Royal couple visit

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 9, Issue 410, 29 October 1991, Page 3

Royal couple visit

A pair of rare royal spoonbills are visiting the Tongariro/Taupo Conservancy. The two birds may be stopping off en route to breeding grounds further south, but at the moment they seem happy to spend time in the Tokaanu Bay area. One of the pair has spent the last three winters in the Tokaanu/Waihi area. Several interested bird enthusiasts have also reported seeing the bird at Motuoapa.

"We expected the bird to leave early in the spring again this year," said Cam Speedy, Senior Conservation Officer Protected Species, DoC Turangi. "But during the weekend a pair of spoonbills were seen, still in residence in Tokaanu Bay." It isn't known if the birds are a breeding pair, but their presence indicates that the species may be on the increase. It could also mean that more frequent visits during winter may be ex-

pected. Royal spoonbills are relatively common in Australia but there are less than 100 birds in New Zealand. The southern shores of Lake Taupo is a superb example of fresh water wetland habitat evidenced by the 48 bird species that live there. "The -presence of royal spoonbills is an indication of the habitat quality of the wetland on Lake Taupo's southern shore," said Mr Speedy.