Reserva Ecológica Costanera Sur

Sitio realizado por aficionados a la observación de aves desde 10 de enero 2006

Wood Stork - Mycteria americana

Order: Ciconiiformes - Family: Ciconiidae
Status: Summer visitor. Habitat: Ponds


Summer visitor staying short at the reserve. Much more commonly seen in flight. More numerous groups during migration back to the north

All records since January 2014

Adult
Tuyuyú/Wood Stork© J. Simón Tagtachian
White. Blackish and bald head and neck. Black remiges and tail visible in flight. Bill with curved tip

Immature
Tuyuyú/Wood Stork© J. Simón Tagtachian
Yellowish bill and feathered head and neck becoming bald and blackish
Tuyuyú/Wood Stork© J. Simón Tagtachian

Discovered by Liliana on March 9th 2017 in the Coypu Pond. Different individuals were observed during a week Tuyuyú/American Wood Stork© Liliana Rodríguez
Tuyuyú/American Wood Stork© Elsa y Guillermo
Tuyuyú/American Wood Stork© Juan carlos Ferreyra
Tuyuyú/American Wood Stork© Marco Fidalgo
Espátula tuyuyú/Spoonbill-Wood Stork© J. Simón Tagtachian

Migration



Wood Stork
Mycteria americana
18-04-10 © Roberto Ares

A hundred of individuals flew past the reserve following the coastline, certainly on its migration route to the north. Some time later only 70 individuals cambe back. Some reason, perhaps bad weather conditions, caused them to stop. Since they could not find a place big enough to be all together, they scattered in groups. This group reached the chimneys of the electricity plant, circled them a couple of times and disappeared from sight. They possibly landed in the surroundings. Half an hour later a small group of 30 individuals was seen flying north and then south again.


Wood Stork - Migration



Wood Stork
Mycteria americana
03-05-15 © Cora Rimoldi
On Sunday, 3rd of May at midmorning I filmed this group of woodstorks climbing on to thermal currents to begin their journey to the north. I immediatley associated the scene to their migration. It is by late summer (and this year they stayed till the very end) when these big flocks can be seen. This is not the case when they arrive here possibly because they separate previously, but when they leave they gather in certain places and if you are at the right moment and place you can enjoy this magnificent view.
This group was ascending the thermal current, which means they overnighted at the reserve. There were approximately 75 individuals. I suppose they must have arrived on Friday and had to stay due to the rain. On Sunday, instead, the day was beautiful. At mid morning they took off with the aid of thermal currents. I only saw this group, but luckily from another position Daniel and Martín observed another group flying from the south and tell us these two groups joined.
Wood Stork
03-05-15 © Daniel Zelener

Migration

Wood Stork
03-05-15 © Daniel Zelener

Migration

Wood Stork
03-05-15 © Daniel Zelener

Migration

Daniel's photos were taken at 10:26. This is the group flying from the south. Almost 65 individuals total this group.
An hour later they saw a bigger flock also flying from the south. 180 individuals formed this group and there were six stowaway roseate spoonbills
Wood Stork
03-05-15 © Daniel Zelener

Migration

Wood Stork
03-05-15 © Daniel Zelener

Migration

Photos taken at 11:39.
But this is not the end of the story. On Monday Diego Bastías photographed another group which was ascending the thermal current. This means there must have been more bouts of woodstorks and this group descended here to overnight.
Wood Stork
04-05-15 © Claudia y Diego Bastías

Migración

320 woodstorks either passed or stayed at the reserve during migration as is accounted for by the photos, but there may have been more. This fact makes us evaluate the importance of this reserve. Not only for the life it supports and we daily see but for those that use it as a stopover to rest or feed. The woodstork is one these examples. It does not stay long at the reserve but overnights here in their migration journey. Get to know and spread the potentialities of the reserve helps to reinforce its value.




More photographic records since January 2013