After being listed under the Endangered Species Act in 1984, wood stork numbers have rebounded significantly. Do the birds still need protection?
Wood storks might not be as well known as bald eagles, but as of 2026, they have one major thing in common: they’re both conservation success stories.
On February 9, 2026, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced it will delist the wood stork from its list of endangered and threatened species. The only stork native to North America, the wood stork’s population numbers have rebounded so significantly that officials feel it no longer requires the rigorous federal protection that it had previously received.
Wood Storks: Conservation History
Wood storks were first listed under the Endangered Species Act in 1984. Habitat loss had dramatically decreased the population, lowering it from approximately 20,000 breeding pairs in the 1930s to just 6,040 breeding pairs at the time the bird was listed. Because wood storks rely heavily on shallow wetlands to hunt, as those wetlands vanished, so did the bird’s food sources.
Thankfully, after the birds were listed under the Endangered Species Act, conservation efforts began to boost their numbers. Scientists monitored the cleanliness of water in the birds’ range, as well as the availability of suitable habitat for the birds to hunt, breed, and bounce back. Those efforts worked: wood storks were moved from “endangered” to “threatened” in 2014.
As of 2026, the breeding population is estimated between 10,000 and 14,000. They’re no longer receiving protection from the Endangered Species Act, but wood storks will still be monitored under the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s 10-year post-delisting plan.
Some Call for Additional Protection
While the bird’s numbers have certainly improved since the ’80s, some wildlife advocates and environmental groups believe this is too soon to delist them. Modifications to (and cutbacks on) government policies regarding wetland preservation, not-high-enough population numbers in key habitats, and the number of surviving chicks are top concerns.
Where You Can See a Wood Stork
To spot a wood stork for yourself, head to the southeastern United States. In winter they spend time along the Gulf and lower Atlantic coasts. Birders can also stop by their permanent range in Florida.
Wherever you spot a wood stork, take note of their unique hunting style. They move slowly through the water and feel for prey — including fish, amphibians, and reptiles — with their bill. When something bumps into their bill, then then snap their bill shut… and swallow their food whole.
Sources
- Duke Vertices, “Back From the Brink: Wood Storks“
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology, “Wood Stork: Life History“
