[page 6]
through it. Their bills are small but these grow so quickly you can soon
tell they belong to the spoonbill family. (9: p.175)

"But," continued the spoonbill," it takes a lot of work to feed the
babies. They are always hungry and waiting for food. They stand in a
row facing both parents, and swing their little heads up and down, very
much like some mechanical toys, only those are usually silent. But our
babies join a chorus of trilling whistles which grow louder and louder as
we approach the nest." (9: p.175)

"How do you feed them?" asked Peggy Ann.

"We open wide our bills and the babies reach down into our
throats and help themselves. It takes about ten seconds for each baby."
(9: p.175)

"How long before spoonbills grow pretty?"

"While young they wear pale pink and white feathers. (12: p.111)
It takes two years before they have the bright pink and crimson feathers of
their parents." (9: p.175)

"How do spoonbills sleep?" asked Peggy Ann.

When young, they sleep as the flamingo does, standing on one
leg, the other drawn up to the body, with eyes closed and