Since my arrival in November 2008, I have watched thousands of these birds migrate daily. They fly over my house in formation flocks 10-20 minutes after sunrise. Flying west. They return 10-20 minutes before sunset. Flying east.

This is curious, as the watershed runs north-south, generally. I am in Surin province, about 30 km north of the Cambodian border. After January, the small river system here (that runs a few hundred km into the Mun River, then the Mekong) starts to dry up into a chain of river, lakes, ponds.

I believe they are one of the heron family?

About a week ago, they disappeared. Gone north? South? I used to see the same birds in South China.

Can anyone enlighten me? Name? Where have they gone? When should they be back?

Great bird watching up here for the interested.

Since my arrival in November 2008, I have watched thousands of these birds migrate daily. They fly over my house in formation flocks 10-20 minutes after sunrise. Flying west. They return 10-20 minutes before sunset. Flying east.

This is curious, as the watershed runs north-south, generally. I am in Surin province, about 30 km north of the Cambodian border. After January, the small river system here (that runs a few hundred km into the Mun River, then the Mekong) starts to dry up into a chain of river, lakes, ponds.

I believe they are one of the heron family?

About a week ago, they disappeared. Gone north? South? I used to see the same birds in South China.

Can anyone enlighten me? Name? Where have they gone? When should they be back?

Great bird watching up here for the interested.

They are Chinese pond-herons. They have gone to China to breed. You may have noticed their plumage radically changed in March before they left. They would have grown maroon feathers on their head amongst other changes. This is their breeding plumage. They'll be back in September or October.

There are other species of heron in Thailand. Many of these relocate around Thailand during the year. Generally they tend to be more dispersed outside of the breeding season. Careful observation by you will tell you if the flocks you saw were mixed, containing egrets maybe, or just Chinese pond-herons.

They are Chinese pond-herons.

Not Pond Herons.. they're Egrets..

'Great' (resident & winter visitor) &/or/mixed with 'Intermediate' (winter visitor only)

How long will it be before someone posts that their disappearance is due to Global Warming?

Edited April 22, 200917 yr by teatree

How long will it be before someone posts that their disappearance is due to Global Warming?

maybe another 50 - 100+ years or so.. as these birds are not threatened in any way globally...

How long will it be before someone posts that their disappearance is due to Global Warming?

maybe another 50 - 100+ years or so.. as these birds are not threatened in any way globally...

If they can survive in China nothing can kill them.