A face only a mother could love - the wood stork

A large bird standing 3+ feet with a wingspan of 5 ft., and no feathers on the head or neck. It is the only Stork that breeds in the USA. The Wood Stork has been listed as Endangered in Florida, Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina since 1984. In Florida it is primarily from the loss and changes of wetlands in Central and South Florida. We have a pair that visit Derexa Pond, and can be seen foraging in shallow water with apparently a high concentration of small fish as that is their preference. While foraging you will notice an ongoing wing thing, open/close of one wing. It is thought they do this to swoop fish to them. They do not use vision to fish. Once the fish is sensed in it's open beak underwater, it is snapped shut quickly having one of the fastest reflex actions known in the animal kingdom.

I saw this bird on Derexa Pond in Windermere on 6/19 too.