A wood stork.
The Wood Stork (Mycteria americana) is a large, bald-headed wading bird that stands more than 3 feet (0.9 meters) tall, has a 5 foot (1.5 meter) wing spread, and weighs 4 to 6 pounds (1.8 to 2.7 kg). It is the only stork breeding in the United States and was placed on the Federal Endangered Species list in 1984. The species was downlisted from endangered to threatened in June 2014, reflecting a successful conservation and recovery effort spanning three decades.
Human encroachment and diversion of water flow has decreased the number of breeding pairs in the Everglades National park. They may have moved north in search of a suitable habitat.
The Native people living in the park confirmed that decades ago it was a common sight to spot pairs of Wood Storks but they seemed to have gone away..
On my next visit , I want to detour to Everglades city and visit the Smallwood's Store established in 1906 and also the inappropriately named Everglades city Gun and Rifle Club..
