Since working at the Pelican Bay office I've spotted a lot of different birds on the way to work and at the office. On about 3 rare occasions, about this time last year, I spotted a tall strange looking bird with white feathers, but was unable to pull over anywhere to take photos or ID it.
The last day of Biketoberfest I came down with a horrible cold that really put me out of commission for at least a week. I was going to the office just to make sure our News Journal ads were sent out, then going home and back to bed.
As I was going home one day I spotted a pair of that same strange looking bird again, however ~ once again ~ in a bad position to pull over.
The next day I was ready, in a lane I could safely turn right from & go into a parking lot in case they were still there.
Hot Dog! There they were! On the side of busy LPGA Blvd at the corner of Williamson Blvd, where there is a nicely landscaped office building. I quick put on my signal, turned right then pulled into the parking lot and slowly approached where I saw the couple. On my way to the strange birds I saw a flock of Ibis looking for bugs.
I love the Ibis, there is just something about this bird that I find pretty, perhaps the eyes, or pink curved beak or their white feathers, I don't know...
They seem elegant to me for some reason.
Of course I've never gotten this view of any bird before! I was trying to get a head on shot and didn't noticed the other bird behind the one I was actually shooting.
There was a nice hedge in between where the Ibis were and the strange birds, I couldn't see the strange birds while I was taking those photos above so I slowly crept my car up to the hedge as not to scare them off. As I came around the hedge I got my first good look at these guys and thought... (I thought about stopping here and making this a two part cliffhanger)
MAN! What ugly creatures! What are they?
It looks like a vulture with a long beak and white feathers!
I stayed in my car as not to disturb either bird.
I figured the male was the closer one, it appeared to almost be protecting the one that was relaxing in the shade.
After shooting a few shots off I went home and hit my new favorite website, whatbird.com and discovered my new find was the endangered Wood Stork. (I'll get more into the endangered part in a few..)
When mom and dad told you that the stork brought you, this isn't exactly what you pictured... is it?
This is the only species of Stork in North America.
They stand almost 4 feet tall and their wing span is over 5 feet wide. They have been known to fly as high as 6000 feet up and their eggs are "bigger then tennis balls".
They nest in groups or colonies in trees (thus the name Wood Stork), their nests can be as big as 48 inches around. I know of a few eagles nests that are a bit bigger, but that is one big nest.
They basically wade through the water with their mouth open like the one above until their victim gets caught in their beak, then they snap it closed. The fish never saw it coming!
What I found fascinating was originally the Wood Stork was thought to be of the Ibis family, and here I found two with a flock of Ibis.
Last week, once again on my way to work, I passed a Walgreens that had a pond and fountain next door to it and there sat another Wood Stork. I was able to pull into Walgreens and park, then slowly approached the bird on foot.
This guy wasn't too thrilled with me, I didn't get very close, I could see it was ready to bolt into the air.
I couldn't find online why they have no feathers on their heads.
I know why vultures are bald, due to their eating habits. Wood Storks however don't eat the same prey. If anyone knows the answer, please let me know in the comment section. Thanks!
Why The Wood Stork Is Endangered:
This is another animal that we as humans have put in danger of extinction with destruction of their habitat (draining of their wet lands) development, pollution and pesticides are just some of the causes for their decline.
In 1984 the Wood Stork was put on the Endangered List because there were only 4.500 breeding pairs, down from over 60,000 in the early 1900s. Now there may be as many as 7,000 breeding pairs. That isn't a lot kids, we're talking 20 years later and only 2,000 or so more birds.
Humans are to remain 100 feet from these animals and their nesting sites. (I'm glad I didn't try to get any closer)
I found an excellent Wood Stork FAQ page, http://research.myfwc.com/support/view_faqs.asp?id=38 with some really good questions and answers on this bird, but nothing about lack of head feathers.
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