This powerful Wood Stork has flown to the very top of a tall cypress tree to get just the perfect branch to take back to the nest. Even though it was the end of May when I took these photos, the Storks were still busy raising their young in our local wetlands.
“The Wood Stork is one of Florida’s signature wading birds, a long-legged, awkward-looking bird on land that soars like a raptor in the air (Florida Audubon).”
During ‘The Season’ (winter/spring) here in Palm Beach County, people flock to the boardwalk to watch as the adult Wood Storks fly back and forth, bringing nesting materials back to their families. 
Much as I love Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, I believe this sign above is a bit outdated. I would venture to say the Wood Storks are now nesting in Palm Beach County in greater numbers than perhaps anywhere else. For details, see this very informative Palm Beach Post article. 
In the past several years, Wood Storks have absolutely taken over nearly all the nesting trees in our local Wakodahatchee Wetlands, crowding the Herons and Egrets of all kinds, as well as Anhingas and Cormorants. A “bonanza” for the Wood Storks, and for us! 
Interesting looking birds, wonderfully captured!
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Yes, they are truly unique looking, Belinda … and quite large. It’s a treat to see large numbers of them soaring on thermals way overhead, too.
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Awesome shots! I very much enjoyed photographing Wood Storks during vacation in Florida several years ago, pretty neat-looking bird!
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Thanks, Donna. I just came across this cool article in Forbes by someone who visited Florida to see the Wood Storks recently. https://www.forbes.com/sites/maryannanderson/2019/06/13/the-wild-earth-and-wood-storks-flocking-to-see-one-of-natures-most-regal-and-graceful-birds/
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Love the article! And, oh my, the stork hatchlings are absolutely adorable. Thank you for sharing!
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Great! I thought you would enjoy it!
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Great nesting captures BJ of a very large bird we never see!
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Thanks, AB. Although there are many in our area, they are pretty hard to come by anywhere else in North America, too – our only species of stork.
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What a sweet post on such a dynamic bird and in such abundance here in South Florida. Thanks BJ
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Thanks, Berny! Dynamic is a great word for them, and we’re so lucky that we see so many of them every year! Did you see the link to the really interesting article in Forbes that I just posted in reply to another comment?
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I went to Corkscrew Swamp last September but didn’t see many birds ( It was offseason)
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It’s interesting that you say this. We too have found that Corkscrew Swamp can be packed with all kinds of birds during “the season“, and yet very sparse at other times of year.
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Something funny happened with my comments, only half of it went through to you. But it doesn’t matter now. I was a bit disappointed with Corkscrew Swamp, good thing I was with my wife and son and made it better. Thanks, Carol. 🙂
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I love the size of the Wood Stork, they look so graceful.
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It’s quite remarkable how large and lumbering they look when just sitting on a narrow branch, but, you’re right, they are really graceful and powerful in flight.
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Love the wood storks!
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