I think the marshes were at their lowest point when I shot these. The food, and the predators, were in close quarters.
Moving between watering holes was just like a parade.

Most of the time there is a hierarchy, size wins. Speed became more important.

The Storks were still in charge, hard to compete with those long legs.

The Spoonbill move pretty quick too, and the Storks don’t intimidate them.

Of course there’s always one that makes their own rules.

Why not fly in? Good question. Wading birds almost always walk around if it’s not a long distance.
Very funny, the snowies look like little fairies compared to the wood storks! BTW I’ve sent through a permission request “comment” to Ellen, hoping to use 4 of her photos from the feisty GBH chick series.
I’ll remind her if she hasn’t seen it yet.
Yeah the Snowy look so small next to the Storks, but even the big Herons look up at them 😀.
I am not sure that last one was a friend.
Perhaps, but he hasn’t bothered any lately either.