The Cattle Egrets

The cattle egrets known to travel far And you always see them near where livestock are Insects, beetles, toadlets and such they eat That fly or hop clear of big trampling feet. The cattle egrtets whiter than the snow Associate with cattle everywhere they go They keep insects and harmful slugs at bay And in so doing help farmer no small way. As members of the heron family They build their nests on higher bush or tree On lake or river, sometimes estuary On nest of sticks pale blue eggs often three. Oft seen them in Narre Warren in Winter-time These cattle egrets favourite birds of mine In paddocks with the herds they spend their days Eating insects flushed by cattle as they graze. The cattle egrets that you see today Tomorrow may be many miles away Nomadic birds their journeys take them far But you'll always see them near where cattle are.