Royal Spoonbills are frequent visitors to Karamea, in fact they stay all year around except a small window when they leave for breeding.  There are some 13 different breeding sites around the South Island for Royal Spoonbills.... but so far not Karamea, perhaps in the future...

Small groups of spoonbills hang out inland on farmland and often out in the estuary and river mouth regions. I have seen them most often during wet weather periods or just after, particularly they seem to be more active in the winter. They are here in the summer, but they are fairly inactive and spend the bulk of the day hidden away, asleep,  Groups that you see out and about may vary from 3 to 30.  You are more likely to see them out and about at low tide where they can feed on the crabs and crawlies, but you may also see them around in the paddocks, particularly if it has been wet.   It is always a thrill to see them.