We studied the breeding biology and disturbance factors of oriental white storks (
Ciconia boyciana
) using instantaneous sampling and all occurrence sampling in Dawan Village, Anhui Province, China, in their breeding seasons of 2004 and 2005. Their nests were built on high electricity pylons, which were only 500 meters away from the nearest village. The foraging sites were mainly paddy fields and ponds. Strong wind and high temperature were the main natural disturbance factors that affected the bird's breeding. The main human disturbances included straw burning, metal thorns set on the electricity pylons to keep the birds away, agricultural activities and flight noise. Agricultural activities greatly affected feeding, nest material seeking, incubation and the behavicur of the birds. The foraging birds showed alertness and flew away when disturbed. However, they also developed a tolerance to human disturbance. The greater the agricultural activities in the area, the shorter the response distance to humans. There was a positive correlation between the activity of nest-material seeking during the breeding season and the mean daily agricultural activity intensity in the breeding area. Better understanding of the breeding disturbance of oriental white storks in the Yangtze river will help us to take good steps for the further conservation of the bird.
