# @rspb on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/CE2KWhMgcvR
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/34271214-rspb-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/da500ab908.jpg
- **Posted:** 2020-09-07T19:00:32.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** RSPB (@rspb) — https://gondola.cc/rspb

## Caption

🎉Exciting news - for the first time in over 300 years, spoonbills in Suffolk have successfully raised and fledged chicks! 🎉

Spoonbills are aptly named as their beaks, that they sweep side to side in the water looking for food, are an incredible spoon shape! The birds were discovered nesting on RSPB Havergate Island nature reserve after over a decade of dedicated conservation work, which saw an increase in visiting spoonbills, but no breeding... until now!

The team used a huge range of techniques to encourage the birds to nest, including....
🌿 restoring natural habitats
🌿 creating raised platforms, which mimic their natural nest sites
🌿 and even putting out models of spoonbills to help show them where to go! 

The visiting spoonbills began displaying breeding behaviours such as passing sticks to each other, grooming partners and sleeping on the platforms, and there was hope in 2019 when five pairs made nests, but none were successful.

This year over 30 spoonbills visited the island, and we're overjoyed to announce that 4 chicks have successfully fledged from two separate nests! 💙💙

#spoonbill #conservation #conservationphotography #protectwildlife #wildlifeconservation #natureconservation #conservationeducation #environmentalconservation

## Stats

- **Views:** 0
- **Likes:** 4,401
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- **Comments:** 50

## Tags

conservationeducation, conservation, environmentalconservation, protectwildlife, wildlifeconservation, spoonbill, conservationphotography, natureconservation

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