{"schema":"https://ver.cy/schemas/card/1.0.0","id":"vr.tr.great-egret","code":"thing-q130730","url":"https://ver.cy/models/thing/q130730/","name":"Great Egret","alternateNames":[],"kind":"thing","status":"published","version":"0.1.0-research.1","language":"en","classifiers":{"family":"Thing Registry","category":"Physical world and living systems","entryKind":"thing","plane":"PHY","domain":["PHY.LIV"],"industry":[],"navPath":"","tags":[],"facets":{}},"whatItIs":"The Great Egret is a large, nearly cosmopolitan heron (Ardea alba, Ardeidae) whose adults are entirely white, with a long spear-like bill, black legs and feet, a gape line that extends behind the eye, and, in breeding condition, elongated scapular aigrettes; it forages by stand-and-wait or slow wading in shallow fresh, brackish and coastal waters.","purpose":"Enable an AI agent to recognise a Great Egret, assess its observed condition and ecological circumstances, and choose evidence-supported observation, protection or referral actions.","scope":{"in":["Identification evidence and uncertainty against locally plausible white herons and egrets","Individual life stage, breeding appearance, behaviour and functional condition","Use of feeding areas, roosts and breeding colonies","Observed prey capture, movement and reproductive activity","Disturbance responses, immediate threats and prerequisites for intervention"],"out":["Complete models of other egret and heron species","Wetland hydrology, water chemistry and habitat management systems","Nest structures as independently managed physical objects","Prey populations and aquatic food webs as whole systems","Veterinary diagnosis, treatment protocols and rehabilitation facilities","Wildlife legislation and conservation programmes as independently maintained authorities"],"boundaries":[]},"distinguishingFeatures":["Against Snowy Egret in the Americas, test the combination of larger size, yellow bill and entirely dark legs and feet; avoid identification from apparent size alone. [Cornell identification](https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/great_egret/id)","Against Great Blue Heron, test white plumage and a smaller, slender silhouette; a white Great Blue Heron remains a competing identification requiring additional evidence. [Cornell identification](https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/great_egret/id)","Against white storks and spoonbills, test the pointed bill, long S-shaped neck and neck retraction in sustained flight; this establishes a heron-like candidate rather than species identity by itself. [Cornell identification](https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/great_egret/id)","Against other Australian egrets, compare size alongside proportions and seasonal bare-part colours: Great Egret is the largest Australian egret, but its bill can change from yellow to mostly black during breeding. [Australian Museum](https://australian.museum/learn/animals/birds/great-egret/)"],"structure":{"bundles":[{"id":"great-egret-recognition","name":"Great Egret Recognition","description":"Establish whether the observed bird belongs to this registry concept.","layers":[{"id":"white-heron-comparison","name":"White Heron Comparison","description":"Compare observable features against alternatives present in the observation region.","findings":[{"id":"diagnostic-feature-combination","name":"Diagnostic Feature Combination","description":"Require mutually supporting views of proportions, bill, feet and plumage, retaining obscured features as unknown.","questions":[{"text":"Which visible features support Great Egret, and which plausible local white herons remain unexcluded?","id":"diagnostic-feature-combination-q01","kind":"boundary"},{"text":"What original photographs, field notes or expert review support the identification?","id":"diagnostic-feature-combination-q02","kind":"provenance"}]}]},{"id":"regional-and-seasonal-appearance","name":"Regional and Seasonal Appearance","description":"Interpret appearance using locality, date and a declared taxonomic treatment.","findings":[{"id":"bare-part-variation","name":"Bare Part Variation","description":"Bill and leg colours vary among regional breeding forms, so a yellow-bill rule cannot apply universally. [Cornell identification](https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/great_egret/id)","questions":[{"text":"Which regional and breeding-state comparison applies to this bird's bill, lores and legs?","id":"bare-part-variation-q01","kind":"definition"},{"text":"Which taxonomic authority defines the Great Egret concept used for this observation?","id":"bare-part-variation-q02","kind":"provenance"}]}]}]},{"id":"wading-and-prey-capture","name":"Wading and Prey Capture","description":"Describe how this egret obtains food and whether its observed feeding opportunities are usable.","layers":[{"id":"feeding-position","name":"Feeding Position","description":"Connect the bird's position and movements to the immediate feeding environment.","findings":[{"id":"accessible-feeding-water","name":"Accessible Feeding Water","description":"Great Egrets commonly hunt in shallow fresh, brackish or marine water using waiting and wading behaviour. [Cornell life history](https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/great_egret/lifehistory)","questions":[{"text":"What