FORAGING ECOLOGY OF WOOD STORKS (MYCTERIA-AMERICANA) IN EAST-CENTRAL GEORGIA .1. CHARACTERISTICS OF FORAGING SITES

We examined the characteristics of foraging sites of Wood Storks (Mycteria americana) from the Birdsville colony in east-central Georgia. The storks foraged in many of the available wetland habitats, including swamps, ponds and marshes as well as drainage ditches and flooded logging roads. However, based on the availability of the foraging habitat types in the area from satellite imagery, they fed more frequently than expected in open habitats such as ponds and marshes. Foraging sites were characterized by still or slow-moving water that was <50 cm deep with sparse aquatic and woody vegetation. There was considerable variation in prey density at foraging sites, but most sites had low densities (median = 2.67 items/m2). Storks fed singly or in small groups. The number of storks was not related to most measured habitat characteristics, but was negatively related to density of submergent vegetation. Wetlands not visited by storks did not differ from stork foraging sites in water quality (except turbidity), vegetation characteristics or prey density. There seems to be an abundance of suitable foraging sites and storks do not use them all. We suggest that, in Georgia where there is an abundance of wetlands but most have low prey densities, it is not advantageous for storks to feed in large flocks.