Wildlife Center welcomes tallest, most colorful living stork

Laura Young ECB Publishing, Inc. Saddle-billed storks are the tallest and most brightly colored type of stork. This huge bird (Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis) regularly reaches a height of nearly 5 feet and a wingspan of more than 8 feet! Although they are native to sub-Saharan Africa, where they have a threatened status, three of them recently made Jefferson County their home. At the North Florida Wildlife Center in Lamont, visitors can meet these magnificent storks and view their striking features. Black and white feathers showcase contrasting highlights of vivid color. For example, the huge bill – 10 to 14 inches long – has several inches of bright orange on the pointy end and a b