water depth, substrate and vegetation surround the bird's actual feeding position?","id":"accessible-feeding-water-q01","kind":"measurement"},{"text":"Does observed water-level change expose feeding shallows or prevent the bird from using them?","id":"accessible-feeding-water-q02","kind":"boundary"}]}]},{"id":"capture-performance","name":"Capture Performance","description":"Separate hunting attempts, captures and ingestion.","findings":[{"id":"observed-feeding-success","name":"Observed Feeding Success","description":"Record prey evidence and timed attempts without inferring diet or nutritional condition from one encounter.","questions":[{"text":"During what observation interval were strikes, captures and successful swallowing actually visible?","id":"observed-feeding-success-q01","kind":"measurement"},{"text":"What evidence identifies the captured prey, and at what taxonomic resolution?","id":"observed-feeding-success-q02","kind":"provenance"}]}]}]},{"id":"colony-and-reproductive-state","name":"Colony and Reproductive State","description":"Represent breeding activity and the bird's relationship to a particular nest and colony.","layers":[{"id":"breeding-attribution","name":"Breeding Attribution","description":"Distinguish display, roost attendance and occupation of an active nest.","findings":[{"id":"active-nest-evidence","name":"Active Nest Evidence","description":"Great Egrets nest colonially, including alongside other waterbirds; nest ownership therefore needs direct evidence. [Australian Museum](https://australian.museum/learn/animals/birds/great-egret/)","questions":[{"text":"What repeated attendance or reproductive behaviour links this Great Egret to this particular nest?","id":"active-nest-evidence-q01","kind":"provenance"},{"text":"Is the observation evidence of nesting, courtship or only communal roosting?","id":"active-nest-evidence-q02","kind":"boundary"}]}]},{"id":"offspring-development","name":"Offspring Development","description":"Track visible offspring and dependency through a breeding attempt.","findings":[{"id":"breeding-outcome-confidence","name":"Breeding Outcome Confidence","description":"Keep observed eggs, chicks and fledging separate from inferred losses when nest visibility changes.","questions":[{"text":"How many eggs or young were visible on each date, and how complete was the view?","id":"breeding-outcome-confidence-q01","kind":"measurement"},{"text":"What evidence distinguishes fledging, temporary concealment and mortality when a chick is no longer seen?","id":"breeding-outcome-confidence-q02","kind":"boundary"}]}]}]},{"id":"site-use-and-movement","name":"Site Use and Movement","description":"Represent visits, recurring site use and supported connections between locations.","layers":[{"id":"individual-continuity","name":"Individual Continuity","description":"Determine whether successive records can be assigned to the same bird.","findings":[{"id":"defensible-reidentification","name":"Defensible Reidentification","description":"Use readable marks or documented tracking evidence; leave unmarked sightings unlinked when continuity is uncertain.","questions":[{"text":"Which ring inscription, tag or persistent feature supports recognising this individual again?","id":"defensible-reidentification-q01","kind":"provenance"},{"text":"Could these records represent different Great Egrets or a duplicate count?","id":"defensible-reidentification-q02","kind":"boundary"}]}]},{"id":"seasonal-site-role","name":"Seasonal Site Role","description":"Interpret recurring use of feeding areas, roosts and colonies through time.","findings":[{"id":"site-dependence-evidence","name":"Site Dependence Evidence","description":"Record the frequency and purpose of visits while separating missed detection from absence.","questions":[{"text":"Across what dates and observation effort has feeding, roosting or breeding use been recorded?","id":"site-dependence-evidence-q01","kind":"measurement"},{"text":"What evidence supports residence, passage or movement between a roost and feeding area?","id":"site-dependence-evidence-q02","kind":"provenance"}]}]}]},{"id":"condition-and-human-response","name":"Condition and Human Response","description":"Connect visible impairment or disturbance to an appropriate next action.","layers":[{"id":"functional-assessment","name":"Functional Assessment","description":"Assess observable movement and feeding function without diagnosing disease.","findings":[{"id":"impairment-versus-normal-behaviour","name":"Impairment Versus Normal Behaviour","description":"Record asymmetry, visible entanglement and failed movements alongside life stage and observation duration.","questions":[{"text":"What directly observed difficulty affects standing, walking, flight, prey capture or swallowing?","id":"impairment-versus-normal-behaviour-q01","kind":"measurement"},{"text":"What evidence warrants wildlife-responder referral rather than continued distant observation?","id":"impairment-versus-normal-behaviour-q02","kind":"action"}]}]},{"id":"disturbance-and-intervention","name":"Disturbance and Intervention","description":"Set action boundaries around feeding birds, roosts and active colonies.","findings":[{"id":"permissible-next-action","name":"Permissible Next Action","description":"Make approach, handling and site-work decisions conditional on observed effects and applicable local requirements.","questions":[{"text":"Has observer or equipment proximity interrupted feeding, displaced the bird or altered nest attendance?","id":"permissible-next-action-q01","kind":"measurement"},{"text":"What current authority, qualifications and site-specific restrictions govern the proposed approach, capture or intervention?","id":"permissible-next-action-q02","kind":"action"}]}]}]},{"id":"evidence-and-external-alignment","name":"Evidence and external alignment","description":"What the world already says about this thing, gathered so the model can be checked against it.","layers":[{"id":"reported-evidence","name":"Reported evidence","description":"Findings from the breadth pass, kept separate from the structural claims.","findings":[{"id":"evidence-kinds","name":"Kinds and varieties","description":"Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.","questions":[{"text":"Which of these kinds and varieties hold for the sense of Great Egret this model covers, and on what evidence?","id":"evidence-kinds-q01","kind":"provenance"}]},{"id":"evidence-identifiers","name":"Identifiers and schemes","description":"Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.","questions":[{"text":"Which of these identifiers and schemes hold for the sense of Great Egret this model covers, and on what evidence?","id":"evidence-identifiers-q01","kind":"provenance"}]},{"id":"evidence-standards-and-regulation","name":"Standards and regulation","description":"Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.","questions":[{"text":"Which of these standards and regulation hold for the sense of Great Egret this model covers, and on what evidence?","id":"evidence-standards-and-regulation-q01","kind":"provenance"}]},{"id":"evidence-real-world-use","name":"Real-world use","description":"Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.","questions":[{"text":"Which of these real-world use hold for the sense of Great Egret this model covers, and on what evidence?","id":"evidence-real-world-use-q01","kind":"provenance"}]},{"id":"evidence-measurements","name":"Typical measurements","description":"Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.","questions":[{"text":"Which of these typical measurements hold for the sense of Great Egret this model covers, and on what evidence?","id":"evidence-measurements-q01","kind":"provenance"}]},{"id":"evidence-failure-modes-and-hazards","name":"Failure modes and hazards","description":"Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.","questions":[{"text":"Which of these failure modes and hazards hold for the sense of Great Egret this model covers, and on what evidence?","id":"evidence-failure-modes-and-hazards-q01","kind":"provenance"}]},{"id":"evidence-regional-variation","name":"Regional variation","description":"Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.","questions":[{"text":"Which of these regional variation hold for the sense of Great Egret this model covers, and on what evidence?","id":"evidence-regional-variation-q01","kind":"provenance"}]},{"id":"evidence-neighbours","name":"Neighbouring kinds and how to tell them apart","description":"Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.","questions":[{"text":"Which of these neighbouring kinds and how to tell them apart hold for the sense of Great Egret this model covers, and on what evidence?","id":"evidence-neighbours-q01","kind":"provenance"}]}]}]}]},"agentConduct":{"may":["Record egret sightings and colony counts for monitoring schemes.","Report injured birds or disturbed colonies to wildlife authorities."],"mustNot":["Disturb breeding colonies or approach nests by boat or drone.","Collect feathers, eggs or birds.","Publish colony locations that expose birds to disturbance."],"requiresHuman":["Handling or rescuing a bird.","Managing a wetland where egrets breed."]},"ethics":{"considerations":["The species was hunted near extinction for plumes and recovered through protection.","Wetland loss still threatens colonies."],"affectedParties":["The birds themselves","Wetland communities"]},"owners":{"steward":"Nobody: wild and protected by law; wildlife authorities monitor it.","roles":[],"masterSystems":["Bird monitoring and species databases"]},"relations":[{"target":"Q3060012","type":"parent","note":"registry parent class"}],"interaction":{"identity":{"applicability":"required","items":["Vercy registry: vr.tr.great-egret","Wikidata: Q130730 (https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q130730)"]},"properties":{"applicability":"required","items":["Identification support: confirmed; probable; unresolved white heron; rejected, with supporting observations","Taxonomic interpretation: Named taxon linked to an authority and version; regional assignment optional","Bill, lores, legs and feet: Colour of each visible part; obscured; uncertain, with date and locality","Body dimensions: Length and wingspan in cm; mass in g; method and uncertainty required","Life stage: Egg; nestling; dependent fledgling; independent immature; adult; unknown","Breeding evidence: None observed; display; nest attendance; incubation evidence; chick provisioning; uncertain","Foraging performance: Strikes per minute and observed successful captures per strike, with observation duration","Water depth at feeding position: cm with estimation method; unknown","Site relationship: Foraging site; roost; breeding colony; transit location, with dated evidence","Functional condition: Observed ability to stand, walk, fly, strike and swallow; impaired; unassessed","Response to disturbance: No detected change; vigilance; interrupted feeding; displacement; flushing; unknown"]},"recognition":{"applicability":"required","items":["A large, all-white heron with a long S-shaped neck.","A yellow, dagger-like bill and black legs and feet.","Long lacy plumes on the back in breeding season."]