Rescued egret returns to wild in Tri-Cities

KENNEWICK – A young egret was released back into the wild Monday along the Yakima River in West Richland.

Mary Marquez, of Sunnyside, was given the honor of freeing the white bird because she had rescued the baby egret after its mother did not return to the nest. She then turned the egret over to Blue Mountain Wildlife in Pendleton, Ore.

Director Lynn Tompkins told the Tri-City Herald it was only the second egret the rehabilitation center has had in 25 years.

They knew it was ready to be released when it was eating a half-pound of fish a day and starting to fly well.