Why should I maintain the recommended 100-yard buffer when observing wood storks?
Most birds require a minimum distance between a potential predator or approaching human before they abandon their nests. Causing storks to flush from their nests will expose the eggs or young nestlings to over-heating due to the effects of the sun or the stress due to cooling during cooler temperatures or inclement weather. The defenseless and exposed eggs and young birds also are exposed to aerial predators such as crows, which often are alerted to the disturbance caused by humans and quickly swoop in and pillage the nest contents. Finally, disturbed older nestlings may try to escape and fall from the nest or tree. Adults will not feed these young and they face an almost certain death.
