James A. Rodgers Jr.
Jim is a native Floridian. He received his M.S. from Louisiana
State University (1974) and a Ph.D. from the University of South
Florida (1979). Before coming to work with the Florida Game and
Freshwater Fish Commission in 1980, which the Florida Fish and
Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) was previously known as, Jim
worked as a warden-naturalist for the National Audubon Society from
1978-1980.
Jim has previously worked on snail kites, double-crested
cormorants, several species of wading birds, and development of
buffer distances for waterbirds, pesticides, and population
genetics of birds. In addition to his wood stork study, Jim
currently monitors upland birds in sandhill pine habitats.
Stephen T. Schwikert
Steve is originally from Washington, D.C. He received a B.S.
from Embry-Riddle University (1971). Before joining the Florida
Game and Freshwater Fish Commission in 1974, Steve was a pilot with
Commuter Airlines based in New York. Steve is now retired from the
FWC and works as a volunteer on the project.
Because of Steve's experience as a pilot, he flew most of the
eagle, pelican, waterbird, sandhill crane, and wood stork surveys
for the FWC during the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. As a game manager
specialist/fish and wildlife technician, Steve has worked on many
FWC projects over the years including panthers, hogs, sandhill
cranes, whooping cranes, wood storks, snail kites, brown pelicans,
alligators, and black bears.
Other participants
Numerous individuals participate in ongoing research. Gabrielle
Griffin (Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne), Kristin
Ebersole (Pumpkin Hill State Preserve in Jacksonville), Donna
Bear-Hull (Jacksonville Zoological Gardens), William Brooks (U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service in Jacksonville) and Paul Elliott
(Southwest Florida Water Management District located in Bartow)
monitor stork colonies. In addition, many private landowners
contribute by allowing researchers onto their properties.
Persons with Disabilities