All need to act to stop loss of wood storks in the Everglades
Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell announced last month the federal decision to reclassify the American wood stork fromendangered to threatened status.
This, she said, “demonstrates howthe Endangered SpeciesAct can be an effective tool to protect and recover imperiled wildlife fromthe brink of extinction ....”
Yet, the decision reduces government’s power to protect this unique species. That is a setback forwood storks. While they have expanded their range and numbers, thiswading bird remains seriously at risk in its historic breeding range.
The species is doing so poorly in the Everglades that the birds have all but disappeared fromthe site of the largest reported colony at Corkscrew Swamp. Decline ofwood storks in South Florida is largely due to drainage ofwetlands where the birds forage for fish and other prey. The loss ofwetlands within easy reach of a colony is especially important, as foraging parents require 400 pounds of fish per nest. Without abundant prey to feed their young, wading birds have to abandon their nests and leave.
With this in mind, Audubon objected to weakening protection ofwood storks under the Endangered SpeciesAct. In comments filed with theU.S. Fish andWildlife Service, Audubon made the point thatwetland losses continue to occur across the Greater Everglades region in part due to failure of state and federal regulations. Loss ofwetlands in South Florida has led to a reduction of more than 90 percent of South Floridawading birds. Audubon has provided scientific studies that showhow wetlands-permitting programs actually contribute to the decline ofwading birds and made recommendations about how agencies can do a better job of protecting the shallowwetlands that are such important food sources for allwading birds.
Wood storks are a key indicator species for progress onEverglades restoration. Their regional status in South Florida should be seriously considered in decisions about the health of the overall population. Billions are being spent to restorewetlands at the same time that existingwetlands are paved over. This ironic contrast reinforces Audubon’s conclusion that without a recovery ofwood storks in the GreaterEverglades, in general, and at Corkscrew, in particular, no declaration of victory should be made.
Sadly, the decision to reduce the status of wood storks came as a result of litigation fromhomebuilders who object to regulations limiting development of flood plains and otherwetlands. Florida developers seized on evidence that thewood storks are flourishing in coastal South Carolina to argue that habitat protection in Florida should be abandoned.
The expansion of breeding range owes nothing to the Endangered SpeciesAct, agency action or the tin applause coming fromsome wildlife groups. The Department of Interior held off as long as it could, but finally succumbed to the developers.
Audubon scientists and staff celebrate the increasedwood stork numbers, butwe remain disappointed that theU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has ignored our calls for caution based on fundamental questions of science over stork recovery. The service’s action serves to abandon recovery of storks and otherwading birds in the species’ historic base of the GreaterEverglades, including Corkscrew Swamp.
Audubon owns and manages the 13,000-acre Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary nearNaples, Fla., which has for over 50 years hosted the nation’s largest nesting rookery forwood storks. Corkscrew is a destination for more than100,000 visitors each year. People come fromaround the world and pay good money to see the birds and the ancient cypress forest. Somehow courts and agencies reached the conclusion that the business of building houses on cheap, flood-prone land is more important than our ecotourism business. We disagree. The GreaterEverglades, including Corkscrew Swamp in thewest, are unique in being theworld’s largestwetland ecosystem. But those beautiful marshes and cypress forests are less interesting without the great colonies of birds that once graced the region.
We hope that federal and state agencies will find success in protectingwood storks and restoring habitats. But it is too early to claim success.