Cows and their Egrets

The first time I noticed egrets accompanying cows, I was in my late teens and was driving in Florida with my friend, Marianne Pye, when we passed a herd of cows, upon which were riding these white birds that occasionally leaned over and ate something fromthe cow's back.

"What in the world are they doing?" I asked. since we were in her part of Florida.

"Picking ticks off the cows' backs, I imagine," she responded.

"What are they called?" I asked.

"I never heard them called anything but tickpickers," she replied.

But, since then, I've learned they are called egrets. While picking ticks isn't all they do, it does seem to be a common means of employment among them--especially when there are cows handy, as there were across the road from Koki Beach today.