Bird watchers flock to Raritan bayfront to see rare roseate spoonbill

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A rare bird spotted in Monmouth County this week is drawing a crowd to the Raritan bayfront communities. A juvenile roseate spoonbill made its way from Florida to the Garden State. “I don’t usually chase birds, but this was so close to home we decided to come down for the day,” said Betty Ann Kelly, who drove to Northern Monmouth County from Cranford to see the spoonbill. The loyal bird watchers have been rewarded with this sighting after it was first noticed in the region several days ago. It’s the first known sighting in this bayfront neighborhood. “Up until about 1938, the population was very low - about 20 nesting pairs in Florida. Now there’s over 1,000. There are more birds moving, there’s more birds there and more populations can shift,” said Josh Gant, president of the Atlantic Chapter of the Audubon Society. Gant says juvenile spoonbills often wander far from the nest – in this case, 1200 miles north of its native South Florida territory. “When you see so many birds, the cool stuff, like the vagrants that show up, the interesting species that show up, that’s the fun part. Seeing the random rarity that’s very enjoyable for a birder,” said Gant. Experts say if the bird appears healthy and can gather food, it’s in no danger, and should not be approached, or trapped – but admired for its pink and white beauty, from a safe distance. Gant says when the autumn cold fronts start to sweep across New Jersey the rare bird will eventually find its way down south back where it belongs. "