FOR WORLD BIRD WEDNESDAY and NATURE NOTES. Can't let a season in Florida go by without posting something about our native wood storks. We could hardly believe what we were seeing when we first saw these odd-looking ungainly birds four years ago.
Because of loss of shallow wetlands in South Florida, due to agriculture and over-building, this species has been on the endangered species list since 1984. These pictures were taken in April at Big Cypress but during the winter months, we even see them feeding in ditches and canals. Because they are so frequently seen, there's a big push on to take them off the endangered list.
However, according to stork researcher Jason Lauritsen, assistant director at Audubon's Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, the birds searching for food in those city ditches are not nesting birds. They are merely biding time, waiting for the return of quality wetlands. The birds depend on shallow wetlands for foraging early in their breeding season (winter, the dry season here). Lack of good foraging causes later breeding and nesting and when nests are started late in the season they usually fail.
A healthy population of breeding storks would be a sign that ongoing efforts to restore the Everglades is succeeding, but according to Lauritsen, the species is far from meeting the criteria to be considered fully recovered.
An article by Jason Lauritsen in the Fort Myers News Press was the information source.
We have Wood Storks in our rookery who are very hungry right now because of Debby. Some are "crying" making a lot of noise to their parents. . I have no idea what if anything I can do to feed them.
Lillian Blessing
Somerset Rookery and Bird Sanctuary
Lakeland Florida
Posted by: Lillian Blessing | June 27, 2012 at 05:38 AM
Beautiful pictures of wood storks. Are they still endangered?
Posted by: Kusum | May 27, 2012 at 06:00 AM
These birds are so majestic! Thanks for sharing the info, too!
Posted by: Lavender Dreams | May 26, 2012 at 08:00 AM
ah ha! A bird I have seen.
Lovely post Sallie
Posted by: Dave | May 24, 2012 at 03:24 PM
Well I think they are lovely. Let's hope we put our smart hats on and start remembering the environment.
Posted by: Barb | May 24, 2012 at 02:24 PM
what magnificent birds! Let's hope they get the protection they need and aren't pushed off the endangered list because people misunderstand their behaviour
Posted by: craftygreenpoet | May 24, 2012 at 09:13 AM
Wow, those storks look huge. What an amazing site to see. Lovely photos.
Posted by: BellaVidaLetty | May 24, 2012 at 06:49 AM
Love the storks and the frilly tree. Are these the ones that deliver babies?
Posted by: Barb | May 23, 2012 at 06:17 PM
What great photos, Salllie. Another bird I don't know and hope their population increases. It's such a shame what we've done to our native habitats.
Posted by: Penny | May 23, 2012 at 05:46 PM
Great photos of the storks. Sorry to hear their habitat is slowly disappearing.
Posted by: Fun60 | May 23, 2012 at 02:42 PM
I do hope their population will pick up,and the necessary action will be taken to make sure it does,magnificent birds!
Posted by: Amila | May 23, 2012 at 09:00 AM
Amazing photos. Interesting info. I am greeting
Posted by: ZielonaMila | May 23, 2012 at 08:09 AM
Nice captures! It's interesting to read all the info on the foraging and the breeding.
Posted by: nature rambles | May 23, 2012 at 03:05 AM
Very cool..:-)
Posted by: Ed | May 23, 2012 at 01:53 AM
Nice pictures ! The most storks I have ever seen in my whole life was in a park in Morocco ! there were hundreds just amazing.
Posted by: Gattina | May 23, 2012 at 12:06 AM
Better to leave these beauties on the endangered list.
Posted by: Gaelyn | May 22, 2012 at 10:02 PM
I just love storks.Thanks for sharing!Have a great day.
Shantana
Posted by: NatureStop | May 22, 2012 at 09:35 PM
Well Sallie, the ongoing effort to restore a healthy population of breeding storks would be a sign that the human population might regain its percentage of new births, - if you are inclined to believe that storks have this responsibility to deliver....
Great pictures
Posted by: Hildred | May 22, 2012 at 08:34 PM
Sallie, It is great that you are able to great pictures of this cool bird...but I am sad that they are still on the "List".:(
When will this loss of habitat issue end???
