Time to say goodbye to our feathered neighbors for the year and pat ourselves on the back a little for helping them through this horrid summer.

Just before dusk yesterday (at around 7:30 p.m.), I counted seven cattle egrets around the Memorial Garden. Today at about the same time there were just three, just outside building Y, looking relaxed, alert, healthy, clean, and air worthy.

If you can make time to stroll around the rookery before the weekend, you might catch them to wish them a safe trip. They tend to graze about in the morning and evenings.

I will wait until the last individual leaves before calling for a celebration.

By the way, Brazil was full of egrets: gracing the backs of $5 bills, walking with cows on the farms, and wading in shallow lakes. Amazing what one sees when one is prepared for it!