Wood storks are large wading birds that breed in Florida and other southeastern states. They are a federally threatened species that rely on wetlands for nesting and feeding. If you’re visiting Florida and hoping to catch a glimpse of these unique birds, here are some of the best places to look for them.
Why are wood storks threatened?
Wood storks were listed as an endangered species in 1984 after populations had declined dramatically. This was mostly due to habitat loss – the draining and development of the wetlands they rely on. Their status has since improved thanks to conservation efforts and they were downlisted to threatened in 2014. However, wood storks still face threats such as:
- Loss of wetland habitat
- Drought and changes in water levels
- Pollution and poor water quality
- Human disturbance of nesting colonies
Protecting and restoring Florida wetlands is vital to the continued recovery of wood stork populations. Many public lands and refuges in Florida focus conservation efforts on providing suitable wood stork habitat.
When and where to see wood storks in Florida
The best times of year to see wood storks in Florida are during nesting season, which runs from late winter through summer. Peak viewing is from March to July. Some key spots include:
Everglades National Park
The vast wetlands of Everglades National Park provide ideal habitat for wood storks. Nesting colonies are scattered throughout the park, with some of the largest found in the Flamingo area. The best viewing spots are along the Anhinga Trail, Eco Pond, and along the road to Flamingo. Wood storks can be seen year-round hunting for fish in the marsh but are most numerous during nesting season.
Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary
This Audubon sanctuary near Naples, FL is home to one of the largest wood stork nesting colonies in the United States, with over 3,000 pairs nesting annually. The 2.25 mile boardwalk trail winds through the heart of the rookery, offering fantastic views of nesting wood storks, great egrets, and other wetland birds from March to July.
Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge
The refuge’s freshwater marsh in Boynton Beach hosts a sizable wood stork colony of several hundred nesting pairs. Prime viewing is from the Marsh Trail and several observation platforms from February to June. This is also a great spot to potentially see endangered snail kites which feed on apple snails in the marsh.
Harris Neck National Wildlife Refuge
This coastal Georgia wildlife refuge supports a large wood stork rookery of over 2,000 nesting pairs, one of the few on the Atlantic coast. Nesting season runs from March to August. The rookery overlooks a pond and is easily viewable from an observation tower along the 1-mile Harris Neck Trail.
Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge
Straddling the Florida-Georgia line, the vast Okefenokee Swamp contains numerous wood stork nesting colonies scattered amongst its cypress forests and marsh prairies. The refuge offers many opportunities to see wood storks hunting and fishing from February to August, including from overlook platforms and boat tours.
St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge
One of the largest wood stork colonies in Florida, with over 5,000 pairs, is found at this refuge near Tallahassee. The colony is located along the Lighthouse Road auto tour route and is easily viewable from March to July. Peak activity is in April and May.
Tips for viewing wood storks
Here are some useful tips for spotting wood storks when visiting Florida wetlands:
- Bring binoculars – Wood storks are large but still difficult to spot at a distance in swampy vegetation
- Look for tall white birds roosting in trees or shrubs
- Listen for loud bill-clattering at colonies
- Search mudflats, marshes, ponds for foraging storks
- Look for large nests high up in cypress trees and shrubs
- Visit boardwalks and observation decks that offer good vantage points over colonies
- Time your visit for peak activity – March to July
- Avoid disturbing nesting colonies and give nesting birds ample space
Wood stork identification
Wood storks are unmistakable large wading birds that stand out in swamps and wetlands. Identifying features include:
- Height of 33-45 inches with a wingspan up to 5.5 feet
- Mostly white plumage with black flight and tail feathers
- Bald grey head and thick black bill
- Long dark legs
- Soaring flight on broad wings often with neck extended
The wood stork is the only stork species that breeds in North America. It has a distinct prehistoric appearance and forages tactically by grobing its bill through the water to snap up fish.
Wood stork diet and hunting technique
Wood storks feed almost exclusively on small fish such as minnows, sunfish, and perch. Nesting colonies require access to sufficient food resources. Wood storks forage using a specialized technique called tactolocation:
- They wade slowly through shallow wetlands with their beak partially open.
- When they touch a fish, their bill immediately snaps shut.
- They may also stir the water with their feet to scare fish.
This feeding method allows wood storks to catch fish even when the water is murky or full of vegetation. It makes them well-adapted to hunting in swamps and marshes.
Importance of wetlands
As wetland specialists, wood storks rely on healthy freshwater and estuarine wetlands for both breeding and foraging habitat. They require shallow pools and depressions where fish become concentrated during periods of drought. Nesting colonies are strongly influenced by water levels, seeking areas isolated from predators that will remain flooded through the breeding season. Wood stork habitat is threatened by wetland drainage, pollution, and droughts exacerbated by climate change. Protecting Florida wetlands benefits wood storks and many other wetland dependent plants and animals.
Conservation status
Wood storks experienced severe population declines in the 20th century mainly due to wetland habitat loss. Numbers dropped from over 20,000 nesting pairs in the 1930s to around 5,000 pairs in the 1970s, qualifying them for endangered status. Conservation efforts have helped populations rebound to over 10,000 nesting pairs today. The continued recovery of wood storks depends on maintaining suitable wetland habitat across their range. They still face threats from wetland degradation and persistent drought conditions in nesting areas.
Conclusion
Seeing a wood stork in the wild is a memorable experience that requires visiting Florida’s iconic wetland habitats. The Everglades, Corkscrew Swamp, Loxahatchee Refuge, and other protected swamps and marshes provide the best opportunities to observe these unique birds. A little luck and timing your visits for peak nesting season will help your chances of catching sight of North America’s only native stork gracefully wading through the shallows in search of fish.
