Recently, on a sunny day in Brigantine, New Jersey, best friends Carly Leinen and Christina McRae were riding Jet Skis near the coast when they noticed someone bobbing along in the current.
The women, who run Atlantic Critters Rescue, immediately suspected
something was wrong.
“At first, we couldn't tell what it was,” the rescuers told The Dodo. “But as we got closer, we could see it was a great egret.”
Egrets are common in New Jersey and can be identified by their white feathers and long, thin necks. According to the Teaneck Creek Conservancy, populations of these beloved birds declined significantly in the 19th century due to hunting and habitat loss. However, conservation efforts in recent years have helped them recover, and they’re now easily spotted during summer months.
Though great egrets hunt in shallow water, they rarely swim, and they certainly don’t prefer to be underwater for long periods of time.
This bird clearly needed help — and fast.
“His full body and feathers were submerged and saturated,” the rescuers said. “[He] was barely keeping his head above water and struggling to swim.”
The women used a fishing net they had on hand to gently scoop the egret out of the water. They drove back to the dock, where they examined him. The tired bird was soaked down to the skin, lying completely limp.
Leinen and McRae took the egret to Cedar Run Wildlife Rescue, where experts began lifesaving care. Today, the egret remains at Cedar Run, where he’s expected to make a full recovery and eventually return to the wild.
Thanks to Leinen and McRae’s keen eyes and quick thinking, this bird is on his way to a brighter future.
