Truong Xuan Dua, head of the Agricultural Technical Research and Application Station under Gia Lai’s Agricultural Extension Centre, said authorities had recorded a growing number of the birds at the wetland site in Tuy Phuoc Dong Commune.
Based on observations from a distance, the birds’ legs, beaks, necks and posture closely resemble the Asian openbill stork, locally known as co nhan a rare species recently recorded in Quang Tri Province, Dua said.
However, he added that closer observation would be needed for official identification.
“About two years ago, only a few birds appeared sporadically, but since the start of this year the number has increased to several dozen,” Dua added.
Tran Duc Duy, a local resident and wildlife enthusiast, also identified the birds as rare Asian openbill storks listed in Vietnam’s Red Data Book.
Con Chim covers about 480 hectares within the Thi Nai Lagoon ecosystem and is surrounded by mangrove forests that provide habitat for various aquatic species as well as native and migratory birds.
The area has become an increasingly popular eco-tourism destination in recent years, with local households developing community-based tourism services centred on river life and the region’s biodiversity.
Large flocks of birds gathering at dawn and dusk have become one of the site’s main attractions for visitors.