This bird species is no longer endangered. Where are they in South Carolina?
The Southeast U.S. distinct population of the wood stork is no longer a federally-endangered species.
In the 1970s, the estimated population of wood storks had fallen to only 4,000 to 5,000 nesting pairs, according to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. Wood storks were listed as endangered in 1984 due to altered water flows and loss of wetland habitat.
The SCDNR said that after years of habitat restoration and conservation, the population has rebounded to an estimate 10,000 to 14,000 nesting pairs.
Mikayla Thistle, SCDNR wildlife biologist, said much of South Carolina’s breeding and foraging habitat was already in place, but habitat loss from dredging canals in south Florida drastically impacted the species’ population.
“Colonies in South Florida were abandoned or experienced nesting failures because enough food was not available,” she said. “As conditions in south Florida became unsuitable, the breeding range began to shift northward.”
Wood storks typically use South Carolina wetlands as post-nesting foraging grounds in the summer and fall. They were first documented in the state in 1981, and it now supports between 3,000 and 4,000 nesting pairs annually, Thistle said.
“Human-created or modified wetlands can provide both foraging and breeding habitat for wood storks and have played a large role in recovery,” she said. “Many colonies in South Carolina are in impounded wetlands, giving land managers a level of control over habitat conditions.”
Wood storks primarily nest in trees and shrubs that are surrounded by water. By controlling aquatic and shrubby vegetation, predators are prevented from accessing the nest. Vegetation also blocks the movement of alligators, which provide further protection from predators to wood storks.
Are wood storks common near the Grand Strand?
Huntington Beach State Park sees a flock every year, said Joe Cannon, a volunteer at the park.
They are most common to see August through November, he said. Visitors can occasionally spot them throughout the rest of the year.
In 2025, 82% of wood stork colonies were on privately-owned land, Thistle said. The largest number of nests were recorded in Colleton County, and the Ashepoo-Combahee-Edisto (ACE) Basin is a focus area for wood stork habitat management and conservation.
SCDNR provides assistance to landowners who are interested in managing habitat to support wood storks, Thistle said.