Page 22 - Lifestyles in Palm Beach Gardens- November '23

Page 22, Lifestyles in Palm Beach Gardens
Northern Notes

Roseate Spoonbill – Nature’s almost to extinction in

(Other) Brilliant Pink Bird the late 1800s for their
gorgeous plumage
By Katie Roundtree, used to decorate hats
Director of Finance and and fans. Thankfully,
Administration, Northern they received legal
Palm Beach County protection in the 1940s,
Improvement District and their population
Roseate spoonbills has recovered.
are striking pink birds Roseate spoonbills
that inhabit our marshes are the only spoonbill
and preserves in South species native to the United States. Other species are
Florida. They are shorter found in Africa, Asia, Australia and Europe. However, no
and smaller than the more other spoonbill species has the distinctive pink coloring
infamous flamingo, but as the roseate spoonbill.
their plumage is just as striking and easy to spot from Take advantage of the cooler weather and explore the
afar. While they may be small in stature, they have a green to yellow-green head showing, and their plumage outdoors again! Find a park or preserve and see if you
wingspan that is almost twice as wide as they are tall. gets darker. Their reddish eyes are in stark contrast to their can spot a bowl of roseate spoonbills. Enjoy!
Roseate spoonbills are highly social. They feed with head coloring, making them quite a unique specimen. NPDES tip: Storms occur all year round. Make sure
each other and with other wading birds. They also nest You can estimate the age of a roseate spoonbill then by your yards and trees are trimmed neatly to avoid flying
in colonies and fly in flocks. They are found with other determining if they have feathers on their head and by debris during a storm. Dispose of your trimmings and
spoonbills in a group called appropriately a “bowl.” how vibrant their feathers are. clippings properly. Do not put them into storm drains or
But what makes them pink? Spoonbills feed on small We are fortunate to see them still since they were hunted lakes!
fish, insects and crustaceans (invertebrates). Crustaceans
are packed with carotenoids, fat-soluble pigments that
constitute reds, oranges, and yellows. Invertebrates “Refined Renovations, Remodels & Improvements”
compile these pigments by eating aquatic vegetation,
which uses beta-carotenoids to conduct photosynthesis. ADDITIONS • KITCHENS & BATHROOMS • COMPREHENSIVE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT • MORE
Then, as spoonbills eat these crustaceans, they ingest
their stockpiled carotenoids. As the birds digest their At Krown Construction we pay attention to detail in every facet of the services we provide. We specialize in high
prey, these pigments are transferred into fat stores under end, luxury residential projects and also offer a Comprehensive Property Management Service, for when you are
the skin. These reserves feed into the feathers, primarily away from your Florida home. When considering an update, improvement, or oversight of your existing residence,
along the bird’s back, wings and rump. consider Krown Construction to manage your next project!
As to their distinctive beak, spoonbills develop a
flat, spoon-shaped bill shortly after hatching. Spoonbill
hatchlings have a straight beak for the first few days of
their life. The spoon shape grows as the chick develops. Krown Construction, LLC 561.529.3143 Licensed and Insured General
Spoonbills forage by sweeping their open bills back and 600 Capital Street krownconstruction.com Contractor
Unit F
CGC 1529984
forth under the water (think of a metal detector). Their Jupiter, FL 33458
bills have nerves that can feel when prey enters their bill
and triggers it to shut when it comes in contact with food.
It’s a very efficient way to forage.
Up close, roseate spoonbills have unique coloring on
their heads. While young, they have light-colored feathers
covering their heads and light pink plumage. As they age,
the feathers on their head thin out, with only the blue-

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