Wood Stork
Mark Kiser/FWC
This federally endangered wading bird can be found year-round throughout the state. Several well-established rookeries exist, the largest being at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary in south Florida. The number and timing of the stork nesting season depends on local water levels, and in drought years, Wood Storks will not breed. They prefer to feed in shallow water where there is a heavy concentration of food, such as fish. Outside of the nesting season, Wood Storks become nomadic and can be found almost anywhere with freshwater habitats.
For more information, including a range map and sound recording, visit The Cornell Lab of Ornithology's All About Birds website.
Recommended GFBWT sites:
- Big Bend Wildlife Management Area: Hickory Mound Impoundment
- Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary
- Dinner Island Ranch Wildlife Management Area
- Everglades National Park: Main Entrance
- Fort Matanzas National Monument
- Guana River Wildlife Management Area
- J. N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge
- Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge
- Orlando Wetlands Park
- Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge
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St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge: St. Marks Unit
Events
Bird's habitat
Wood Storks prefer open wetlands (e.g. marshes and ponds) for foraging, but choose forested wetlands (e.g. swamps) for nesting.
