Symbol of Florida's disappearing wetlands

Endangered Species

Wood storks are large wading birds, easily distinguished by their dark featherless heads, stout bills, and white plumage trimmed with black. Roosting and nesting in treetop colonies, wood storks feed on fish in shallow ponds and sloughs. The widespread loss of wetlands over the past century has greatly reduced the number of these birds. As a result, the federal government listed the species as endangered in 1984.

Southeastern United States is northern extent of range

Wood storks nest from coastal South Carolina south through Central and South America to Northern Argentina. In the United States, the largest nesting colonies are in the Big Cypress region of Florida, particularly the National Audubon Society's Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary. Central and northern Florida and southern Georgia also support nesting colonies.

Feeding behavior adapted to cycle of wetlands

The feeding behavior of wood storks differs from most other wading birds; wood storks rely on touch to catch their prey. To feed, a wood stork walks slowly through water with its bill held open under the surface. When a fish, crayfish, or tadpole touches the bill, a reflex causes the bill to snap shut very quickly. The force of this reflex and the bill's sharp edges prevent prey from escaping. This non-visual feeding method is an advantage in shallow, muddy, weed-choked ponds. To catch enough food to feed their young, prey must be abundant, so wood storks time their breeding cycle on seasonally drying wetlands for a concentrated food supply. Other times of the year when less food is required, they search statewide for shallow feeding ponds.

During summer, the rains saturate thousand of acres of Florida, and fish are able to reproduce and grow rapidly. By October, the rains taper off and the waters recede. Fish begin to concentrate in ponds and sloughs. The water area fragments into hundreds of individual ponds that slowly shrink as the dry season progresses. Foraging storks follow the dry-down from upland ponds to wet prairies and coastal marshes.

Successful reproduction depends on an abundant food supply

A pair of wood storks needs about 440 pounds of fish during a breeding season to feed themselves and their young. Therefore, breeding is carefully synchronized with wetland cycles so food is most plentiful when the young are being raised. Young wood storks must be fledged before the summer rains begin and the fish disperse. Droughts in the wet season, heavy rains during the dry season, or inappropriate changes of water levels in association with water management programs can all cause widespread nesting failure.

Wood storks nest in colonies

Wood storks nest in the treetops of cypress or mangrove swamps and, more recently, man-made impoundments. To protect themselves against such predators as raccoons, the birds usually build their nests on islands or in tall trees over water. Nesting begins as early as November in South Florida and as late as spring in North Florida and Georgia. It takes about 130 to 150 days to complete the reproductive cycle so wood storks spend over a third of the year in breeding-related activities.

As the breeding season begins, the colony resounds with the noise of birds looking for mates and nesting sites. Once a mate has been found, the pair builds a nest of sticks, vines, leaves, and Spanish moss. Two to five eggs are laid one to two days apart.

Young grow quickly

The eggs hatch after 28 to 32 days. Newly-hatched chicks weigh about two ounces and are helpless and unable to fly. The eggs hatch in the order in which they were laid, so nestlings differ in size during the first few weeks. Competition for food is fierce and, if it is scarce, only the older chicks will survive. Week-old chicks are fed about 15 times a day and they grow rapidly. The parents take turns guarding the nest and flying to feeding grounds up to 80 miles away.

Parents keep their young cool by shading them from the sun with their wings and by carrying water in their throats and dribbling it over the young chicks. By eight weeks, the young are exercising their wings and, by nine weeks, are ready to leave the nest. Young storks have yellowish bills and feathered necks and heads, at least until their third summer. Sexual maturity is reached at about four years.

Excellent fliers

Wood storks are excellent fliers. By using vertical air currents, they soar thousands of feet into the air and then glide for miles with head and legs outstretched. Storks descending from high altitudes can perform amazing dives, rolls, and turns.

Population declines linked to loss of wetlands

Wood storks live for at least ten years, but mortality is high during the first year as the newly-fledged young learn to fend for themselves. The birds also face an array of such man-made perils as pesticides and collisions with structures. The decline of the wood stork, however, is largely attributed to poor reproduction caused by an inadequate food supply. The lack of food is caused by the disruption and drainage of wetlands and unsuitable water management practices. In addition, favorable nesting sites are becoming scarce. Many birds now nest in man-made impoundments managed for other purposes; this makes them less reliable for rookeries.

The well-being of the wood stork is and indicator of the health of our wetlands The loss of these majestic birds would signal the disruption of a valuable Florida environment.

Commitment to the environment

It is the Florida Power & Light Company's intent to continue to conduct business in an environmentally responsible manner.
Accordingly, FPL will:

• Comply with the spirit and intent, as well as the letter of environmental laws, regulations and standards.
• Incorporate environmental protection and stewardship as an integral part of the design, construction, operation and maintenance of our facilities.
• Encourage the wise use of energy to minimize the impact on the environment .
• Communicate effectively on environmental issues.
• Conduct periodic self-evaluations and report performance.