Snowy Egret (Egretta thula)   NMPIF level: Biodiversity Conservation Concern, Level 2 (BC2) NMPIF assessment score: 14 Waterbird Conservation for the Americas Status: High Concern New Mexico BCRs: 35, 16, (18) Primary breeding habitat(s): Emergent Wetlands Other habitats used: Mid-elevation Riparian   Summary of Concern Snowy Egret is a colonial waterbird with a fairly widespread distribution in North America. It breeds in fairly small numbers in New Mexico and may be increasing here; in North America, however, the population has declined in recent decades.    Associated Species Double-crested Cormorant (BC2), Neotropic Cormorant (BC2), Great Egret, Little Blue Heron, Cattle Egret, Black-crowned Night-Heron, Red-winged Blackbird   Distribution Snowy Egret has an irregular breeding distribution in the interior of North America, including portions of the Great Basin and Intermountain West, the southern plains, and the Gulf states. It breeds and winters along portions of the southern Pacific and Atlantic coasts and the Gulf coast of North America through Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. In New Mexico, Snowy Egrets are summer residents in marsh areas statewide, but are most common in the southern Rio Grande and lower Pecos valleys (Parsons and Master 2000, Parmeter et al. 2002).   Ecology and Habitat Requirements Across its range, Snowy Egrets favor shallow estuaries and wetlands. In the interior west, preferred habitats include emergent wetlands and marshes, shorelines, and riparian areas along large rivers. It requires shallow water areas for feeding. Snowy Egrets nest colonially in low shrubs or trees in marsh or riparian areas. It may also roost and nest in trees adjacent to these areas, including residential areas along the Middle Rio Grande. The species generally arrives in New Mexico in mid-late March and remains through October, but there are records almost year round in southern New Mexico (BCR 35).   Conservation Status Species Assessment  DISTRIBUTION  4  THREATS  4  GLOBAL POPULATION SIZE  3  LOCAL POPULATION TREND  2  IMPORTANCE OF NEW MEXICO TO BREEDING  1  COMBINED SCORE  14 Snowy Egret is a Biodiversity Conservation Concern, Level 2 species for New Mexico, with a combined vulnerability score of 14. It is also a species of high concern for Waterbird Conservation for the Americas, where it receives high vulnerability scores of 4 for population trend, threats to breeding areas, and restricted non-breeding distribution.    Population Size The North American Waterbird Conservation Plan estimates >143,000 breeders in North America. The size of the New Mexico breeding population is unknown, but small.    Population Trend Snowy Egrets were decimated by the feather trade in the late 19th century. After that period, however, populations recovered explosively and moved into previously unoccupied areas. Since the 1980s, populations have again declined, particularly in the Atlantic coastal region. The size of the New Mexico population appears to be increasing, and so the species receives a score of 2 for Local Population Trend by New Mexico Partners in Flight.    Threats Recent declines elsewhere are probably due to habitat alteration or loss. This species is not considered to be highly threatened in New Mexico. The main potential threat is loss or alteration of suitable wetland breeding habitat. Breeding colonies in non-island areas may be threatened by predation.    Management Issues and Recommendations No special management is needed, beyond a focus on maintaining wetland habitat.      NMPIF Recommendations No draining or disturbing of wetland areas where colonial waterbirds are nesting or foraging.      Species Conservation Objectives NMPIF Objectives Maintain or increase the current breeding population. Identify colony locations, and seek to protect these and nearby wetland foraging areas from disturbance or degradation as needed.    Sources of Information Parmeter, J., B. Neville, and D. Emkalns. 2002. New Mexico bird finding guide. New Mexico Ornithological Society, Albuquerque, NM.  Parsons, K. C., and T. L. Master. 2000. Snowy Egret (Egretta thula). In The Birds of North America, No. 489 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.