Migratory open-billed storks make rare appearance in Chiang Rai

CHIANG RAI, 21 January 2016 (NNT) – According to the Chiang Rai Provincial Livestock Office, hundreds of migratory open-billed storks are now occupying rice fields in Chiang Rai, having migrated from either Siberia or Upper China.

The storks’ visit has yet to pose a threat to the livelihood of farmers as they survive on small animals such as fish, clams, insects and frogs, rather than crops. However, their droppings could destroy small plants growing under the trees on which they are perching.

Sightings of open-billed storks are rare in Chiang Rai. Residents reportedly feel excited by their presence, as the birds are markedly larger than egrets and local birds.

The birds will move back to their native region when the weather becomes warmer, although some might stay longer if there is enough food.


-- NNT 2016-01-21

"Residents reportedly feel excited by their presence, as the birds are markedly larger than egrets and local birds." Yes, they get more on your plate.

The birds will move back to their native region when the weather becomes warmer, although some might stay longer if there is enough food.

Should say unless they become food. These birds seek out drying paddies and ponds near my place in Issan, when they come the shooting gallery starts. Really feel for these graceful migratory birds.

I get anywhere near these guys and they are gone but I did get closer today.

We have had lots of them hanging around in the fields around the house this year and the locals understand they don't eat their crops so don't kill them.

"However, their droppings could destroy small plants growing under the trees on which they are perching."

I can't imagine such a horror. We must do what we can to save those plants.

My TW and myself cycle every night between the rice fields up here north of C/Rai and these birds have been here about a week now and what a beautiful sight they are .

I think that the bird life is more prolific now than it was when I came here more than ten years ago.

Back then every second farmer appeared to have some sort of hunting firearm over his shoulder but the younger people seem to prefer Maccas to fried bird.

That's good news. Also, early this morning, I saw birds flying from east to west, about 50. they weren't in formation. they looked like smaller version of the stork featured herein. I was looking up, so couldn't see coloration against the sky. It's possible they were same type of storks in OP.

On the negative side, there are still farmers and other locals who string filigree nets around their fields. While hiking around, I've seen several large birds snagged. Some were dead, and some were in their last hour. Among others, I found a small owl and a raptor tangled like that. It's unconscionable. Those nets should be taken down and anyone found stringing them should be fined Bt.1000/day.

On a plus side, recently have seen a few more raptors flying around than in past years.

These birds , Asian open bills are easily seen in the fields around Maejo Chiang Mai. With the drought they may be looking for new areas to feed and have appeared in CR.

These birds , Asian open bills are easily seen in the fields around Maejo Chiang Mai. With the drought they may be looking for new areas to feed and have appeared in CR.

See them daily around San Kamphaeng, east of Chiang Mai. They seem to be here all year round, if the fields are flooded.

We still have two or three dozen storks hanging around these days. You might notice the color in my photos has changed since my last post.

They certainly don't migrate in from "Siberia or Upper China". They are not latitudinal migrants. They are coming from the other direction.

They are expanding their range. 20 - 30 years ago, they were limited to the Central Plains. Most birds migrated to Bangladesh for the rainy season.

I have noted the expansion of their range over this time and also the fact that more and more openbill storks remain in Thailand all year round. You can now see them in the North of Isaan. Laos will be the stopper though. All sources of protein are ruthlessly hunted in Laos.

The storks I've seen seem to be flying west. Glad they're around. I like listening to wild bird calls, but where I reside there's a tiny dog breeding facility next door, and the large wat a Km away insists on blaring their one or two songs morning and evening. Oh, and the head monk talks long and loud. He's taken over the entire community, or so he thinks. Several times I've been at the local market, and while the head monk's voice is blasting everywhere, no one is listening. Everyone at the market is conversing with others. All that noise precludes any bird calls. It's sad how peoples' loud noises blanket silence and sounds of nature. The monks at the wat probably have no inkling of what noise pollution is.

Came across some storks in a tree today but I missed the money shot when they all took flight. I did get this one bird flying in but then they were gone.

"the money shot"

"the money shot"

Not in a sexual sense obviously but when the roughly ten birds in the tree took off in different directions it looked like the tree sprouted wings. It was beautiful to see but I wish I had gotten it on film, so to speak.

It happens, I suffered a similar fate years ago when going on a dawn walk along the river in Phnom Penh and witnessed an amazing sunrise, I was up everyday for the rest of my stay at the same time with my camera but there was always a bit of cloud in the wrong place.