Photographing Roseate Spoonbills in Louisiana Swamps

A Roseate Spoonbill in Breeding Plumage in a Cypress Tree

Introduction

The Roseate Spoonbill (Platalea ajaja) is one of Louisiana's most spectacular wading birds. Known for its brilliant pink plumage, spoon-shaped bill, and graceful feeding behavior, the Roseate Spoonbill is a favorite subject for bird photographers and nature enthusiasts. This page highlights facts about Roseate Spoonbills, their preferred habitats, and the best locations in Louisiana to observe and photograph them during nesting season.

Roseate Spoonbill Bathing

How to Identify Roseate Spoonbills

  • Size: 28 to 34 inches tall

  • Wingspan: 47 to 52 inches

  • Distinctive Features:

    • Bright pink feathers, white upper back, and deep red shoulders

    • Long, flat spoon-shaped bill, perfect for foraging in shallow water

    • Bald greenish head and red eyes

The bright pink color comes from their crustacean-rich diet, similar to flamingos.

Roseate Spoonbill Bringing a Stick to its nest

Best Places to See Roseate Spoonbills in Louisiana

If you’re searching for the best locations to find and photograph Roseate Spoonbills in Louisiana, these are the most reliable spots during nesting season (March to July):

1. Miller’s Lake

In central Louisiana, Miller’s Lake is one of the top nesting sites for Roseate Spoonbills. Large colonies can be observed nesting in trees above the water, often alongside herons and egrets.

2. PJF Farms

This privately owned rookery is another prime nesting site for Roseate Spoonbills. The property’s wetlands and trees provide perfect nesting conditions, and the rookery draws various wading birds each spring.

3. Rip’s Rookery

Situated at Rip Van Winkle Gardens on Jefferson Island, this well-known rookery offers stunning photography opportunities with spoonbills, great egrets, snowy egrets, and more. Nesting birds can be viewed in trees surrounding the gardens’ scenic lake.

A Roseate Spoonbill Feeding its Chick

Diet & Feeding Behavior

Roseate Spoonbills feed by sweeping their unique spoon-shaped bill side to side in shallow water, capturing:

  • Small fish

  • Shrimp and crabs

  • Aquatic insects

  • Mollusks

Their vibrant pink color is derived from carotenoids found in their crustacean-rich diet.

A Roseate Spoonbill bringing a Stick to its Partner

Breeding & Nesting Habits

Nesting season in Louisiana runs from March to July. Spoonbills build stick nests in trees or shrubs, usually over water, to protect their young from predators.

  • Clutch Size: 2 to 5 eggs

  • Incubation Period: 22 to 24 days

  • Both parents share duties – they incubate the eggs and feed the chicks.

Roseate Spoonbill Family

Male vs Female – How to Tell Them Apart

Male and female Roseate Spoonbills are almost identical in appearance, making them difficult to tell apart in the field. However, there are slight differences:

  • Males are slightly larger with longer bills, though the difference is often too subtle to notice.

  • During courtship, males gather nesting materials (sticks), which they offer to the female, who does more of the actual nest building.

  • Both sexes participate equally in incubating eggs and feeding chicks.

For birders and photographers, it’s perfectly acceptable to refer to any Roseate Spoonbill without distinguishing its sex.

Two Roseate Spoonbills Fighting over a Mate

Conservation & Protection

Roseate Spoonbills were once nearly extirpated from Louisiana due to feather hunting in the late 1800s. Thanks to conservation efforts, their numbers have rebounded, but they still face ongoing threats, including:

  • Wetland loss due to coastal erosion and development

  • Pollution and habitat degradation

  • Disturbance at nesting sites

  • Rising sea levels and climate change impacts

Roseate Spoonbills are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, which makes it illegal to harm or disturb them or their nests.

Roseate Spoonbills in Louisiana – Final Thoughts

Whether you’re a bird photographer, wildlife enthusiast, or nature lover, Louisiana offers incredible opportunities to see and photograph Roseate Spoonbills during nesting season. By visiting Miller’s Lake, PJF Farms, or Rip’s Rookery, you can experience these beautiful birds up close while helping to support responsible wildlife viewing practices.

Explore More – Roseate Spoonbill Blog Posts

For more stories, photos, and tips on photographing Roseate Spoonbills in Louisiana, check out these related blog posts:

  • Photographing the Roseate Spoonbill – Learn about the best locations, behavior, and techniques for capturing stunning photos of Roseate Spoonbills in Louisiana’s swamps and wetlands.