Impact of average rainfall and the COVID-19 lockdown on the abundance and nesting habits of the Asian openbill stork (Anastomus oscitans, Boddaert)

The Asian openbill stork (Anastomus oscitans) is commonly found among the nine stork species in India. In this study, we explored the correlation between average rainfall (AR) and nest count (NC) within the Asian openbill stork population in Barachaka village, Bankura district, West Bengal, India. A strong positive correlation (r = 0.483; P < 0.05) emerged between the stork population (SP) and the AR. The recorded AR during the study period was 301.05 ± 77.95 mm, while the SP and NC were 394.21 ± 47.75 and 4098.71 ± 597.29 respectively. Significant associations were found between NC and SP (χ² = 5.714; P < 0.05), revealing a relative risk (RR) of 3.50; 95% CI = 1.78–3.68. Utilizing binary logistic regression with a forward stepwise (Wald) approach, AR was found to be significantly linked to SP (Wald = 7.055; P < 0.01). The overall model demonstrated statistical significance at χ² = 20.744; P < 0.01 (Cox and Snell R² = 0.579). The COVID-19 lockdown emerged as a significant factor influencing the elevation of NC. During this period, NC exhibited a significant increase in the number of study sites (χ² = 4.800; P < 0.05), with RR = 1.20; 95% CI = 1.26–3.17. This study represents a pioneering effort to comprehend the impact of the pandemic situation on the Asian openbill stork population.