Spoonbill question

[tackle box]

I have always wondered why Spoonbill jump totally out of the water
at certain times of the year? I have witnessed this with no other
boats or noise around at the time. Seems to be more common in the
spring and fall. Thank you.

[MOPanfisher]

It is somewhat disconcerting to be tied up to a tree quietly and have a 50# plus spoonbill launch itself completely clear of the water withing 25 feet of you.

[tackle box]

That will wake you up.

[MEngel]

Good question. I don't know, but I sent it on to the experts. Waiting on a reply.

[MOPanfisher]

As Phil Robertson would say, Maybe its just a spoonbill happy to be living free and in america.

[MEngel]

I'm not sure anyone knows for sure, but the biologists that manage paddlefish populations seem to think it is surge feeding. When high densities of zooplankton are near the surface, they accelerate through the cluster of plankton and out of the water. They say it happens more in the summer.

[tackle box]

Thank you for the answer. I have thought about it for many years.