Wood Stork Use of Roadway Corridor Features in South Florida

16411052017Final reportPDFTech ReportBDV27-977-02BirdsHighway corridorsAerial surveyingBiomassMarshesFishesCanalsSwalesSlopesNatural resourcesAnimal behaviorConservationPondsWildlifeBirdsStorksEnvironmentHighwaysWaterwaysUnited StatesFloridaFlorida Atlantic UniversityGawlik, Dale E.Klassen, Jessica A.Evans, Betsy A.Florida Atlantic University. Dept. of Biological SciencesFlorida. Dept. of TransportationCyriacks, WendyGottlieb, AndyAscanio, FernandoUS Transportation CollectionThe authors conducted a three-year study to determine (1) features of corridors and neighboring natural areas that are preferred and avoided by wood storks based on monthly aerial surveys and bimonthly roadway surveys of storks in corridors and adjacent natural areas; (2) biomass and community structure of aquatic fauna (stork prey) produced in corridor features and natural marsh based on samples taken monthly using throw-traps and minnow traps; and (3) the portion of the fish community in corridors that is considered stork prey based on a comparison between food samples regurgitated by nestling storks and samples of the available aquatic fauna in roadways and natural marshes. The authors found that storks were more likely to use canals and permanently inundated ponds than they were to use swales, ephemeral ponds, and natural marshes within 500 m of the roadway. Furthermore, they found that stork prey production in permanently inundated ponds and canals increased with decreasing slope and increasing urban cover type. In contrast, prey production in ephemeral features increased with steeper slopes. The diet study showed that storks ate fish that were more similar to prey communities found within permanently inundated ponds and canals than to prey in the natural marsh. If FDOT wants to discourage stork use of roadways, then canals and permanently inundated ponds should have steep slopes to discourage stork foraging and reduce prey production. Swales and ephemeral ponds should have shallow slopes to reduce prey production and should be designed to drain water quickly to discourage stork use.74