VOSLAMBER B (1994) History of the Dutch Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia breeding population, 1961 - 1993. LIMOSA 67 (3): 89-94.

Spoonbill colonies in The Netherlands have been censused annually since 1961. In this paper, the history of the Dutch breeding population since then is reviewed, based on careful and critical evaluation of all available pertinent information. Numbers of breeding pairs per colony site are assembled in Appendix 1. The size of the Dutch Spoonbill breeding population was stable at about 400 pairs in the first half of the present century. During the sixties a sharp decline occurred until no more than about 150 pairs remained in 1968-69. The decline was due to pollution of coastal waters by pesticides. This episode was followed by a slow increase through the early eighties, whereafter a faster increase set in, mainly as a result of increasing numbers breeding on three Dutch Waddensea islands (Texel, Vlieland, Terschelling) and in the Oostvaardersplassen. In the late eighties (1987-89), two traditional colonies (almost) disappearerd due to predation by foxes (i.e., Naardermeer, Zwanewater). At Naardermeer, Spoonbills last bred in 1988, whilst at Zwanewater, Spoonbills almost disappeared (1988-89), whereafter an increase followed when measures against foxes (fences) were taken. Foxes are also present in the Oostvaardersplassen, but here it is unclear whether or not observed disturbances are all caused by foxes. Part of the growth of the Oostvaardersplassen colony is the result of immigration of adults from the two colonies affected by fox predation. Despite their move, many adults appear to continue frequenting former feeding areas. Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia

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