Feds to Remove Iconic Florida Bird from Endangered Species List

Environmental groups argue the wood stork hasn't met recovery criteria in its historic stronghold of Southwest Florida.

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced plans to delist the wood stork, the nation's only stork, from the Endangered Species List on March 12. While the agency says the bird's population has grown in other Southeastern states, environmental advocates argue the wood stork is still struggling in its historic nesting grounds around Naples, Florida, and that the delisting criteria have not been fully met.

Why it matters

The wood stork was once a common sight in the skies over Southwest Florida, with nesting colonies of up to 100,000 birds. Its removal from the endangered list is seen as a conservation success, but some groups argue the decision is premature and fails to account for the bird's continued decline in its traditional Florida habitat.

The details

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says the wood stork population has rebounded in other Southeastern states, allowing the agency to move forward with delisting the bird on March 12. However, Audubon of the Western Everglades argues the criteria for recovery and delisting have not been met, particularly in the wood stork's historic nesting grounds around Naples. The group says the bird's population has collapsed in South Florida due to habitat loss and altered water cycles, which are critical for the wood stork's foraging and breeding.

  • The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced plans to delist the wood stork on February 9, 2026.
  • The wood stork is set to be removed from the Endangered Species List on March 12, 2026.

The players

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

The federal agency responsible for managing and protecting endangered species in the United States.

Audubon of the Western Everglades

A regional chapter of the National Audubon Society that advocates for environmental conservation in Southwest Florida.

Brad Cornell

Policy director for Audubon of the Western Everglades.

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What they’re saying

“The criteria for recovery and delisting, two sets of criteria, are not being met. The conclusion is that the species has recovered and it has not.”

— Brad Cornell, Policy director, Audubon of the Western Everglades (Naples Daily News)

“The wood stork's recovery is a real conservation success thanks to a lot of hard work from our partners. The Trump administration is working quickly to remove federal protections from species that no longer need them, and I'm proud that the wood stork is another example of that.”

— Brian Nesvik, Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Naples Daily News)

What’s next

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's decision to delist the wood stork will be finalized on March 12, 2026. It's unclear if the bird will retain state-level protections in Florida.

The takeaway

The debate over delisting the wood stork highlights the ongoing tension between federal conservation efforts and local environmental concerns. While the bird's population may have rebounded in other regions, advocates argue the unique challenges facing the wood stork in its historic Southwest Florida habitat have not been adequately addressed.