Report on Ecology, Conservation and Management of the Black-necked Stork Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus .

Greg. P. Clancy

gclancy@tpg.com.au

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Study Purpose

The study is a three-year research thesis on the Black-necked Stork Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus for the National Marine Sciences Centre, University of New England. The Black-necked Stork is listed as Endangered in New South Wales and is believed to have declined in abundance.  It is threatened by collision with structures such as powerlines and fences and motor vehicles, shooting, and disturbance to nests from egg collectors and urban development.  The study aims to gather data on the biology and ecology of the species, as well as on management issues such as threats to the population in New South Wales.  A basic aim is to determine the size and status of the New South Wales population.  The project may extend to other states depending upon the need for a larger study population and the availability of resources to do so.

Methods

I have carried out a literature search and have collated historical records from a number of sources on the Black-necked Stork in New South Wales to determine the species’ current distribution and status.  I am now field checking recent records.
 

Results to date

The current distribution is similar to the historical distribution, although birds recorded attempting to breed in the Shoalhaven estuary appear to have disappeared and there has been only one record on the Central Coast since 1997.  The species is still present in suitable areas between the Hunter Valley and the Richmond Valley.  The species appears to be extinct in the Tweed Valley.  Most territories, which are defined as areas of unknown size surrounding an active nest, are near coastal but one to two pairs occur in the Upper Clarence River Valley.  The population size is greater than estimates made 38 years ago of 37 to 43 birds (Salmon 1965) with at least 94 birds now.  Little behavioural data for the species exists, particularly for the Australian subspecies.  I have started to collect quantitative data on breeding behaviour, feeding ecology and diet by carrying out observations at nests and foraging sites. I record activity onto proformas designed to collect the relevant data for each broad type of activity.  Preliminary data has been gathered on nest construction and maintenance, mating, display, brood sharing, foraging techniques and diet.  Males have been observed sharing the brooding of eggs and young.  Small nestlings are fed large food items, usually eels, which are regurgitated onto the nest and then swallowed again by the adult bird, kept in the crop for some minutes/hours and then are regurgitated again onto the nest.  This process appears to be repeated until the food is soft enough to break up into pieces small enough for the young to swallow.  The practice of defaecating onto legs for thermoregulation, which has been recorded for White Storks and Wood Storks overseas, has been observed locally in Black-necked Stork.
 
 

 

Male and Female displaying.