I'd check that "I" is definitely the fourth letter, because "egret" could be the answer.
avocet
heron
avocet
avocet
Rail.
ibis
American Bittern
Bittern, Limpkin.
Avocet
Avocet
grebe
A wading bird is any of a group of long-legged birds, such as cranes, herons or storks, which wade in shallow water in search of food.