Once a Millener's
In the late 1800s and early 1900's the woman's hat industry (millenery) was in the process of plucking snowy egrets (Egretta thula) out of existence. There was such a demand for egret feathers to adorn hats that no concern was given to protecting the species. Fortunately for egrets and other plume-hunted birds, legislation was passed that protected them from further eradication and they escaped extinction. The pair of snowy egrets shown below were recently photographed at Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge
