‘The egrets can join us — in the right places.’ Arlington braces for annual invasion.

So far, the city of Arlington has had little or no regrets from egrets and their annual visit this year.

The migration of hundreds of egrets to the city has been a common occurrence in recent years. Typically, they start at the beginning of February.

But while there have been some this year, they haven’t been a nuisance to neighborhoods, said Ray Rentschler, a Code Compliance field operations manager.

The Enchanted Lakes neighborhood near Lake Arlington has been affected the most, Rentschler said. But since last year the neighborhood heeded advice and trimmed trees.

“One person put netting over their trees,” he said.

Egrets are drawn to large, well-established trees, with dense networks of limbs conducive for protection when nesting.

Rentschler did warn, however, that cattle heron egrets have made the biggest nests, and they have typically arrived in April. Once the birds start nesting, they are protected by the Federal Migratory Bird Act of 1918, Rentschler said. This means that, by law, none of the birds can be killed or their nest disturbed once they have eggs or young.

“Last year, by the time we were notified they had already laid eggs,” Rentschler said.

Other ways to keep them away include air horns, bright streamers to hang in trees, water nozzles and “scare eye balloons,” which are common tools used to scare away birds.

Rentschler recalled a similar problem in north Arlington a few years ago when the same approach worked.

Arlington Animal Services has also been conducting a proactive approach to discourage egrets scouting neighborhoods. Their efforts include noise makers in select areas. They also have long extension poles available to residents to help knock nest-building materials out of trees before a nest can be constructed.

The major problems a neighborhood can have with egrets are the stench of bird droppings, along with the remains of frogs, mice and smaller birds dropped from the trees.

Arlington has more than 4,600 acres of dedicated park land. River Legacy Parks provides a nearby natural area with 41 acres of hardwood forest land. Its mature trees with dense canopies offer a safe refuge for egrets as they are guided away from residential neighborhoods.

For more information, contact the Action Center at 817-459-6777.

“It’s a great city, and the egrets can join us — in the right places,” Rentschler said with a laugh. “They’re certainly not going to raise your property value.”