At the Shengli Bridge section of the Dongjiang River in Heyuan, Guangdong Province, egrets take flight over the river islets. Their graceful movements paint a serene and picturesque scene along the waterway. #SeeChina | CCTV

The great egret always wants to be on top. This graceful giant was seen flaunting its breeding season plumage, called aigrettes, from atop a tall fir tree at Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge in western Oregon. During the turn of the 20th century these wading birds were hunted at devastating rates to support high fashion hats and tiaras adorned specifically with delicate aigrettes. Thankfully, that trend eventually stopped thanks to conservationists and the great egret famously became the