Sophie beamed with delight as several ducks waddled from the water towards them. Nina gave her some pellets to throw. ‘Look,’ said Sophie. A white egret emerged in measured steps from behind a wattle thicket, its long neck retracted in a graceful curve. He was in full breeding plumage, his beak a crimson dagger, his noble face the softest green. A silken train of snowy plumes extended well beyond his tail. Sophie heaved a great sigh. ‘That’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen in the whole world.’ Nina and Ric exchanged amused glances. The little girl was certainly full of superlatives today. ‘What sort of bird is it?’ asked Sophie.
‘That’s Prince. He’s an egret,’ said Nina. ‘He lived on a big lake near here, but somebody cut down the trees and drained the water. Prince and his family
