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Nearly Half of 30 Asian Woolly-necked Stork Nests in Central Kerala Were on Towers

Asian woolly-necked stork flying with raised wings against a clear sky
Research · Ecology

Researchers examined how Asian woolly-necked storks (Ciconia episcopus) choose nest sites in the human-dominated landscapes of central Kerala, India. They combined known breeding records with field surveys during the 2022 and 2023 breeding seasons and found 30 active nests across four districts. For each nest, they recorded what it was built on and how close it was to wetlands, rivers and human infrastructure.

Towers Served as Alternative Nest Supports

Sixteen nests were in trees, while 14 were on artificial structures: 13 on telecom towers and one on an electric tower. The towers used for nesting were much taller than the nesting trees, averaging about 35 metres compared with just under 20 metres for trees. Tree nests were usually placed on lateral branches, while tower nests occupied stable corners or flat platforms near the top.

The authors interpret this as evidence that height and structural stability are important features of nest-site selection. Artificial structures can therefore provide some of the same physical qualities as tall trees, helping the storks breed in heavily modified landscapes.

Close to People, but Still Tied to Wetlands

Use of towers did not mean that the birds had become independent of wetland habitat. Nests were on average 237 metres from wetlands or paddy fields, and 22 of the 30 were within five kilometres of a major river. At the same time, many nests were very close to roads, buildings and settlements. The researchers interpret this combination as strong tolerance of human presence while retaining a close association with wetland–agriculture mosaics that provide feeding habitat.

The 30 nests recorded in this study also exceeded earlier reports of 10 and 16 nests from Kerala. The authors caution, however, that this does not by itself demonstrate population growth. They suggest that more extensive fieldwork and increased reporting by birdwatchers probably contributed to the higher count. They also mention a possible shift toward greater year-round residency in suitable agricultural and semi-urban landscapes.

Because nearly half of the nests were on human infrastructure, this flexibility also leaves breeding birds vulnerable to work on those structures. The authors warn that tower modification or maintenance during the breeding season could disrupt nesting. They therefore highlight protection of wetlands and tall agroforestry trees, and recommend regulating tower maintenance during the breeding season.

Sources and image credit

  1. Roshnath, R., Amal, U. K., & Mathew, N. P. (2025). Nest-site selection and adaptability of the Asian Woolly-necked Stork (Ciconia episcopus) in human-dominated landscapes of Kerala, India. Journal of Wildlife Science, Online Early Publication, 1–5. https://doi.org/10.63033/JWLS.DBPL7531Online Early 2 January 2026. Thirty active nests were recorded during the 2022 and 2023 breeding seasons: 16 on trees and 14 on artificial structures, including 13 telecom towers and one electric tower. Open-access article under CC BY 4.0.

Image: Afsarnayakkan — Asian woolly-necked stork in flight at Kattampally, Kannur, Kerala, India, 2023. Wikimedia Commons; representative photograph from Kerala. · CC BY-SA 4.0 — https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ · Source

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