The Importance of the Water Conservation Areas in the Everglades to the Endangered Wood Stork (Mycteria americana)
Bancroft GT, Hoffman W, Sawicki RJ, Ogden JC. 1992. The Importance of the Water Conservation Areas in the Everglades to the Endangered Wood Stork (Mycteria americana). Conservation Biology. 6(3):392-398
The authors conducted systematic aerial surveys for Wood Storks in Water Conservation Areas in the Florida Everglades to determine population estimates. During 1985-1989, numbers of the endangered Wood Stork (Mycteria americana) showed an annual peak in February or March of 1233 to 7874 birds. The annual maxima are significantly greater in dry years than in wet years (P < 0.05). Most storks are non-breeders and are found foraging in open habitats along the eastern and southern parts of the conservation areas. It is estimated that in spring, the total southeastern United States population of Wood Storks is between 14,000 and 20,000 individuals. The annual maxima of the water conservation areas were at least 8% to 10% of the total southeastern U.S. population in wet years and possibly as much as 55% in dry years. The Water Conservation Areas appear to be critical foraging habitat for wintering storks, especially during drought years when most of the rest of south Florida is dry. Changes in the management of these areas could have a major impact on the status of storks throughout the southeastern United States. (from Author's abstract)
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Bancroft, G; Hoffman, Wayne; Sawicki, Richard; Ogden, John
- Units
- EVER
- Keywords
- Aerial Surveys, Animal Studies, Habitats, Population, Water Conservation Areas FL, Wood Stork (Mycteria americana)