Royal Spoonbill / Kōtuku ngutupapa
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The Royal Spoonbill is a naturally occurring self introduced species from Australia. It was first recorded in New Zealand in 1861 at Castlepoint on the Wairarapa coast. Sightings gradually increased in following years with the first breeding record occurring alongside the white heron colony at Okarito Lagoon in South Westland in 1949.
Since then it has successfully colonised New Zealand with numerous new small breeding colonies now established at multiple sites in both the North and South Islands. By 2024 the total NZ population had increased to around 4,600 birds, spread amongst 36 colonies. Their Conservation status here is Native, Naturally Uncommon, Increasing.
Each winter small numbers of royal spoonbill visit Whangamatā Harbour and other local nearby coastal wetlands. They can be observed feeding in these shallow waters and roosting on undisturbed open areas of low-vegetated water margins or high up in surrounding trees, old pōhutukawa trees being a favourite. Although present for varying periods outside of the breeding season, they have not yet established a breeding colony here. When feeding and roosting they tend to remain in fairly close proximity to their flock members but will also happily mingle amongst other waterbirds.
This species is easily recognised as it is much larger than any of the other white-plumaged heron-like waterbirds such as the white heron, little egret and cattle egret. They have very long and distinctive black spoon-shaped bills and long black legs. When feeding in shallow waters they swivel their submerged beaks left and right repeatedly through a wide arc, searching for their main food items of small fish, shrimps, other crustaceans, aquatic insects and frogs. They feed both day or night depending on the tides and have a unique adaptation - vibration detectors inside their bills that helps them to locate and capture prey species in murky water or dark conditions.
Each year in October, breeding birds gather together at their traditional nesting colonies. Courtship displays occur involving aggressive bill-sparring, gaping and jabbing, and aerial flight displays. Once pair bonds establish much mutual preening occurs.
Nests consisting of sticks, leaves and other vegetation are constructed, usually in the crowns of trees overhanging water or amongst tall reeds. Clutch size varies between 2-4 eggs per nest, incubated by both parents and hatching after 20-25 days. Feeding the chicks by partial regurgitation is also shared by both parents. Chicks fledge at about seven weeks old and then fed by the adults for several weeks following as they learn to feed for themselves. They then disperse to their traditional wintering sites.
Nationally, royal spoonbill numbers are increasing and locally their wintering numbers appear on the increase as well. It is possible they could establish a small breeding colony somewhere in the Whangamatā area in the near future. They would certainly be an interesting addition to the local resident avifauna.
We seem to have suitable nesting habitat and feeding areas available when the Otahu Estuary, Whangamatā Harbour, Moana anu anu Estuary, and Wharekawa Estuary are all considered. Let's hope from one of these habitats the spoonbills find an undisturbed site to their liking and this becomes a reality.
— John Adams, Whangamatā Harbour Care
