Abstract: Based on the ancient books and some modern papers about white storks (Coconia ciconia asiatica), on-thespot investigation and visit in Xinjiang, the situation of the population of white storks inhabited in Xinjiang, China, is clearly understood. According to Scully's (1876) and Ludlow and Kinnear's (1933～1934) accounts, white storks were a common species and inhabited extensively in Shache, Kashgar and other regions in south Xinjiang 100 years ago. According to the author's investigation and visit during the period of 1985～2001, however, the white storks became extinct in Xinjiang or even in China around 1980.The main causes include the artificial and natural factors, such as the rapid population growth in the oases during the period from 1950 to 2000, agricultural development and wasteland reclamation, destruction and disappearance of the habitats (wetlands), struggle for existence among the species, severe hunt and egg collection, and destruction of nests caused by afforestation. White storks liked to be close to human, it was easy for the white storks to lose their habitats and nesting areas. There were many dangers to them：for example, many lakes and rivers in the plains have dried up due to the irrational irrigation. Particularly, Lop Nur, the largest lake in Xinjiang, shrank and dried up before 1958～1970, and the lake area has become as a salt-crusted desert. The Tarim, Qarqan, Hotan and Yarkant rivers have been shortened in length due to the excessive water consumption in the areas of the upper and middle reaches and no longer flow to the river-tail lakes. At present more than 10-species of birds are on the brink of extinction in Xinjiang.

Key words: white stork, Ciconia ciconia asiatica, textual research, cause of extinction, south Xinjiang