‘Wood storks are some of the largest wading birds inhabiting South Carolina.

Wood storks are distributed from South Carolina to southern South America. In the United States, wood storks concentrate on coastal areas of Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina. They are the only species of stork that resides in the United States.’ (South Carolina Dept. Natural Resources).

These big birds flock together to ‘flush fish’. Storks walk through shallow water stirring up the bottom with their feet. This allows any in the group to catch what others have ‘flushed out’.

As of 2020 there were 7 nesting colonies in South Carolina, with 5 in the ACE Basin. The photo here was taken in the newest rookery at Port Royal, now there are 8 in the state and 6 in the ACE Basin.