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Wood Storks - Population size
During the early part of the 20th century, it is estimated that up to 20,000 pairs of storks bred annually. This breeding population had been reduced to fewer than 5,000 pairs by the early 1980’s (ranging between 4,597 and 5,551 pairs annually). Within south Florida and the Everglades, 5,000 - 15,000 pairs nested during the 1930's, but then declined to fewer than 100 pairs in many years during the 1980's. More recently, larger numbers (over 1,000 pairs) have been reported from the Everglades and from the Corkscrew Swamp. In Georgia and South Carolina, numbers of pairs have increased from a few tens in the early 1980's to over 1,000 by the late 1990's. To find out why scientists think storks have declined in south Florida, see Why are storks endangered? To follow discussions and reports on progress towards restoration of stork populations see theWood Stork Newsletter.
Broad River Colony 1941, Everglades
Aerial photo of the Broad River colony in May of 1941, In what is now Everglades National Park. This colony contained some 60,000 nests of Wood Storks, White Ibises and other wading birds, which show as areas of continuous white in the picture. Photograph taken by Alexander Sprunt Jr, of the National Audubon Society.

Numbers of nesting pairs and young fledged at Corkscrew Swamp, 1958 - 2002. This is the longest continuously-running survey of any Wood Stork colony, and typifies the declines of this species in south Florida. For more information, see the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary Home Page