From: Cutter, P. G., P. Boontua, and K. Sri-buarod. 2007. A recent record Storm’s Stork Ciconia stormi in Thailand. Forktail 23:3.

The Storm’s Stork (Ciconia stormi) is one of the rarest species of storks in the world with very little known of its natural history (Birdlife International 2001; Luthin 1987, Wetlands International 2006). The species is classified as Endangered due to its small (250-500 individuals) and rapidly declining population caused primarily by the destruction or conversion of its preferred lowland evergreen forest habitat (Birdlife International 2001, Wetlands International 2006).

Our recent photo of this species represents the first record of this species in Thailand for 18 years. The observation was recorded on 3 April 2004 by an infrared camera trap device (placed at c.100 m.a.s.l. at c.9°10’N, 98°40’E) within Klong Saeng Wildlife sanctuary in Surat Thani province.

Most observations of the species come from Borneo where individuals and small groups have been sighted alongside rivers in forested areas (Luthin 1987, BirdLife 2001). The species also occurs in peninsular Malaysia and Sumatra (Birdlife International 2001; Luthin 1987). There is only one previous record from Thailand where a nesting pair with chicks was observed in detail in a lowland evergreen forest area (at 69 m. a.s.l. at c.9°05’N, 98°30’E) during September/October 1986 (Nakhasathien 1987). Recent rangewide assessments have suggested that the species is probably extinct in Thailand (Bird Conservation Society of Thailand 2004; Birdlife International 2001).