Being
home to a large number of fascinating avians, Sri Lanka is the
ornithologist's paradise. A total 431 species of birds have been
recorded so far out of which 251 are resident and 23 are endemic to the
island. Most of the endemic birds are confined to the wet zone.
The ideal places to steal a view of the endemic birds are Sinharaja
Natural World Heritage, Horton Plains National Park and the Peak
Wilderness Sanctuary.
Coastal wetlands of Bundala and Yala National Parks and Muturajawela &
Bellanwila Marsh provide a good place of habitation for migratory shore
birds. Migratory tree warblers, thrushes, cuckoos etc. can be seen in
the forests. The large reservoirs in the dry zone draw various species
of ducks, terns and herons. Flocks of visiting flamingoes have brought
immense fame to Bundala.
Sinharaja
Sinharaja is a great tropical rain forest spanning across Galle, Matara
and Ratnapura. It offers some splendid views of the endemic birds found
in the island. It offers such a wide variety for the bird watchers that
even an entire lifetime will be insufficient to unearth its mysteries.
It is home to a number of endemic birds such as the black-crested
bulbul, whistling thrust, Sri Lanka white eye etc.
Bundala
246 kms southeast of colombo, Bundala is the birdwatcher’s
paradise. It is the terminating point of a vast migration of birds from
the north. At any given point of time from August to April it hosts over
20,000 shore birds. The lagoons and the inter-tidal mud provide safe
nesting and feeding place for wintering birds. Migratory Stints, Sand
Pipers, Plovers, Terns, Gulls, Ducks, and Flamingos, in vast numbers,
co-habit with the resident water birds such as Herons, Egrets, Pelicans,
Cormorants, Teals, Storks, Stilts, and Grebes, to create a colourful
blend for the tourists to relish.
Yala (Ruhuna) National Park
Situated 309 km. south of Colombo, Yala spans over an area of 1,259
sq.km and shares its northern frontiers with the Lahugala Elephant
Sanctuary. The vegetation ranges from open parkland to dense jungle. The
entire park is dotted with water holes, small lakes, lagoons which are
home to flocks of birds which holds the fascination of the bird
watchers.
