DIJK K VAN & OVERDIJK O (1996) Spoonbills Platalea leucorodia at post-breeding staging sites in The Netherlands in August 1995. LIMOSA 69 (4): 175-179.

Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia Spoonbills gather at post-breeding staging sites after young have fledged (Fig. I). These sites are important, since they are the starting point of the migration route to African wintering grounds. In this paper, the results of the first national census of Spoonbills in The Netherlands, on 26/27 August 1995, are presented. Furthermore, overall breeding success, i.e. the number of young fledged per pair, is estimated. The count covered all major areas and yielded a grand total of 2248 Spoonbills (Tab. I). Most birds were observed in the Wadden Sea (1241) and in the Delta area, SWNetherlands (513). In 18 areas, the 1% level (30 birds) for wetlands of international importance was exceeded. The Dutch post-breeding population in late August was estimated at 2650 birds: 2350 birds in The Netherlands and about 300 birds abroad (mainly in France). Furthermore, we assume that by the end of August some 100200 recently fledged young had already died. In 1995, 814 pairs of Spoonbills bred in The Netherlands and some dozens of non-breeders were present as well. Therefore, overall breeding success of Dutch Spoonbills in 1995 is estimated at c. 1.4 young fledged per pair. This figure is rather low compared with previous years (Tab. 2); it is argued that unfavourable weather in June caused considerable chick mortality. The conclusion that breeding success in 1995 was relatively low is confirmed by the counts of juveniles in flocks of roosting Spoonbills.

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