IT’S long spoon-shaped beak makes the African Spoonbill one of the most recognisable birds in the Durban South area. They are also a protected species in South Africa.

African Spoonbills are related to the Ibis and Spoonbill family of birds. There are six species of Spoonbill birds found worldwide, except for Antarctic.

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The African Spoonbill is a fairly large white bird with long bright pink legs, a long neck, long spoon-shaped beak and red face. They are dependent on water systems to find food.

They spend the majority of their day wading in shallow waters sweeping their long beak side to side hunting for small aquatic creatures; as soon as they feel something touch their beak they snap it shut. They feed on small fish, molluscs, amphibians, crustaceans, insects and larvae.

African Spoonbills breed during the winter months, lasting into early spring. Their nest is built of sticks and reeds, lined with leaves, built in large trees overhanging the water.

The females lay three to five eggs during April and May, both male and female take turns to incubate the eggs, and both parents participate in the raising of the young.

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Avid bird watcher Warren Dick has spotted these spoonbills at The Bluff golf course and at the Bluff Nature Reserve. There are also a few individuals that live at the Durban Botanic Gardens which are accustomed to humans.

Contact Warren to have some of your interesting spiders, snakes or other wildlife identified, call or WhatsApp him on 072 211 0353, or visit his Facebook page, Warren’s Small World.

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