This article was taken from the November 2011 issue of Wired magazine. Be the first to read Wired's articles in print before they're posted online, and get your hands on loads of additional content by ...

It's not a canary or a coal mine in Florida, but the idea from Audubon of Florida is the same. Wading birds hold the same function as the canary, and in this case the coal mine is the Everglades.

Lowcountry coasts and lagoons wouldn’t be the same without the gawky presence of Double-crested Cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus). When not riding low in the water or diving for fish, these ...