Hi Sharon,

The stork that you're seeing is probably one of a number
of them which first turned up in the Seattle area. They have
since been seen throughout the greater Seattle area but are
apparently wandering further afield. Last weekend I was having
dinner at a restaurant in Everett after a day's birding when the
man at the next table walked by and saw my friend Steve's bird
book on the table. He stopped and told us about this bird he
had seen in Everett a few days previously - another one of the
storks!
I've been told that they're not actually Wood Storks but
some African species of stork, not that it matters much to any
potential airplane which could strike it. Nobody I've spoken
to knows whether they've come from a public zoo or a private
collection; I can't imagine who would be keeping a stork in
a private collection, let alone numerous storks. Any ideas Mr.
Toffic?
Perhaps we could check with local hospitals and find
out if any the maternity wards have had any missing
deliveries ;)

Jim Flynn
Renton, WA
bf519 at scn.org