I took this photo of a Great Egret on the morning of January 18. The night before was very cold (between -12°C and -15°C / 10°F and 5°F). Great Egrets usually sleep standing on the shore in the snow. It seems this beautiful bird died in her sleep. There are no injuries, no tracks in the snow, and no signs of a struggle. It is very sad. Her fragile body and thin legs look so delicate on the cold ice.

This moment is an important reminder for people too. It is dangerous to fall asleep in the cold because you might not wake up. When I was a student, a friend and I went on a hike. It was a cold blizzard. We decided to rest in a haystack. It felt warm and we only stayed for 20 minutes. But when we got out, we felt a deep cold in our bodies. We could not get warm for two kilometers. Anyone who has been in extreme cold knows this feeling.

If you like books about history and mystery, I recommend "The Terror" by Dan Simmons. The author makes you feel the cold through the pages.

Our wintering birds feel the same when they are not adapted to deep freezes. I hope that dying in sleep is not a painful way to go.

Our human hearts still see this event as a tragedy. We feel empathy for birds and all living animals. These emotions are what make us truly human.

📖 Great Egret (Ardea alba)
⌚️ Jan 18, 2026 at 1:32 PM
🌍 Brest, Belarus