A successful winter census of Royal Spoonbill was carried out in 2012, which showed a 10% per annum increase from a low of 26 in 1979 to 2361 in 2012. For many decades the only known colony of Royal Spoonbill in New Zealand was at Okarito, then in 1979 two nests were found at Wairau Lagoon, Marlborough.
Then in 1984 further expansion of breeding to Otago began with a colony at Moeraki. Since then a number of colonies and breeding attempts have been reported at sites all over the country. The largest number of colonies is in the Otago and Southland regions. When the tides are high silky white kotuku kutupapa perch sheltered and protected on the rocky nugget. Shy and graceful they fly with the tide to spoon their bills in shallow Catlins estuary.
The cache is a small tethered bison tube with logbook only. Bring your own pen.