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USFWS Wood Stork Conservation and Management for Landowners

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USFWS Wood Stork Conservation and Management for Landowners General Information Contents Common Name: Wood Stork Introduction Size and description ........................................................ 1 Scientific Name: Mycteria americana Range ............................................................................. 1 Population Status Relationships to other birds: Wood Storks are members of History in the United States ............................................... 1 the Family Ciconidae (storks) and are related to ibises, herons, When and why was this species listed as Endangered? ...... 2 vultures, and pelicans. Natural History Breeding ......................................................................... 2 Nicknames: wood ibis, flinthead, ironhead, gourdhead, and Foraging.......................................................................... 4 gannet. Roosting.......................................................................... 5 Flight ............................................................................... 5 Seasonal movements ....................................................... 5 Conservation Stork–human interactions ............................................... 5 Contaminants .................................................................. 6 Research......................................................................... 6 Managing for Storks Nesting habitat ................................................................. 7 Foraging habitat .............................................................. 8 Programs to Assist Landowners U.S. Department of Agriculture......................................... 9 U.S. Department of Interior .............................................. 9 Other groups ................................................................... 9 (Harris Neck NWR) Wading bird comparisons White Ibis Great Egret Wood Stork 111 Introduction Range Wood Storks are large wading birds that above. Young storks in their first year after In the United States, Wood Storks currently usually feed in shallow fresh- and saltwater leaving the nest have yellow bills and gray nest in only three southeastern states: Florida, wetlands and breed in trees or shrubs over feathers on their head and neck. Sub-adult Georgia, and South Carolina. In the late water or on islands. The appearance and storks, between 1 and 4 years of age, have summer and early autumn months, after the behavior of Wood Storks make them a breeding season, storks disperse from their distinctive sighting in wetlands in colonies and are also seen in North Carolina southeastern states. The population of storks and the Gulf Coast states (Alabama through in the United States is at risk and is protected Texas). Storks marked with leg bands as as a federally Endangered Species. The nestlings in Georgia have been observed as purpose of this brochure is to inform far west as Mississippi. However, most, if not landowners and other interested groups all, of the storks seen in Louisiana and Texas about the habits of this unique species and may be dispersing north from populations present ways to possibly aid in their recovery. in Mexico. Wood Storks also are found in Central and South America. The population Size and Description status of Wood Storks outside the United Wood Storks stand 33 to 45 inches tall, weigh States ranges from healthy to threatened to 5 to 8 pounds, and have a wingspan of 58 to unknown. 65 inches. Adult Wood Storks are generally white, except for their tails and the ends and Population Status trailing edges of their wings, which are black. History in the United States The head and neck of adults are unfeathered Historically, Wood Storks may have nested in and the skin appears dark and scaly. Wood all of the southeastern coastal states from Storks also appear to have a bald “cap” just Juvenile Wood Storks (Harris Neck NWR). South Carolina through Texas. In the last over their eyes. The bill of the stork is dark, century, prior to the 1970s, all Wood Stork thick, and curves slightly downward near the darker bills than the younger birds and their nesting occurred in Florida, primarily tip. Their legs and feet are dark, although bald “cap” is apparent, but they still have southern Florida. As human population and their toes are lighter in color and often appear some feathering on their necks. agriculture grew in the late 1900s, demands pink during the breeding season. on that region’s water supply increased and Because of their unique appearance, it is the natural hydrology of southern Florida Three “age-classes” of Wood Storks can be difficult to confuse storks with other wading changed. Numbers of nesting storks, which distinguished, including the adults described birds. White Ibis, which are all white with feed primarily on fish and therefore are black wing tips, are closely linked to regional hydrology (see much smaller than more below), dropped considerably in the storks and have red bills. 1900s. At the same time, Wood Storks began Adult Wood Stork (J. N. “Ding” Darling NWR). Sub-adult Wood Stork (Everglades NP). 222 Natural History Breeding Habitat—Wood Storks typically nest in groups termed colonies or rookeries. Other wading bird species such as egrets, herons, and ibis often nest at the same sites. Storks nest in trees or shrubs surrounded by water, as well as on islands. From 2-20 nests can be found in a single tree. Water around the nest trees provides an effective protective barrier against most terrestrial predators. In drought years when nest sites are dry, or in other situations when water is drained from under nest trees, the primary nest predator of storks–the raccoon–can literally wipe out most of the nestling birds produced in a Distribution of Wood Storks in the United States and Mexico. The green region denotes the likely breeding range. Following breeding, colony. Raccoons usually do not invade storks may disperse into areas denoted by dashed red lines. colonies when wetlands have plenty of water because alligators inhabit most of the southeastern wetlands where storks nest. The presence of alligators, which are large breeding farther north. Regular nesting by South Carolina and their young are protected enough to eat raccoons, usually keeps storks in Georgia was first reported in the throughout the year by this act of Congress. raccoons from swimming to nest trees. The mid-1970s and in South Carolina in 1981. Habitats that these birds require for nesting, alligators in colony sites get the benefit of By the 1990s, 40-50% of Wood Stork nesting feeding, and roosting are also protected consuming any food or unfortunate nestlings in the United States occurred in Georgia and throughout the year. State laws within that fall from wading bird nests. South Carolina. An extensive, multi-agency Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and South effort is currently underway to restore the Carolina also protect Wood Storks. If you Breeding Cycle—Wood Storks need natural (historic) hydrology of the have any questions concerning what you approximately 100-120 days for adults to Everglades ecosystem in south Florida and should or should not do with storks and/or proceed from courtship and nest building re-establish consistent stork nesting there. stork habitat on your land, please contact to the departure of their young from the appropriate agency (within your state) breeding sites. The timing of stork nesting When and why was this species listed at the end of this brochure. and the production of young are generally listed as Endangered? The Wood Stork was listed as a federally “endangered species” in 1984 due to the severe drop in stork population size throughout the 1900s. The “endangered” classification means that there is a concern that this species could become extinct if the negative impacts continue. The population decline was thought to result from loss and alteration of the wetland feeding habitats storks need to survive. As an endangered species, the breeding population of Wood Storks is now protected under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, which states that it is unlawful to harass, harm, pursue, capture, or collect any such listed species anywhere within the United States. All Wood Wood Storks feeding with other wading birds, including White Ibis (with red bills) and Snowy Egrets (Merritt Storks breeding in Florida, Georgia, and Island NWR). 333 where they hope to nest; these territories are defended from other males. Individual female storks then begin to approach males. Males typically chase the females from their nest site over a period that can last from hours to days, until the male finally accepts the female as his mate or the female decides to try elsewhere. Parental behavior—Both parents build and maintain the nest, which ranges from 20-35 inches in diameter, and share in incubation duties. Storks can lay up to five eggs, but a three-egg clutch is normal. Eggs are incubated for 25-27 days prior to hatching. Hatchling storks weigh about two ounces (60 grams), and are attended by at least one parent until they are approximately four Courtship (Chew Mill Pond–private land). weeks old. Until they reach that age, they are protected against avian predators such as them. Nestlings grow at an incredible rate. At Wading bird rookery (Birdsville–GA DNR). vultures, crows, and grackles and are shaded age 14 days, they weigh 10 times more than dependent upon feeding conditions in a from the hot sun. During very warm periods, they did at hatching and they are 25 times region. Storks nesting from central Florida heavier at 28 days of age. When the chicks to
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