Wood+Stork

media type="custom" key="3657375" By: Cameron W



The Wood Stork is one of the largest wading birds found in North America and is the only stork found in the United States. An adult stands at about 3.3 feet tall, and it's wingspan can reach over five feet. They prefer to hunt in shallow water or muddy bottom banks. Their diet consists of fish, crayfish, amphibians, and even young alligators and snakes.The nests are built near the top of trees or shrubs, sometimes as high as 100 feet. The females lay up to about 5 eggs. The eggs hatch after about 30 days and both parents feed and care for the young. The species is mainly threantened by loss of habitat and change of land use and water levels, especially in Florida's wetlands. Their bill is thick and slighty decurved. Their head and neck are unfeathered and black. Their bill can reach up to 9 inches long. On average, the Wood Stork weighs about 7 pounds and though their heavy weight limits their flight distances, they are known to be great acrobats when descending, performing marvelous turns, dives, and roles. The bird depends on these wetlands for nesting and feeding, and they are also subject to predation by other creatures, such as raccoons.