The spoonbills in the Netherlands are doing very well. Since the 1970s, not as many birds have been sighted as in 2019. Even colonies can be seen along the buildings of the Randstad, Sovon Bird Research Netherlands reports on Wednesday.
According to the organization, groups of spoonbills have been seen on the outskirts of Rotterdam, The Hague, Leiden and Haarlem.
The birds there regularly use trees with nests previously used by gray herons. Apparently the polders ditches in the vicinity of these breeding grounds offer enough food to feed the young.
In 1970, only 215 pairs hatched in the Naardermeer, in the Zwanenwater and on Texel. Since then, the species has undergone spectacular development and the population grew to about 3,800 pairs in 2019.
Spoonbill is one of the most counted breeding birds
This makes the spoonbill one of the most counted breeding birds in the Netherlands.
Almost all colonies with brooding spoonbills are counted annually. This is done by researchers from the Werkgroep Lepelaar, site managers and volunteers from Sovon Bird Research Netherlands.
Largest colonies are found in the Wadden Islands
Spoonbills are mainly associated with the coast. Indeed, most breeding grounds can be found there. Almost half of all birds breed in the Wadden Sea, which still housed two thirds of the national population fifteen years ago.
In the largest colonies, those on Texel, Ameland and Schiermonnikoog, hundreds of birds hatch together. After 2012, the population in the Delta region doubled. More than a thousand pairs breed there.
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