Wood Stork Population Flying High

The wood stork is the United States’ only native stork and according to a story from the Florida AP, this year’s population of wood stork fledglings is higher than it has been at any time since the 1930s. Early nest survey estimates indicate that as many as 3,500 new birds may join the ranks of adult wood storks this season.

In the 1970s fewer than 3,000 pairs of nesting wood storks were recorded while today as many as 10,000 nesting pairs are counted. Wildlife experts believe the birds are still a threatened species, however, due to severely restricted and radically changing habitats. The birds can be found year-round in the Florida Everglades, though rare sightings of this large wading bird have been recorded in many other areas, even as far north as Maine and as far west as California.

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Wood Stork
Photo © Terry Foote