Audubon Florida is concerned by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s imminent proposal to remove the Wood Stork from Endangered Species Act protection. The Everglades were once this species’ heartland, supporting massive colonies of this iconic wading bird. Today, the region’s megacolonies are a distant memory and in many seasons, chicks starve in their nests for lack of food due to loss and degradation of wetland habitat.
What is a Wood Stork?
Storks are found in wetlands, marshes, and swamps in the southeastern United States. This includes Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina, as well as in parts of Central and South America.
Wood Storks have a distinctive appearance. They have a bald head and long, thick, down-curved bill that they use to catch fish, frogs, and other aquatic prey. They have a dark, featherless head and neck, and their body is mostly white with black flight feathers. Quite tall, they stand about 3 to 4 feet tall and have a wingspan of 5 to 6 feet.
Don’t call it a comeback
While storks have recently spread northward, it’s unclear whether these outposts can survive long-term, especially with the loss of habitat protections that would accompany delisting and the uncertainties posed by climate change.
Audubon Florida is going to vet the findings cited in the proposal. They also plant to provide additional resources that document the significance and vulnerability of this species. South Florida’s Wood Storks were the anchor of the U.S. population for a very long time and could be crucial to the species if the gains of recent years prove short-lived. Audubon Florida has grave concerns for the future of the Wood Stork. Especially if it is left without the protections afforded under the Endangered Species Act.
