There was a time, in the 1950’s, you would only see a Roseate Spoonbill in the Florida Keys. They made a move north and built rookeries in the Everglades, thousands nested there.
Well, the water was diverted all around Florida, Everglades began to dry up, and of course the Audubon naturalists found devastation.
However, Spoonbills are smart. Some moved west to other Florida marshes, some even tried going further north. All settled in to new areas.
Rookeries are now in coastal Georgia and the South Carolina ACE Basin.
Its getting hot out there, keep an eye out they might be moving in near you soon.
Juvenile Roseate Spoonbill.
Ha! If only. 🙂
A few years ago one was blown off course…to Maine I think.
I have seen something like them in Galveston
That would make sense. Young ones with less color can be confused with White Ibis, it pink would be a Spoonbill. Gulf Of Mexico is known to have some. They do need marsh and swamps to breed, not sure where that would be near Galveston.
That describes about half of Galveston Island
As much as I’d love to see one of these gorgeous pink birds myself, I hope it never gets to that point 😏. Nice photos!
😂, yeah me too. I’d be charcoal down here. Thanks.
Oh this pink is such a pretty color. 🙂
Neon birds. I love the orange under the tail too.
How timely, a Spoonbill just showed up at one of our primary waterways Chautauqua National Wildlife Refuge. Has become quite the celebrity. What is more impressive is the Limpkin eruption that is happening up her in the north. They are popping up everywhere – just photographed the one near Rockford, IL.
Go photo that spoonie 😁. If the water is knee deep and warm he will stay around. The clowns are actually smart and are quick to bail at the first chilly weather.