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 the study area it was impossible within the limits of time

 and money to completely cover the area of interest on each

 flight. When possible, flying storks were followed to

 feeding areas to locate feeding congregations. On weekend

 or 1-day flying sessions, however, it proved more

 profitable to make searching flights over areas where water

 levels suggested Wood Storks might be feeding. As the

 season progressed, these areas became more limited. Water

 levels in various sections of the study area were spot-

 checked by air periodically. Feeding areas also were

 located by identifying the major flight line of Wood Storks

 into and out of the rookery area on a given day and

 concentrating the search along that radial.

 Observations during the aerial survey led to the

estimate of the total land area in southwest Florida

currently supporting wading birds and the number of birds

supported per unit area. From these estimates,

calculations were made of the number of birds per hectare

and the gram weight of birds per hectare.



 Characteristics of the Wood Stork Population



Hypothetical Life Table

 The limited information on Wood Stork demography,

supplimented by estimates based on the demography of

related species, formed the background for a life table of

the Wood Stork to provide information for use in Model Ill.