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Avery Island Roseate Spoonbills

Cornell All About Bids says this about Roseate Spoonbils: "The flamboyant Roseate Spoonbill looks like it came straight out of a Dr. Seuss book with its bright pink feathers, red eye staring out from a partly bald head, and giant spoon-shaped bill. Groups sweep their spoonbills through shallow fresh or salt waters snapping up crustaceans and fish. Roseate Spoonbills get their pink coloration from the foods they eat. Crustaceans and other aquatic invertebrates contain pigments called carotenoids that help turn their feathers pink. Roseate Spoonbill chicks don't have a spoon-shaped bill immediately after hatching. When they are 9 days old the bill starts to flatten, by 16 days it starts to look a bit more spoonlike, and by 39 days it is nearly full size.
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  • Roseate Spoonbill.

    Roseate Spoonbill.

  • The Roseate Spoonbill complained after an unfriendly crow flew by so close that the spoonbill almost lost its balance.

    The Roseate Spoonbill complained after an unfriendly crow flew by so close that the spoonbill almost lost its balance.

  • Roseate Spoonbill on Avery Island.

    Roseate Spoonbill on Avery Island.

  • Roseate Spoonbill enjoying its sunny perch in an egret rookery, hoping to roost here for the night.

    Roseate Spoonbill enjoying its sunny perch in an egret rookery, hoping to roost here for the night.

  • Roseate Spoonbill on Avery Island.

    Roseate Spoonbill on Avery Island.

  • Ultimately, the Roseate Spoonbill decided to look for a friendlier neighborhood.

    Ultimately, the Roseate Spoonbill decided to look for a friendlier neighborhood.

  • The Roseate Spoonbills are among the most beautiful visitors to Avery Island, with their pink plumage. Like flamingos, their pink color comes from the crustaceans they feed on. They feed by sweeping their open bills back and forth through shallow water until they sift up insects, small fish, snails, crustaceans, and the like. During the late 1800's, Roseate Spoonbills were hunted nearly to extinction, because their feathers were in demand as decorations for ladies' hats. After being made a protected species in the 1940's, their population gradually recovered. Today they are found along the coasts of Texas, Louisiana, and Florida.  

This large bird was photographed after landing on an uncertain branch in the Buttonwood tree nearest the observation platform at Bird City in Jungle Gardens.

    The Roseate Spoonbills are among the most beautiful visitors to Avery Island, with their pink plumage. Like flamingos, their pink color comes from the crustaceans they feed on. They feed by sweeping their open bills back and forth through shallow water until they sift up insects, small fish, snails, crustaceans, and the like. During the late 1800's, Roseate Spoonbills were hunted nearly to extinction, because their feathers were in demand as decorations for ladies' hats. After being made a protected species in the 1940's, their population gradually recovered. Today they are found along the coasts of Texas, Louisiana, and Florida. This large bird was photographed after landing on an uncertain branch in the Buttonwood tree nearest the observation platform at Bird City in Jungle Gardens.

  • Juvenile Roseate Spoonbills in a treetop in Avery Island's Jungle Gardens.

    Juvenile Roseate Spoonbills in a treetop in Avery Island's Jungle Gardens.

  • Juvenile Roseate Spoonbill sharing its perch with a Snowy Egret in Avery Island's Jungle Gardens.

    Juvenile Roseate Spoonbill sharing its perch with a Snowy Egret in Avery Island's Jungle Gardens.

  • 2011 is the first year we have been sure that Roseate Spoonbills were actually nesting in Avery Island's Jungle Gardens. By summer there were several Juvenile Roseate Spoonbills perched in the tallest tree visible from the observation platform in Bird City.

    2011 is the first year we have been sure that Roseate Spoonbills were actually nesting in Avery Island's Jungle Gardens. By summer there were several Juvenile Roseate Spoonbills perched in the tallest tree visible from the observation platform in Bird City.

  • Juvenile Roseate Spoonbills along Bayou Petite Anse

    Juvenile Roseate Spoonbills along Bayou Petite Anse

  • Edmund named this one "The Thinker."

    Edmund named this one "The Thinker."

  • Roseate Spoonbill in Jungle Gardens.

    Roseate Spoonbill in Jungle Gardens.

  • Roseate Spoonbills nesting in Jungle Gardens.

    Roseate Spoonbills nesting in Jungle Gardens.

  • Roseate Spoonbills in Jungle Gardens.

    Roseate Spoonbills in Jungle Gardens.

  • Roseate Spoonbill flying over Jungle Gardens.

    Roseate Spoonbill flying over Jungle Gardens.

  • Roseate Spoonbill flying over Jungle Gardens.

    Roseate Spoonbill flying over Jungle Gardens.

  • Roseate Spoonbill in Jungle Gardens.

    Roseate Spoonbill in Jungle Gardens.

  • Roseate Spoonbills flying over Bird City in Avery Island's Jungle Gardens.

    Roseate Spoonbills flying over Bird City in Avery Island's Jungle Gardens.

  • Roseate Spoonbill flying over Bird City in Avery Island's Jungle Gardens.

    Roseate Spoonbill flying over Bird City in Avery Island's Jungle Gardens.

  • Roseate Spoonbill flying over Bird City in Avery Island's Jungle Gardens.

    Roseate Spoonbill flying over Bird City in Avery Island's Jungle Gardens.

  • Roseate Spoonbille flying over Bird City in Avery Island's Jungle Gardens.

    Roseate Spoonbille flying over Bird City in Avery Island's Jungle Gardens.

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