The Real Reason behind Falling Fertility in the United States

In 2010, fertility rates in the United States dropped to 1.9 (children per women) which is well below the rate of 2.1 often quoted as that required to replace our population in the next generation.  

Some blame the great recession for the decline.  Some theorize it has to do with the fact that American women are increasingly self-involved. Some blame the increasing stress from the rapidly advancing pace of society.   Some blame God. Some blame Satan.  Some don't care.

Today, I discovered the real reason for falling fertility rates.  Here it is:

This is the Wood Stork, the only breeding stork in North America.  Unfortunately, because Americans are increasingly interested in moving to Florida (so much so that it is now the third most populous state in the country, behind California and Texas), the wetlands of the Sunshine State have been degraded, destroyed, and otherwise maligned to make room for the next greatest subdivision and the next and the next.

Unfortunately, the Wood Stork has a particular predilection for Florida wetlands, because during the dry season, bodies of water remain plentiful.  After all, you would expect nothing less from a state whose land is mostly ten feet above sea level or less.

But, as importantly, these ponds, lakes, and other assorted bodies of water do dry up somewhat during the dry season, thereby providing the ideal feeding and breeding ground for the unique Wood Stork.  Under these conditions, the little fishies in the water become quite concentrated, and the Wood Stork can just insert his (or her) bill into said body of water, open up, and Voila .... lunch!

With a deficit in ponds and the fishies that populate them, two things happen.  First, the obvious -- the Wood Stork babies starve.  And, second, the not so obvious.  The water under the trees where these birds nest disappears and the raccoons take the newly arrived dry land as an excuse to climb a tree and have Wood Stork eggs for lunch.

After this happens a few too many times, the Wood Stork lands himself on the Endangered Species list.  Bless Florida's heart, however, for taking an earnest interest in its poor Stork and replenishing some of its wetlands well enough that as of June 2014, the Wood Stork migrated from the Endangered Species list to the Threatened Species list (progress, at last).

It's about time Florida received accolades for doing something right.  As anyone who reads national news knows, Florida is all too often on the other side of the headlines.

So, next time you celebrate the arrival of a new baby among your family and friends, look out onto the front lawn... quickly so you don't miss it ... and remember that the Wood Stork who just made your special delivery may well have come from a restored wetland in none other than the Sunshine State.

Wait and see ... will U.S. fertility rates recover as a result?