The long legs of wading birds allow these colorful residents to wade in water in search of food.  Several species of wading birds are often seen on JOE’s coastal and inland properties.  They are common in several different habitats including salt marshes, hardwood swamps, pine flatwoods and other fresh water wetlands and prairies. 

Some of the more common larger wading birds seen on JOE property include the great blue heron, little blue heron, green heron, yellow and black crowned night herons, tricolor heron, great egret, snowy egret, cattle egret, white ibis, wood stork and least bittern.  All these species are protected by either or both the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWCC).
 
Although many areas and habitats are utilized by wading birds on JOE property, their abundance and diversity at Tupelo Bend Waterfowl Area in Gulf County is extraordinary.  The creation and management of this area for waterfowl provides vast acreages of feeding, roosting and nesting areas for many wading bird species.  At certain times of the year, several thousand wading birds can be seen feeding and roosting on the area.  Timing of annual spring dewatering of impoundments coincides with spring migrations of other wading and shore bird species.  Some of the more uncommon species including American advocets, black necked stilts, yellow rails and even the occasional sand-hill crane and roseate spoonbill have been sighted in the area.