Even birds can get turned around from time to time. 

A rare subtropical wood stork was spotted in a very unexpected place recently – Wisconsin, after the bird apparently got lost inflight. 

The wood stork typically lives in the Gulf Coast states as well as Central and South America. 

The bird, which is listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, was first seen last Sunday by a man hunting deer in the Mud Lake Wildlife Area in Columbia County, Wisconsin, northeast of Madison. 

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"It's always fascinating where these birds come from and where they end up," Horicon Marsh Bird Club President Jeff Bahls, who is also a wildlife technician for the state Department of Natural Resources, said. 

 "This is the time of year when we do get these oddball stray birds," he added. 

The hunter first sent Bahls photos of the wood stork that he took during the sighting on Sunday. 

Bahls viewed the bird for himself on Monday, saying he thinks it’s a juvenile that hatched this spring because of its light-colored bill. 

As wood storks get older, their bills eventually turn black. 

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He said young wood storks typically go exploring in the summer because they have no territory. 

They are also the only species of stork that breeds in North America. 

The stork was last seen on Tuesday flying northeast with a flock of pelicans. 

The wood stork was once endangered with only 5,000 nesting pairs in the United States in the 1970s, but as of 2023 that had grown to more than 11,000 nesting pairs, according to the Center for Biological Diversity. 

The birds became a protected species in 1984. 

Wood storks have also been forced to move north because of habitat destruction and climate change. 

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"The wood stork has made a remarkable comeback, but wetland destruction from urban sprawl still looms large over the species," Stephanie Kurose of the Center for Biological Diversity previously said in a statement. "The Service needs to ensure that wetlands will be protected. It’s also crucial to continue to adequately monitor the stork’s population to make sure ongoing threats don’t undo this hard-fought success."

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

Terry McLaurin reported to the Washington Commanders' training camp in late July, but he did not participate in practice sessions — which effectively designated him as a hold-in. 

McLaurin's unavailability centered around an injury and his frustration with his contract. But on Saturday, the Commanders announced some positive news about the star wide receiver.

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McLaurin had been activated from the physically unable to perform list. The roster move is not believed to be directly related to contract extension talks, ESPN reported. It does, however, effectively end McLaurin's hold-on and makes him eligible to practice and ramp up preparations for the regular season.

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McLaurin was initially moved to the PUP list due to an ankle injury. The two-time Pro Bowler skipped the first four days of camp, which resulted in a six-figure fine.

Just last month, McLaurin told reporters he was disappointed with how contract talks had progressed.

"I want to continue my career here. I've created my life here. My wife and I bought our first home here. So, this has been somewhere I've always wanted to be. Just to see how things have played out has been disappointing," he said. "I understand everything's a business. But at the same time, I want to put myself in a position where I'm valued, I feel appreciated and things like that. Unfortunately, that hasn't transpired the way I want it to."

If an agreement on a contract extension is not reached by the Commanders' season opener on Sept. 7, McLaurin could elect to sit out. However, doing so would mean he would forfeit game checks.

McLaurin has one year remaining on a three-year deal he agreed to in 2022. He asked to be traded to another team on July 31, but the Commanders have not shown much interest in trading him.

McLaurin finished last season with a career-best 13 touchdown receptions and 1,096 receiving yards. Washington drafted him in the third round out of Ohio State in 2019. Aside from his rookie campaign, McLaurin has finished each of his NFL seasons with at least 1,000 receiving yards.

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