Wild Birds

Eurasian Spoonbill Conservation and Recolonisation

The Eurasian spoonbill recolonised Britain as a breeding bird in 2010 after an absence of 400 years, representing one of the most remarkable natural recolonisations in recent UK conservation history.

Key Facts

Spoonbills bred in British heronries until the 17th century before being hunted to extinction
First successful breeding in modern times occurred at Holkham, Norfolk in 2010
The UK population has grown to around 20 or more pairs concentrated in East Anglia and Somerset
They feed by sweeping their spatula-shaped bill through shallow water to detect invertebrates by touch
Spoonbills are colonial nesters, often associating with herons and egrets in mixed heronries

Welfare Considerations

Spoonbills require undisturbed, shallow wetland habitats with abundant invertebrate prey. Disturbance at nest colonies can cause desertion and total breeding failure. Water abstraction reducing levels in fenland wetlands eliminates the shallow water feeding habitat on which chick provisioning depends. The small UK population is highly vulnerable to stochastic events such as severe storms during the breeding season.

What You Can Do

Support RSPB and Wildlife Trust management of key spoonbill nesting and foraging sites
Maintain respectful distances at known nesting colonies during the breeding season
Advocate for water level management that maintains shallow reedbed edges
Record spoonbill sightings through BTO surveys to track population growth
Back campaigns for comprehensive wetland restoration across East Anglia and the Somerset Levels