Birdwatchers flock to Delft to get rare photo of spoonbill with chicks

Birdwatchers have flocked to a quiet corner of Delft for a rare opportunity to see and photograph a spoonbill with her young, creating heavy foot traffic along viewing routes and occasionally blocking a nearby bicycle path.

The activity has nothing to do with royal processions or street-side cheering crowds common in the Delft and The Hague region, Hart van Nederland noted. It centers solely on the spoonbill family nesting in this small part of Delft. Local officials stress that the birds must not be disturbed.

To keep the birds safe while allowing visitors, Vogelwacht Delft maintains the official viewing spot and the entire bird island. Observers can watch from a proper distance and take as many photos as they like.

Arnaud van den Berg from Vogelwacht Delft said balance is key. “Crowds are fun, but when is it or isn’t it a disturbance for the spoonbill? That’s debatable, of course. We want, in any case, to prevent people from making decisions that are to the detriment of the birds.”