A spoon for a bill

The African Spoonbill/Lepelaar (Platalea alba), is a long legged wading bird. Its body is white, the legs and bare face are red and its uniquely spoon-shape bill distinguish it from any other bird (see photograph). The male and female birds look alike. They are born with short beaks that gradually develop into the characteristic spoon-like shape bills they are named after.
The Spoonbill is a large bird, standing 90cm tall with a wingspan of 120 – 135cm. It can weigh up to 1.6kg and the male bird is slightly bigger than the female. These birds are gregarious, usually in parties of 3 – 30, occasionally single. We often see them resting along the shore standing on one leg with the head tucked under the wing feathers. The birds fly with their necks and legs stretched out with steadily flapping wings.
The African spoonbill is commonly found in several of the countries in Southern Africa. In South Africa they occur over almost the entire region. They are absent only from the dry western areas. In the Vredefort Dome area they are found at water bodies like farm dams rain water pans and the shallow water of the Vaal River. The birds may be nomadic in response to rainfall and habitat availability. There is no evidence of large-scale seasonal migrations.
African Spoonbills feed by fishing in shallow water. They fish by swinging their open bills from side to side in the water. The bill act as a hooked tool to catch the food. They feed during the day on fish and aquatic invertebrates, shellfish, insects, larvae and mollusks. At night they roost communally in trees or reed beds.
They are monogamous breeders, although the male may attempt to mate with more than one partner during the breeding season. Their breeding season is from April through to September. The nest is an oval platform built with sticks and reeds, lined on the inside with leaves and other soft plant matter. They build their nests in trees, always near water, but nests are also built in reed beds and on rocky cliffs.
African Spoonbills nest colonially, 5 – 20 pairs, frequently together with sacred ibises, cormorants and herons. Three to five eggs are laid during April and May. Incubation is 29 days and is performed by both members of the breeding pair. After hatching the chicks are cared for by both parents for up to 30 days. The young birds are now ready to leave the nest and 4 weeks later they are able to fly and fend for themselves.