Thale Noi Non-Hunting Area provides habitat and breeding grounds for over 180 native and migratory bird species that use the wetlands all year round or on their annual migratory journeys.
Research linking bird distributions to changing ecological conditions show that bird behaviour is an important biological indicator of change.
Populations of Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis), Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) and Black-headed Ibis (Threskiornis melanocephalus) species have shown to correlate with average temperatures, relative humidity and total rainfall.

Globally threatened avian species listed on the IUCN Red List include: Baer’s Pochard (Aythya baeri), classified as Critically Endangered and may be extirpated from the Thale Noi area and from Thailand, however data is lacking on this species; the Masked Finfoot (Heliopais personata) is Endangered; the Lesser Adjutant Stork (Leptoptilos javanicus) is Vulnerable, although it was once the most abundant species of stalk   but now may also be extirpated from Thailand due to no recent documented sightings; and the Spot-billed Pelican (Pelecanus philippensis) is classified as Near Threatened.
These species have all experienced rapid population declines due to land conversion for agriculture and industry causing habitat loss and environmental pollution that some species exhibit sensitivities to.
Painted Stork (Mycteria leucocephala), is classified as Near Threatened, have been recorded at the site in the past (Parr 1994), however it is now on the verge of extinction in Thailand.
Similarly, Black-headed Ibis (T. melanocephalus) populations are also in decline due to habitat destruction, degradation and fragmentation, currently listed by the IUCN as Near Threatened, however large populations continue to breed in the wetlands between April to July, with over 20,000 individuals recorded in May 2002.

Non-threatened species, Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea) populations inhabit the reserve year round as one of only two breeding locations within Thailand and remain constant throughout the year.
Cormorants, waders, herons, egrets, crakes, bitterns, terns, grebe and kites are among other avian species found in the non-hunting area.
Thale Noi Non-Hunting Area provides habitat and breeding grounds for over 180 native and migratory bird species that use the wetlands all year round or on their annual migratory journeys. Research linking bird distributions to changing ecological conditions show that bird behaviour is an important biological indicator of change. Populations of Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis), Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) and Black-headed Ibis (Threskiornis melanocephalus) species have shown to correlate with average temperatures, relative humidity and total rainfall.
Globally threatened avian species listed on the IUCN Red List include: Baer’s Pochard (Aythya baeri), classified as Critically Endangered and may be extirpated from the Thale Noi area and from Thailand, however data is lacking on this species; the Masked Finfoot (Heliopais personata) is Endangered; the Lesser Adjutant Stork (Leptoptilos javanicus) is Vulnerable, although it was once the most abundant species of stalk   but now may also be extirpated from Thailand due to no recent documented sightings; and the Spot-billed Pelican (Pelecanus philippensis) is classified as Near Threatened. These species have all experienced rapid population declines due to land conversion for agriculture and industry causing habitat loss and environmental pollution that some species exhibit sensitivities to. Painted Stork (Mycteria leucocephala), is classified as Near Threatened, have been recorded at the site in the past (Parr 1994), however it is now on the verge of extinction in Thailand. Similarly, Black-headed Ibis (T. melanocephalus) populations are also in decline due to habitat destruction, degradation and fragmentation, currently listed by the IUCN as Near Threatened, however large populations continue to breed in the wetlands between April to July, with over 20,000 individuals recorded in May 2002.
Non-threatened species, Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea) populations inhabit the reserve year round as one of only two breeding locations within Thailand and remain constant throughout the year. Cormorants, waders, herons, egrets, crakes, bitterns, terns, grebe and kites are among other avian species found in the non-hunting area.
Thale Noi Non-Hunting Area