Upson Student Raises Awareness for Rare, Endangered Shoebill Stork

Upson County resident and middle school student Anaia Baxter is raising awareness for the “shoebill stork,” a rare African bird that is facing extinction.

“I am very happy I have discovered these birds and I see it as a God-given chance to save an endangered species,” commented Baxter. “My goal for these birds is to raise awareness about [how kind these endangered birds are]… I want to raise money in the future, but as of right now, my main focus is to get people’s attention to these beautiful birds.”

Found wading in Rugezi Marsh, Mamba Wetland, Nile River, and Sudd Swamp, the shoebill stork can be found in the wetlands of Africa and is facing extinction due to extensive poaching for their beaks and feathers, as well as countless projects in the Mamba Wetlands and Sudanese Wetlands.

The shoebill stork, a large stork-like bird, derives its name from its enormous shoe-shaped bill which can create a “machine gun sound.” It has a somewhat stork-like overall form and has previously been classified with the storks in the order Ciconiiformes, based on this morphology.

Shoebills are thought to have evolved from a group of meat-eating dinosaurs and can boast wingspans exceeding seven feet, according to online reports. They are known to bow when “meeting” humans, and seem to expect the same courtesy.

Baxter told The Upson Beacon that after discovering this bird online, she has become passionate about protecting its dwindling population and says, “the shoebills need help and will only get it by the force of people that are willing to help.”

According to Fox13 Tampa Bay, “ZooTampa is home to three of only four shoebill storks in the United States. These fascinating birds can reach five feet in height and are classified as critically endangered, with only 3,300 to 3,500 mature shoebills still living in the wild.”