HABITAT UTILIZATION OF OPEN-BILLED STORK'S NETTING AT WAT PHAI LOM AND WAT UMPUWARARAM NON-HUNTING AREA PATHUM THANI PROVINCE

Abstract

Study on habitat utilization of the Open-billed Stork's nesting site was carried out at Wat Phai Lom and Wat Umpuwararam Non-hunting Area, Prathum Thani Province. The aim of this study was to know plant species composition in that area and the preference species for nesting of storks. This basic information was so useful for improving their habitat. The results showed that the percentage of number of nests built were 51.65, 14.25 and 12.22 percent for Bambusa sp., Streblus asper and Pithecellobium dulce, respectively. Efficiency of trees for nesting of the storks listed from maximum to minimum were Ficus sp., Crudia Chrysantha. Pithecellobium dulce, Hopea odorata, Gmelina arborea, Streblus asper, Crateva sp., Azadirachta indica and etc. The relationship between size (dbh) and degree of nest abundance for two broad-leaved tree species, Streblus asper and Pithecellobium dulce, was similar, increased with the increasing of dbh. In case of Bambusa sp., the number of nests increased to the maximum as the clump size of bamboo reached 54 culms per clump. The total number of nests counted in the area were of 8,252 nests and the total number the storks living in the area during 1988 and 1989 were of 29,995.