Millions of wading birds - Spoonbills, Egrets, Herons and Storks - once dominated Everglades landscapes. Now their numbers have been reduced by 95%. Although a few species are showing some rebound, others just don’t have enough dependable foraging habitat to feed their young.
This spring issue of State of the Everglades provides an update on 2013’s wading birds.
Last year, over 48,000 wading birds nested in the Everglades.This is an improvement, but not enough. Restoration progress and success have contributed to an increase in nesting, but it is still just a fraction of restoration goals.
As Everglades advocates, we must learn what is happening to life throughout the ecosystem - from seagrasses and mangroves, to baitfish and top predators. It is a question of life and abundance. When fish and birds are scarce, there is something wrong with the system. When numbers of fish and birds rebound, the right things are being done. That information tells us the “State of Everglades.”
Take a moment to check out our latest report for a comprehensive and concise examination of these recent successes and other progress in the fight to restore the River of Grass.
