The effect of human interference on the nesting of the openbill stork Anastomus oscitans at the raiganj wildlife sanctuary, India

Abstract

At the Raiganj Wildlife Sanctuary the openbill stork Anastomus oscitans breeds together with five other Ciconiiformes forming one of the world's largest concentrations of this group in spite of increasing human interference. Human activity varied in different areas of the sanctuary due to different levels of protection. The openbill stork showed considerable tolerance towards man but direct human interference severely hampered its nesting success, particularly the fledgling rate. To avoid the danger of human interference the birds nested in large numbers in the undisturbed zone and also higher in the disturbed zone. The pressure of human interference thus forced the storks to change from their preferred nesting tree species and nesting height.