WOOD STORK

Mycteria americana

The wood stork is one of many animals that live in wetland areas. If you would like to know more information about the wood stork, then please read my report.

STORY
Wood storks have been on the endangered species list since 1984. These very graceful creatures nest in huge colonies in big cypress trees and mangrove swamps over water.

LOOKS
One of the largest wading birds, these bald-headed birds measure over three feet tall and have a wingspan of about five feet.

MOVES
Like most birds, the wood stork flies. These phenomenal fliers use vertical air currents to go thousands of feet in the air and then glide. They also perform amazing dive rolls and turns. In search for food, wood storks may fly up to 80 miles a day.

HABITAT
The wood stork's habitat ranges from northern Argentina (South America) all the way north to Texas, Florida, Georgia and South Carolina. In the United States, they are more common in Florida, especially in the swamps of southern Florida.

Wood storks catch fish in a unique way, by feel. They wade in shallow water, from six to ten inches deep. They catch fish one to six inches long, with their bill partly open. When a fish touches their bill, the bill quickly snaps shut and the poor fish is history.

MATING
Usually, wood storks do not mate until they are at least four years old. The eggs hatch in 28-32 days and in the same order they are laid.. A pair of wood storks need about 440 pounds of fish to sustain their chicks and themselves during breeding season. As mentioned earlier, the parents fly up to 80 miles per day, finding food for the chicks.

ENDANGERED SPECIES
In 1984, the US government declared the woods storks an endangered species. Some scientists predict that the wood stork will be extinct by the year 2000. For a while, hunters killed them for their feathers. The main reason there are not many wood storks left today is because massive population growth is destroying their habitat, wetlands.

Their numbers have gone done from about 60,000 in the 1930's to about four or five thousand mating pairs today.

The wood stork is an indicator of the health of our wetlands. If the wood stork is endangered, then so are our wetlands. This is our situation right now.

MY THOUGHTS
The wood stork made me think of all the other endangered animals, especially the dodo bird. I am sure that one day, the wood stork will also be extinct.

MY FEELINGS
The fact that the wood stork is endangered makes me feel sad :-( I cannot believe that once they were hunted for their feathers. I hope they do not become extinct but it probably will happen.

If you're ever in New Smyrna Beach, you can see the wood stork at Ocean Seafood, which is just down the street from Norwood's Restaurant. Wood storks are interesting to watch. Ocean Seafood feeds them every evening about 6 pm.

CONCLUSION
I hope you found a lot of information on the wood stork. Isn't it sad that it is almost extinct?

You can help save wood stork by using theses tips. When you are walking, try not to disturb them. Boats can disturb them and they may leave their nest. Support conservation groups and tell your parents to vote for people that support conservation.


REFERENCE
Wood Stork by the folks at Kennedy Space Center
If you enjoyed this site, you should visit the other sites my brother and I manage:

  • Chalet Ermina is the perfect bed and breakfast, nestled in the Swiss Alps.
  • Norwood's Restaurant has fresh seafood, super onion rings and 30,000 bottles of wine!
  • If you wonder why all your wood's disappearing, check out the Queen Termite page.
  • Would you like to know about African Porcupines?
  • Enjoy a collection of almost 100 Florida maps.
  • The North American River Otter.
  • Our home page.