},"capabilities":{"applicability":"required","items":["Identify or retain an unresolved white-heron observation using photographs, locality and visible diagnostic features.","Monitor feeding, roosting and nest attendance from an appropriate observation position.","Link repeated sightings through readable rings or other defensible individual evidence.","Flag disturbance or habitat changes affecting an observed feeding area, roost or colony.","Refer an apparently injured or entangled bird to an appropriate wildlife responder with location and behavioural evidence.","Evaluate prerequisites for capture, marking, sampling or relocation using current local authority and qualified personnel."]},"hazards":{"applicability":"required","items":["Colony abandonment after disturbance.","Loss of feeding wetlands to drainage."]},"interfaces":{"applicability":"required","items":["The International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, issued by the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature, governs the scientific naming of this species."]},"context":{"applicability":"required","items":["Great Egrets occur around shallow wetlands, including marshes, lakeshores, estuaries and flooded fields.","They are observed in bird surveys, wetland conservation and ecological studies of feeding and breeding."]}},"sources":[{"title":"The Herons (Bird Families of the World)","url":"","note":"Family-level diagnosis, subspecies, measurements, foraging and breeding biology of Ardea alba."},{"title":"Handbook of the Birds of the World, Volume 1: Ostrich to Ducks","url":"","note":"Species account for Great Egret, including range, subspecies, and field characters used in the definition and neighbours."},{"title":"Ardea alba (Great Egret) - IUCN Red List assessment","url":"","note":"Global conservation status (Least Concern), BirdLife/IUCN species identifier, and principal threats such as wetland loss and historical plume hunting."},{"title":"Great Egret (Ardea alba) - Birds of the World","url":"https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/greegr","note":"North American and comparative biometrics, clutch and incubation figures, identification against other white ardeids, and MBTA-era conservation history."},{"title":"IOC World Bird List","url":"https://www.worldbirdnames.org/","note":"Current English name Great Egret, binomial Ardea alba, and the optional species split of Eastern Great Egret as Ardea modesta."},{"title":"Systema Naturae, 10th edition","url":"","note":"Original description and still-valid binomial Ardea alba Linnaeus, 1758."},{"title":"Wikidata item Q130730: Great Egret","url":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q130730","note":"identity and sense of the item"},{"title":"Wikipedia: Great egret","url":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_egret","note":"general description of the item"}],"openQuestions":["Which taxonomic authority and version should define the registry boundary, particularly for treatments separating Eastern Great Egret?","Which region-specific diagnostic combinations reliably distinguish Great Egret from intermediate-sized egrets, white Great Blue Herons and immature white herons?","How should conflicting regional descriptions of body size, nest reuse and offspring development be reconciled before establishing reference expectations?","Which validated field criteria distinguish poor condition from normal waiting, resting or fledgling dependency without handling?","Which local disturbance limits, colony-location disclosure rules and intervention requirements apply in each deployment jurisdiction?"],"resources":{"spec":"/models/things/publications/thing-q130730/spec.json"},"provenance":{"origin":"thing registry research (pass 2)","builtFrom":["models/things/publications/thing-q130730/spec.json"],"providers":["Codex","Grok"],"researchStatus":"unreviewed","generatedAt":"2026-09-07T14:04:36Z","builder":"tools/build_cards.py@1.0.0"},"completeness":{"sections":{"classifiers":"filled","whatItIs":"filled","purpose":"filled","distinguishingFeatures":"filled","structure":"filled","agentConduct":"filled","ethics":"filled","owners":"filled","relations":"filled","interaction.identity":"filled","interaction.properties":"filled","interaction.recognition":"filled","interaction.capabilities":"filled","interaction.hazards":"filled","interaction.interfaces":"filled","interaction.context":"filled","sources":"filled"},"notes":{"_gate":"Published through the thing publication gate 1.0 on 2026-10-07T10:10:25+00:00: completeness 1.00; sense: Wikidata description; 4 live sources; review by codex: pass"},"score":1.0}}