Black-Faced Spoonbills.
This is my entry for the Feathered Friday challenge organized by @keithboone
These images were captured at the Rockhampton Zoo in Queensland, Australia.
The Black-faced Spoonbills are classified as Endangered and unfortunately, considered to be facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
A winter population count carried out in 1988-1990 concluded that the global population of this species was estimated at 288 individuals. But thanks to conservation efforts since then this estimation has risen to 1,679.
The Black faced Spoonbill (Platalea minor) has the most restricted distribution of all spoonbills. They are known as migratory water birds and originate in coastal areas of East Asia. Their faces are black from the base of their throats all the way up to their eyes.
These birds are found in flocks along coastal regions and are also situated in estuaries and shallow sand flats. Their diet consists of small fish, shrimp, crustaceans, aquatic insects and conch. The Tsengwen River Estuary in Chiqu, Tainan boasts the largest amount Black Faced spoonbills in the world.
This reasonably small wading bird is characterized by their elongated, spoon-shaped bill with white plumage contrasted by their black bills.
During the breeding season mature adults develop longer crest feathers at the back of the neck and the chest area takes on a golden yellow hue. The eye colour of an adult spoonbill is red and they also develop yellow patches on their cheeks.
They breed in solid bowl-shaped nests built of sticks and lined leaves including water plants. These nests are generally placed in the crown of a tree or among high reeds.
Both sexes incubate the eggs and feed the young and they will often re-use the nest sites year after year. They lay 2 to 4 eggs at a time.
In the South Pacific region, Black Faced spoonbills are distributed throughout eastern & Northern Mainland Australia, New Zealand, New Guinea and on some South Western Pacific Islands.
Source:
THANK YOU FOR VIEWING. HAVE A GREAT DAY.
Thank you @pixresteemer
That's definitely an interesting bill! It makes them appear noisy, somehow.
An interesting concept @fotosdenada I don't recall hearing them while I was there so I can't comment. Perhaps you think their bills look like black trumpets? 😄
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Thank you @teamnz.
She’s beautiful in a beautiful and natural atmosphere!
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Thank you for your kind visit and support @maxdevalue I wasn't sure how these photos were going to turn our as they were further away than what I would have liked but I was happy with the result.
Saw a few of their European cousins last weekend, in a few lagoons here in Portugal. The ones here have a pinkish beak. Really cute guys, and great post!
This was the first time I have seen Black faced spoonbills so I was really happy to get these photos. I'd like to see your birds with the pinkish beaks.
Many thanks for your kind visit and support. It is much appreciated. 💐
My pleasure! 🙂 The spoonbills were far and don't think I have decent photos, but if I find an old one I'll leave it here!
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Awesome! I will look out for it if you can find any photos. 😊
👍😉
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What a delightful looking bird. Love that spoon beak. It’s great their numbers are increasing.
Thanks Jo. I hadn't seen any before so it was fun getting close enough to get these shots.
Very strange looking beak! Never seen these birds before! Poor birds! They should be in hundreds of thousands around the world. The earth is losing too many species every year!
This is really bad for the eco system.
These birds dress up very formally! Black long legs and black beaks on white jackets! Very elegantly dressed up birds! I think they may be going to some concert or opera tonight!
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Amazing birds. I must admit I have never seen them before.
I hope they will continue to grow in numbers and not to be endangered species.
I hope they continue to increase in numbers too Neli. You'd think that having this knowledge will motivate the specific departments concerned to ensure they don't stay on the endangered list.
Thanks a lot for dropping by. I hope you have a very enjoyable weekend my friend. 🌻 🌺 🌻
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Hello @magicdice Thanks so much for your very generous upvote. That was a wonderful surprise and it is greatly appreciated. Have a fabulous weekend. 💐