Ardeidae (Herons). – This family is represented by egrets, herons and bitterns. These birds are carnivorous, feeding on
live prey such as fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and small mammals. They also take aquatic invertebrates like insects,
molluscs, and crustaceans. Generally they swallow their prey whole. Their digestive system is extremely efficient and
the only materials that they cannot digest are the chitinous exoskeletons of insects and the keratin of mammal fur and
bird feathers (Martinez-Vilalta & Motis, 1992).