Wood Stork (Mycteria americana), Mitry Lake, Yuma County

Found 16 Jun 07, at Mittry Lake. This is one of five juveniles. Described as a rare but regular visitor to the Lower Colorado River Valley (LCRV) by Rosenberg, et.al., but the status of Wood Stork has changed significantly since then. Post breeding dispersal of Wood Stork to the Salton Sea in SE California has declined dramatically in the last ten years.These are the first to be observed along the LCRV since 1991.

16 June 2007 photo by Henry Detwiler