Florida Wood Stork
Along the route of my back bay boat tour in Matlacha, there is a pair of wood storks that arrives every year to breed along Shoreview Drive. They are one of Florida’s most iconic wading birds and the only stork that breeds in the U.S.
They make nests high in the trees of mixed hardwood swamps, mangroves, sloughs and cypress stands here in Southwest Florida from late November to early March. It’s likely their nest is somewhere along the Matlacha Aquatic Preserve.
Some people find the birds visually unappealing. They are a very large lanky bird with bald, wrinkled, gray heads, large down-curved bills, and long, skinny legs. Another factor that may seem unappealing is that they are known to urinate on their legs to stay cool.
This factor may indicate they are a rather “stinky” bird. However, when seen in flight, they are much more endearing. They have large black and white wings with a wingspan of five feet. The birds stand up to four feet tall.
The wood stork can be found in Southwest Florida year-round, but their numbers increase significantly in the winter. The birds migrate from North Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina. The migration is often linked to seasonal water levels. As northern water levels drop, storks move to southern wetlands where foraging is more accessible.
They feed on fish, amphibians, snakes, and even small alligators. A wood stork stalks prey by feel, moving slowly through the water, its big thick bill snapping shut when it finds its prey. This hunting method is known as tactile foraging.
Wood storks are social nesters, often building colonies of 100-500 nests in trees on islands or trees in the water. Specific Matlacha/Pine Island locations vary seasonally. The nearby Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary is also a popular breeding ground.
Storks favor tree islands and water-rich areas with receding water levels for foraging. Look for large rookeries in tall trees within swamps and mangrove fringes. Surprisingly, alligators in the water below help deter predators like raccoons from eating their eggs and young. So, where there are alligators, it’s likely the wood storks are nesting nearby in the winter months.
Capt. Cathy Eagle
Capt. Cathy's Boat Tours
Matlacha, Florida
(239) 994-2572
www.CaptainCathy.com
