Glossy Ibis breed in a variety of wetland habitats including fresh and saltwater marshes, swamps, mudflats, lagoons and mangroves, creating nests in shrubs and trees that are 2-5 m off the ground. The birds forage in shallow waters, fields, fresh and saltwater ponds and pools, impoundments, and mudflats (Davis and Kritcher 2000; NatureServe 2009). On Long Island, the birds gather to feed at salt marshes, especially in tidal creeks and pools. They also feed on flooded golf courses after heavy rains (Bull, 1974).

High salt marsh A coastal marsh community that occurs in sheltered areas of the seacoast, in a zone extending from mean high tide up to the limit of spring tides. It is periodically flooded by spring tides and flood tides. High salt marshes typically consist of a mosaic of patches that are mostly dominated by a single graminoid species. Low salt marsh A coastal marsh community that occurs in sheltered areas of the seacoast, in a zone extending from mean high tide down to mean sea level or to about 2 m (6 ft) below mean high tide. It is regularly flooded by semidiurnal tides. The mean tidal range of low salt marshes on Long Island is about 80 cm, and they often form in basins with a depth of 1.6 m or greater.

Salt panne A shallow depression in a salt marsh where the marsh is poorly drained. Pannes occur in both low and high salt marshes. Pannes in low salt marshes usually lack vegetation, and the substrate is a soft, silty mud. Pannes in a high salt marsh are irregularly flooded by spring tides or flood tides, but the water does not drain into tidal creeks. After a panne has been flooded the standing water evaporates and the salinity of the soil water is raised well above the salinity of sea-water.

Great Egret (Ardea alba) Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis) Little Blue Heron (Egretta caerulea) Snowy Egret (Egretta thula)

Tricolored Heron (Egretta tricolor) Yellow-Crowned Night-Heron (Nyctanassa violacea) Black-Crowned Night-Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)