair, the female signals her receptiveness by bowing her head and stroking the males chest and wings. Usually within seconds, the male moves behind the female, grabs her wings at the shoulders with his toes, and begins intromission. During the last weekend in March, it seemed every couple in the rookery was copulating every five minutes. Many of the females were already sitting on one or two eggs, and yet they continued to copulate.
