Over the last week, Olde Florida Golf Club members and guests may have noticed a pair of large and unique birds hanging around the lake between hole 14 and 15. The birds are Wood Storks and they arrived on Christmas Day.
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| A Pair of Wood Storks on Hole 15 at Olde Florida on 1/2/20 |
The Wood Stork is a bald-headed wading bird, that stands more than 3 feet tall, has a 5 foot wing spread, and weighs 4 to 6 pounds. The Wood Stork is the only stork breeding in the United States. In 1984 the Wood Stork was listed as a federal endangered species; however, due to successful conservation efforts it was down-listed to “threatened” status in June of 2014.
The Wood Stork is abundant in South Florida because it prefers tropical and subtropical habitats, with distinct wet and dry seasons. The Wood Stork feeds on mostly small, freshwater fish. They gather fish in shallow water primarily utilizing tactile instincts. The stork sweeps its submerged bill from side to side as it walks slowly forward. When prey is felt, its bill can snap shut with a 25-millisecond reflex action. Amazingly, each breeding pair requires over 400 pounds of fish per breeding season. They have certainly been enjoying VERY healthy meals during their stay at Olde Florida!
As in previous years, I would anticipate the Wood Stork’s to leave our property in the near future and begin nesting. The nearby Corkscrew Swamp has historically been home to a very large nesting colony.
