Tag Archives: Wood Stork

Nature

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A roosting Black Vulture was joined by a Wood Stork.

Black Vulture and Wood Stork
Black Vulture and Wood Stork

The Vulture was pretty much unfazed, even with all that flapping going on.

Black Vulture and Wood Stork
Black Vulture and Wood Stork

Settle down, look around…we’re at the top of the world!

Black Vulture and Wood Stork
Black Vulture and Wood Stork

The angle between these birds and my position created an optical illusion that these two birds are close in height. The Wood Stork actually is longer, weighs more, and has a slightly wider wing span.

Black Vulture and Wood Stork
Black Vulture and Wood Stork

Black Vulture:

  • Length: 23.6-26.8 in (60-68 cm)
  • Weight: 56.4-77.6 oz (1600-2200 g)
  • Wingspan: 53.9-59.1 in (137-150 cm)

Wood Stork:

  • Length: 33.5-45.3 in (85-115 cm)
  • Weight: 72.3-93.1 oz (2050-2640 g)
  • Wingspan: 59.1-68.9 in (150-175 cm)

From The Cornell Lab, All About Birds

St. Augustine Alligator Farm, St. Augustine, FL
January 20, 2023

Wading Birds

Wood Storks, Standing Around

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Wood Storks, just hanging around on what was the bottom of the pond before the water was let out.

Wood Storks
Wood Storks

If you’ve read in previous posts about the cattails and cane that are clogging this pond, this stand behind the storks is part of what will get burned.

Wood Storks
Wood Storks

A different group, one kneeling and one laying down–always looks funny but that’s how they do it.

Wood Storks
Wood Storks

Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
December 12, 2022

Wading Birds

Wading Bird Frenzy

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Earlier this fall I mentioned that the water was being drained from the big rice field pond at Magnolia in preparation for burning the invasive cattails. Conditions to start the fire didn’t come together before the approach of a late season hurricane  and with the potential for damage to the dikes from a storm management decided to let the water back in.

This past week they decided to try again. One of the staff told me they hope to burn by the end of December. In the mean time, wading birds have gathered to take advantage of easy feeding in the shallow water.

Wading Bird Frenzy
Wading Bird Frenzy

The alligator ramp in the upper right in the next photo would normally have water up to the lower end.

Wading Bird Frenzy
Wading Bird Frenzy

The Great Egret in the center caught a tiny fish, and a leaf.

Wading Bird Frenzy
Wading Bird Frenzy

It was a grey day so I didn’t get much contrast with all the white birds, but it was a fun show.

Wading Bird Frenzy
Wading Bird Frenzy

Perry Pond, Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston SC
December 4, 2022

Wading Birds

Wood Stork: Tree Top Landing

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With a wingspan around five feet (1.5 meters) the Wood Stork is neat to watch land.

Wood Stork Dropping In
Wood Stork Dropping In

This one was looking for sticks to take to his nest, but first he had to negotiate a touch down.

Wood Stork Landing in Tree
Wood Stork Landing in Tree

On the down beat you can see the green-black highlights in his wing.

Wood Stork Landing in Tree
Wood Stork Landing in Tree

He did successfully land but did not find any of these twigs to his liking and quickly moved on.

Wood Stork Landing in Tree
Wood Stork Landing in Tree

March 6, 2022

Wading Birds

Wood Storks Feeding

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Wood Storks often feed in packs, probing the water with their beaks and stirring up all manor of water creatures. It’s hard to say what it might be, but you can see the tiny size of the catch the closest bird is tossing.

Four Wood Storks Feeding
Four Wood Storks Feeding

An optical illusion here, of the first Wood Stork scratching the next one’s head.

Four Wood Storks Feeding
Four Wood Storks Feeding

The group wades along, often swallowing their prey without even lifting their heads.

Four Wood Storks Feeding
Four Wood Storks Feeding

Another small catch is visible as the left-most bird gives his snack a flip.

Four Wood Storks Feeding
Four Wood Storks Feeding

Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, SC
October 29, 2021

Wading Birds

Wood Stork Flying Over Marsh

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Wood Storks have a wingspan of 60 to 70 inches  (150-175 cm) and despite their overall prehistoric look they are quite elegant flyers.

Wood Stork In Flight
Wood Stork In Flight

He wasn’t going far, so he stayed low over the marsh grass.

Wood Stork In Flight
Wood Stork In Flight

In the right light you can see the pretty green tones in the Wood Stork’s dark feathers.

Wood Stork In Flight
Wood Stork In Flight

Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, SC
October 29, 2021