As they prowl in the shallow water, spoonbills sweep their namesake spoon-shaped bill in arcs beneath the surface. Even if the water is murky, spoonbills can still find their prey thanks to special vibration detectors in their beak. When they detect a fish or shrimp, they snap shut their bill like a pair of tongs. Another tasty snack caught!

Just like us, spoonbills enjoy waterfront real estate with stunning views. They build their twiggy nests on Green Island, Taiaroa Head and at Moeraki, and then roam the surrounding wetlands and estuaries for food.

In the cold winter months, like many of Dunedin's human residents, spoonbills seek warmer temperatures by heading north, travelling as far as 1,200km to Northland. But of course there's no place like home – come breeding season, spoonbills return south to find a mate and settle down.

To find a partner, spoonbills sport a spiky hairdo of long white plumes, and attend 'bachelor parties' with other singles. To impress their crush, eligible spoonbills put on a show of fancy flying figure eights, flapping wings and sparring.

Get involved

Birds New Zealand study populations of wader birds like spoonbills. Volunteers can participate in bird counts at the Otago Harbour and Blueskin Bay. You can also log your spoonbill sightings on eBird: an online database of global bird observations used by scientists and educators.

Did you know?

Royal spoonbills only recently established themselves in New Zealand after flying across the Tasman from Australia (independent of any human input). They were first recorded breeding at Okarito in South Westland in 1949. In 1977, there were an estimated 52 birds in all of New Zealand. Now, there are 2,360. Even as their numbers grow, spoonbills are still a special sight to see in our estuaries.