Roseate Spoonbill populations crashed early this century because of hunting for millinery feathers. The UTC (and especially the Vight-et-un Island, now an Audubon Sanctuary) was one of the last populations of Roseate Spoonbills in North America. An extensive survey in 1920 found only 179 Texas birds. Populations have rebounded well and happily these showy birds are common sights on the UTC now.
On Smith Point there was a long period where the birds were not seen. When bird began to show up again in the 30's the residents didn't no what they were and started calling them "Pink Curlews". The name got shortened and became "Pink-a-lew"
Roseate Spoonbills are pink with pink legs. Their long spatula shaped spoonbill rules out a flamingo, and the large heron size rules out the Scarlet Ibis. The Roseate Spoonbill also has a bright scarlet shoulder patch and bare gray skin on the head. Immature birds are more white than pink.
The Roseate Spoonbill feeds by sweeping its bill back and forth in the water and straining out any invertebrates it encounters. They are usually in small flock of less than a dozen, although singles and large roosts of hundreds are not uncommon.
Found in both salt and fresh water marshes, they seem to be more common on saltwater. They are fairly common at Shoveler Pond at Anahuac NWR and often have a large roost on the island in Elm Lake at Brazos Bend State Park. There are usually several at the Bolivar Flats Bird Sanctuary. Fly overs are very common anywhere along the coast on the UTC.
A breeding range map is available form the Breeding Bird Survey
A winter range map is available from the Christmas Bird Count