Posted by: Jean | May 22, 2012 at 08:20 PM
I'm hoping for a full recovery and a huge flock of these birds in the future.
What a great sight - love that first shot!
Posted by: Lady Fi | May 22, 2012 at 08:12 PM
Great pictures!!
Thank you for your visit and comment about my raccoon post.
Posted by: guild-rez - Canada | May 22, 2012 at 07:00 PM
Great photos but its not good to hear of another piece of habitat that has been damaged so badly and another bird that is in danger.
Posted by: Mick | May 22, 2012 at 06:47 PM
I have always wanted to see a real live stork! "Could they really carry a brand new baby?" I use to wonder as I was growing up. Thank you so much...this was a wonderful post!
Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
http://deltacountyhistoricalsociety.wordpress.com
Posted by: Linda | May 22, 2012 at 06:39 PM
Fantastic shots of the storks. They are so unusual looking.
Posted by: Carver | May 22, 2012 at 06:04 PM
i had the pleasure of having one of these strange wood storks visit here one winter. it stayed around for a day or two and i could hardly believe it.
Posted by: TexWisGirl | May 22, 2012 at 05:37 PM
We are always in such a hurry to remove things from the endangered list..you have to wonder who has the influence to get that done and why do they want it done. Great photos Sallie...Michelle
Posted by: Rambling Woods | May 22, 2012 at 05:02 PM
Storks in tree.
Bloggers in blogosphere.
Posted by: Rainfield | May 22, 2012 at 04:51 PM
Nice post! Perfect for WBW!
Posted by: HansHB | May 22, 2012 at 03:46 PM
I guess they aren't as heavy as they look. The tree doesn't seem overburdened with so many topping its branches.
Lets hope the efforts pay off for the species and for the Everglades.
Lovely post Sallie!
Posted by: Carletta | May 22, 2012 at 03:20 PM
Fantastic captures, Sallie. Love the balancing on the tree top.
Posted by: Pam | May 22, 2012 at 02:48 PM
Great shots. Glad you identified them as storks, they look very much like the "scavanging feral Ibis" of Brisbane.
However, I think storks are much larger???? Come to think of it, I don't think I have ever seen a stork in Brisbane, down south yes and certainly in the Lake Eyre area in the centre which is now an inland sea, thanks to all the flooding.
Seems like government authorities are preserving your Florida Everglades from "developers". That is great to know.
Cheers
Colin (Brisbane. Australia)
Weather report: 7.30am Wednesday 23rd. Looks like another fine, sunny day but rain expected from tonight until Friday.
Canberra: Well exceedingly hot due to political Hot AIR and mayhem and shenanigans - serves them right - ha ha!
Posted by: Colin Huggins | May 22, 2012 at 02:30 PM
The woods storks are very cool looking birds, Sallie! What a great sight to see. Wonderful photos, have a great day.
Posted by: Eileen | May 22, 2012 at 02:21 PM
Wow, that is interesting. I'd of thought the population was ok but the backstory shows that there is still quite a problem with their habitat.
Posted by: Yogi | May 22, 2012 at 02:20 PM
Those are neat birds, Sallie. Yes to your question on my blog...I've started a new blog. The old one was the Chicken Dance Ranch. I'll be near Cape Canaveral again next week and hope to see some birds while I am there.
Posted by: Sally in WA | May 22, 2012 at 02:15 PM
Great shots of these birds, Sallie. We have these in Melbourne too and they sometimes even visit the pond in our garden.
Posted by: Nick | May 22, 2012 at 01:32 PM
Amazing photos, especially the top one! Interesting info-I hope they have a good year.
Posted by: HAZEL | May 22, 2012 at 01:01 PM
I had my last baby in Tampa, and visitors told me that there were actually storks in the retention pond outside! (This lead to two of my older kids being told tall tales as to where the baby had come from...)
You got some great photos here! I hope that they don't de-list them :(
Posted by: Libby | May 22, 2012 at 12:50 PM
Great shots! Storks are one of the species we don't get to see here.
Posted by: heyBJK | May 22, 2012 at 12:44 PM
Great captures of something I'm not going to see!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.
Posted by: Boom & Gary | May 22, 2012 at 12:28 PM