Wood Stork - Ross Feldner Happy New Year! Storks often represent new beginnings in folklore so to start the New Year we have the Wood Stork. They were a symbol of new beginnings in Christianity as well as Ancient Egyptian and Native American cultures. Because storks have lived on Earth for roughly 50 million years, they’ve appeared in many ancient cultures. In Christianity, several folklores discuss storks delivering babies. There are even paintings that depict these birds delivering baby Jesus to Mother Mary and so many ancient Christians saw storks as a symbol of new hope and life. In Egyptian mythology, Goddess Isis, the deity of fertility and motherhood, was portrayed with a stork by her side. Native American tribes see storks as a symbol of fertility and new beginnings. The Wood Stork is the only stork native to North America, living in southern swamps, marshes and ponds. This massive bird is entirely white except for its flight feathers, tail and scaly “bald” head. When in flight it can soar like raptors and vultures on thermal breezes high in the sky. The Wood Stork likes to feed in lines, one after another, with their heads down feeling for prey, which includes a variety of fish, especially minnows and mullet. It will also feed on crayfish, crabs, water insects, snakes, baby turtles, frogs, rodents and even baby alligators! | |
