Endangered Wood Stork
The Wood Stork (Mycteria americana) is the only native species of storks found in the United States. It's an endangered species that is at risk of losing it's "Endangered" status because storks have been observed in coastal States near Florida. That might sound like a good thing. But...not so fast.
Seeing Storks in a wider range may make them seem commonplace, but if they become less and less successful at breeding, what does the future hold for them?
The Everglades and other protected areas in Florida are under tremendous environmental pressures, from human encroachment as the population of Florida expands; from agricultural endeavors that divert water and change the quality of the water; from natural disasters; and, from invasive species. So as the Stork goes, maybe so goes the rest.
Life Bird Photograph #151, seen in Shark Valley, Everglades National Park, Florida.
Endangered Wood Stork
The Wood Stork (Mycteria americana) is the only native species of storks found in the United States. It's an endangered species that is at risk of losing it's "Endangered" status because storks have been observed in coastal States near Florida. That might sound like a good thing. But...not so fast.
Seeing Storks in a wider range may make them seem commonplace, but if they become less and less successful at breeding, what does the future hold for them?
The Everglades and other protected areas in Florida are under tremendous environmental pressures, from human encroachment as the population of Florida expands; from agricultural endeavors that divert water and change the quality of the water; from natural disasters; and, from invasive species. So as the Stork goes, maybe so goes the rest.
Life Bird Photograph #151, seen in Shark Valley, Everglades National Park, Florida.