I took this shot in the Smith Oaks Audubon Sanctuary at High Island, Texas. It shows a male great egret returning to nest. During flight, egrets usually tuck their heads back in toward their body, but as they land, they extend their necks. They move the head left or right as a way to shift their balance and make minor adjustments in their flight path. Just before landing, they will dip their heads down and turn the leading edges of their wings upwards to slow their speed. They form a basket with their wings that catches so much air, their legs (which usually trail far behind in flight) swing down and forward. Within a few feet, they can decelerate from about 25 mph to virtually nothing, and make a soft landing on an outstretched branch.
