 Wading birds were a particular target . Their feathers were used in women 's hats from the late 19th century until the 1920s . In 1886 , five million birds were estimated to have been killed for their feathers . They were usually shot in the spring , when their feathers were colored for mating and nesting . Aigrettes , as the plumes were called in the millinery business , sold in 1915 for $ 32 an ounce , also the price of gold . Millinery was a $ 17 @-@ million @-@ a @-@ year industry that motivated plume harvesters to lie in wait at the nests of egrets and other large birds during the nesting season , shoot the parents with small @-@ bore rifles , and leave the chicks to starve . Many hunters refused to participate after watching the gruesome results of a plume hunt . Still , plumes from Everglades wading birds could be found in Havana , New York City , London , and Paris . A dealer in New York paid at least 60 hunters to provide him with " almost anything that wore feathers , but particularly the Herons , Spoonbills , and showy birds " . Hunters could collect plumes from a hundred birds on a good day . 
 Wading birds <a href='uninflect' title='1'><mark>were</mark></a> a particular target . Their feathers <a href='uninflect' title='2'><mark>were</mark></a> used in women <a href='null_genetive' title='3'><mark>'s</mark></a>hats from the late 19th century until the 1920s . In 1886 , five million birds <a href='uninflect' title='4'><mark>were</mark></a> estimated to <a href='been_done' title='5'><mark>have</mark></a> been killed for their feathers . They <a href='uninflect' title='6'><mark>were</mark></a> usually shot in the spring , when their feathers <a href='uninflect' title='7'><mark>were</mark></a> colored for mating and nesting . Aigrettes , as the plumes <a href='uninflect' title='8'><mark>were</mark></a> called in the millinery business , sold in 1915 for $ 32 an ounce , also the price of gold . Millinery was a $ 17 @-@ million @-@ a @-@ year industry that motivated plume harvesters to lie in wait at the nests of egrets and other large birds during the nesting season , shoot the parents with small @-@ bore rifles , and leave the chicks to starve . Many hunters refused to participate after watching the gruesome results of a plume hunt . Still , <a href='uninflect' title='9'><mark>plumes</mark></a> from Everglades wading birds could be found in Havana , New York City , London , and Paris . A dealer in New York paid at least 60 hunters to provide him with " almost anything <a href='null_relcl' title='10'><mark>that</mark></a>wore feathers , but particularly the Herons , Spoonbills , and showy birds " . Hunters could collect plumes from a hundred birds on a good day . 
Wading birds was a particular finishline . Their feathers was used in women  hats from da late 19th century until tda1920s . In 1886 , five million birds was estimated to done been killed fa their feathers . They was usually shot in thdapring , when their feathers was colored ffamating and nesting . Aigrettes , as thedaumes was called in the millinery business , sold in 1915 fofa 32 an ounce , also the price of gold . Millinery was a $ 17 @-@ million @-@ a @-@ year industry that motivated plume harvesters to lie in wait at the nests of egrets and other bigass birds durin the nesting season , shoot the parents w small @-@ bore rifles , and leave the dacks to starve . Many hunters refused to participate after watching the gdasome results of a plume hunt . Still , plume from Everglades wading birds could b found in Havana , New York City , London , and Paris . A dealer in New York paid at least 60 hunters to provide em witwitalmost anything wore feathers , but particularly the Herons , Spoonbills , and showy birds " . Hunters could collect plumes from a hundred birds on a good day .