The Disappearing Wood Stork

For the past five years, the Wood Stork has had fewer

A Florida Wood Stork

and fewer successful nesting seasons in the place where
it historically has had the highest numbers in the country,
the Corkscrew Swamp in South Florida.

Now in the sixth year of a downhill curve, things do not
look any better for this very endangered bird.

An unforgettable memory for us of this magnificent bird, came about six or
seven years ago in an area near Lake Okeechobee, out on a long fishing pier.

A man standing near us was obviously engaged with a Wood Stork in a humorous situation,
so we stayed to watch the show.

The man would wait for a bite and quickly begin to reel in his catch, but just as soon as he did,
the bird would jump and snatch his prize right off of the hook.

It was both funny and amazing to us, but not so much for the frustrated fisherman.

He said, "Just as soon as I catch one, he jumps in and takes it, I've been here all day
and it hasn't stopped."

But we could see, that he did not really seem to mind all that much about his losses.

Thinking about the lack of food and habitat left for this beautiful bird now, we had actually
witnessed a tragedy in the making.

When a species become so hungry that it will stand and fight with a human for something to eat,
what should that tell us?

Couldn't we all manage with one less recreational lake area to fish, boat, swim, picnic,
play and party in, to save a species in a desperate state of existence?

The Wood Stork used to number in the thousands here in Florida,
but they have been completely decimated.

They are on the brink and could use a little help from us, before it is too late.

Wood Stork Shuns Corkscrew Swamp