Egret near a pond, Sithawaka, Sri Lanka.

Egrets seem to have increased in numbers in Sri Lanka. They are now seen in villages and towns in Sri Lanka, close to rubbish dumps. When they rest for the night on trees any small disturbance below the tree makes them empty their bowels on the persons below. If the tree is over a highway, the road is covered with white bird shit accompanied by an unpleasant smell. Very often residents chase them away by firing sky rocket fireworks at trees, during sun-down when they come to roost.