beautiful manicure on this wood stork

I wish I knew where she got her nails done! Such pretty fingers and nails. Soaking in mud and algae must be the trick!

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.

Wood Stork

The wood stork was by himself tonight. This morning and yesterday for sure there was a second one here.

Wood Stork

Wood Storks are on the US Endangered species list. There are only 4,000-5,000 left and it is thought they could become extinct by the end of the century. They are wading in a retention pond in my subdivision. 23,000 acres around us is being developed and it is disrupting habitat. Species verified at whatbird.com