It can happen in the Netherlands that suddenly a large white bird with a length of about 80 to 93 cm can be observed. Especially in areas with water, swampy areas and the Wadden Islands. A bird with a huge beak. A beak like a big spoon. The spoonbill. The beak is black with the spoon shape at the end. Flat and wide with a yellow color on the flat end. In the summer, the spoonbill has a beautiful crest that matches the color of the salmon-colored chest strap exactly. The long black legs are reminiscent of the legs of the egret. The egret and the spoonbill therefore belong to the same order: the heron-like.
- Spoonbill family (Platalea leucorodia)
- How does the spoonbill come to the Netherlands
- Breeding places in the Netherlands
- Behavior spoonbill
- Faithful to the colony
- The stayer
Spoonbill family (Platalea leucorodia)
Spoonbills belong to the order of the oars. This includes the
- Ardeidae (Herons)
- Balaenicipitidae (Shoebill)
- Pelicanidae (Pelicans)
- Scopidae (Hammerhead)
- Threskiornithidae (Ibises and Spoonbills).
Ibises
Family of the spoonbills are the ibises. These used to be two different groups, but DNA kinship research showed a closer relationship than was thought. Other spoonbills are:
- red spoonbill (exotic);
- African spoonbill (exotic).
How does the spoonbill come to the Netherlands
The spoonbills have their winter residence in Southwestern Europe and the West African coast. The spoonbills in the Netherlands are summer birds and from their winter residence the spoonbills migrate north at the beginning of February to start breeding in March. Before ten years ago, the Netherlands was the most northerly country where spoonbills breed. In the 1970s there were about 100 breeding pairs in our country and in 2018 more than 2,500. Spoonbills also breed in Great Britain, Denmark (now the most northerly breeding area), Poland and Germany. In the spring, many spoonbills can be seen together in the Netherlands, where spoonbills that migrate even further gather and forage.
Breeding places in the Netherlands
The spoonbills breed in swampy areas, dense reed borders, salt marshes, dune valleys and trees / shrubs that are difficult to reach. In the Netherlands, the spoonbill mainly breeds on the ground but also occasionally in trees. Especially in the river area nesting spoonbills are observed in trees. Just like in Spain where the spoonbill mainly breeds in trees. A breeding ground in trees is to give the enemy (including the fox) no chance to raid the nest. The spoonbills in the Netherlands mainly breed:
- on the Wadden Islands;
- De Biesbosch National Park;
- the shore zones of the IJssselmeer and the Randmeren;
- hell hole slabs on Goeree-Overflakkee;
- quackjeswater at Hellevoetsluis;
- the Rammegors near Sint-Philipsland;
- sophiapolder at Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht;
- polder Beningerwaard;
- the Blue Room near Rhenen.
Behavior spoonbill
The spoonbill is a real colony brother. Within a colony the nests are usually 1 to 2 meters apart. A nest is made in the reeds of grass (rushes and sedges) and water plants. For the settlement of colonies, wetlands must be at least 100 hectares and in island situations at least 10 hectares. The feeding areas should have a radius of 30 kilometers from the nest. In the 2014 breeding season, the largest colony in the Netherlands was located on Texel in the Geul nature reserve, with more than 639 nesting spoonbills. Nesting in colonies has the advantage that a large group is less exposed to enemies. The spoonbill’s enemy is the fox and the polecat. But also nature, such as wind and accumulating water with floods so that the nests were washed away. The spoonbill breeds from the end of March to the end of July. Of the three to four eggs, often only one young will reach maturity.
Food
Young spoonbills remain with the parents for a long time, who provide food and learn how to forage. The food can be found in shallow water and consists of small fish such as stickleback, small whitefish, shrimp and aquatic insects. Insects and their larvae, but also water snails and small vertebrates such as frogs. With their unique characteristic beak, they move sideways through the water, with an open beak to get food. In the beak there is a sort of sieve membrane which makes the spoonbill an ultra sensitive spoon ?? possessions, where they, as it were, spoon the food out of the water.
Faithful to the colony
The young start with an orange colored beak and orange legs. Youngsters (juveniles) have no crest, no salmon-colored chest strap, and no yellow spot on the flat end of the spoon-shaped beak. While the adult spoonbill’s legs are black, they are pink-gray in the juvenile. Spoonbills are loyal to the birthplace. The growing young come back where they were born to make a nest and lay eggs as an adult. Provided there is enough food and rest.
The stayer
In August and September the spoonbills return to their winter homes. But it is also possible to observe a hibernating spoonbill in the Netherlands. A few who stay here and become a stayer (resident bird) in our country. They will survive in a not too harsh winter.