BANGKOK POST (May 2, 2010). Thousands of openbill storks in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya's Phak Hai district have died, with avian influenza thought to be a possible cause.

A vast wasteland in tambon Khok Chang of Ayutthaya is home to tens of thousands of Asian openbill storks (nok pakhang). It is one of the largest flocks of birds in Ayutthaya.

A few days ago thousands of Asian openbill storks died without apparent cause. Residents are worried the flock might have been infected with the bird flu virus as Phak Hai district was one of many areas nationwide reported with the virus outbreak last year.

They want authorities to investigate why the birds have died.

``Bird carcasses lie scattered over the wasteland and the canal bank nearby, sending out a bad smell all over the place,'' Vichien Puanglamjiak, a local farmer said.

Phak Hai district chief Rewat Prasong has warned residents to stay away from the area.

Health experts and veterinarians will collect samples from the carcasses to determine the cause of the birds' death, he said.

Mr Rewat said the birds might have eaten some kind of toxic aquatic animal or they might have been poisoned by farmers who raised fish which were eaten by the birds.

In his view, the bird flu virus was unlikely to be the cause of the deaths, as it usually spreads in the early winter season, not in the summer.

However, it was not being ruled out in the investigation, said the district chief.