During the 2024–2025 winter season, the province of Buriram in northeastern Thailand (Isan region) became a key breeding site for Asian open-billed storks (Ciconia episcopus). Over 1,000 birds were recorded near the Pak Khlong Chai Reservoir, where researchers counted more than 200 active nests. This confirms that Buriram is no longer a “random” stopover but a stable breeding ground for one of Thailand’s rarest waterbirds.
From Pathum Thani to Buriram: Shifting Habitats
Prior to the 2020s, the main breeding site for open-billed storks in Thailand was Pathum Thani, particularly the Nakhon Luang marshes. However, due to urbanization, wetland drainage, and water pollution, their numbers declined significantly.
Ornithologists note that since 2021, increasing numbers have migrated to northeastern Thailand, where intact wetland ecosystems with abundant food sources remain.
Why Buriram?
Buriram has become attractive to storks for several reasons:
- Abundance of shallow water bodies and flooded rice fields
- High mollusk populations — the storks’ primary food (their bills are adapted for shell extraction)
- Low human disturbance — nests are located away from major settlements
- Climate shifts: cooler winters in Isan encourage longer stays
Biodiversity Growth
Besides open-billed storks, over 150 bird species winter in the province, making it one of Thailand’s key ornithological zones. Among them:
- Little Cormorant (Microcarbo niger)
- Oriental Darter (Anhinga melanogaster)
- Javanese Ibis (Leptoptilos javanicus) — rare and protected
- Blue Darter (Anhinga melanogaster)
- Pink-backed Pelican and various heron species
These findings are confirmed by the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP).
Ecotourism & Birdwatching
The Buriram administration is actively promoting ecotourism. Tourists can now observe birds from safe vantage points:
- Observation towers near Pak Khlong Chai Reservoir
- Eco-trails with educational signage
- Ornithologist guides and binocular rentals
- Photography zones for birders
The sunrise flight of stork flocks — described as a “dance in the sky” — is especially popular.
Conservation & Future
In 2024, DNP and local authorities launched the “Save the Open-Billed Stork” program:
- Monitoring nests via drones and cameras
- Training farmers in eco-friendly practices (no pesticides)
- Restricting access to nesting zones
- Restoring wetland ecosystems
Relevance in 2025
As of 2025, Buriram is officially recognized as the second most important breeding site for open-billed storks in Thailand. This is not a fluke, but the result of shifting ecological balance and avian adaptation. The province is becoming an international destination for birdwatchers from Japan, Europe, and Australia.
Conclusion
While the arrival of open-billed storks in Buriram was once seen as unexpected, today it represents a new ecological reality. In 2025, the province shows how conservation can align with tourism and scientific research. The storks, once rare visitors, are now a symbol of Isan’s ecological revival.
Sources:
— Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP): «Bird Migration Report 2024–2025»
— Buriram Provincial Administration: «Ecotourism Development Plan»
— Bangkok Post: «Storks Find a New Home in Buriram», January 2025
— The Nation: «How Climate Change Is Redrawing Bird Maps in Thailand»
— Bird Conservation Society of Thailand: «Open-Billed Stork Nesting Survey»
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