On February 12, 2009, Tavernier Science Center Research Associate Karen Dyer and Field Technician Rachel Decker visited the roseate spoonbill colony in southeastern Florida Bay.  A new nest was discovered containing two chicks approximately 3 days old.  A banded bird in immature plumage was perched next to the nest.  The banded code was not able to be identified.  No other birds were seen except for fledglings.  Based on these observations, the immature bird was suspected to be a breeding bird.

On February 16, Karen Dyer and Research Associate Luis Canedo returned to the colony with a scope and cameras to further investigate. Approaching more cautiously, they were able to confirm and photograph the same banded bird.  Upon a closer approach, the bird flushed off of the nest and perched nearby, allowing Dyer and Canedo to read the alphanumeric code on the band through the scope.

Based on previous data, spoonbill breeding age was assumed to be approximately 3 ½ years.  This bird, which was banded in January of 2007, was the youngest documented breeding roseate spoonbill.  Upon nest initiation, it was approximately 25 months of age.

While the total number of spoonbill nests in Florida Bay this season was alarmingly low, the actual success of those nests that were initiated was higher than we have seen since the early 1990’s.  John Ogden reports that in years of exceptionally high nest success in wood storks, he  has also noted breeding birds in immature plumage.