ROSEATE SPOONBILLS
The first time I saw a Roseate Spoonbill, I couldn’t understand how such a gorgeous feathered composition ended in a pair of salad servers for a beak. After that, I paid close attention to my feathered buddies’ beaks. They all serve their owners in varying ways but with a single purpose: survival. I’ve heard the story about an immense Great Egret being backed into a corner by a growling, barking, teeny, tiny dog. I won’t describe the outcome! The Roseate will walk swiftly through marshland, dykes and ponds at low tide - moving its beak from side to side to detect and harvest a choice morsel for eating.
At the turn of the 20th century, Roseates were hunted for their gorgeous feathers that would be turned into “fashionable” ladies’ fans. This almost decimated their population. Thankfully, they are now thriving once again in Florida but overdevelopment in the real estate arena remains a threat to this abundance.
Like other wading birds, they will congregate wherever food is available - creating a stunning tableau of pink and red. They are quite ready to share the bounty with others too: storks, egrets, herons, and anhingas. You’ll notice wide slashes of deep red on the wing feathers of some. This indicates that they are in mating season. And, though I’ve not been able to confirm this, the antics these birds were up to here (flapping and raising their wings, etc.) may also be part of a mating ritual. It gives new meaning to the expression: his/her looks can turn heads!!
And just like other feathered beauties, the sounds a Roseate makes are completely the opposite of what you would imagine. If a crow’s call sounds abrasive to you, magnify it ten times and you’ll have an approximation of our pink cloud’s voice. Click here for a Roseate Spoonbill gallery