Managed by: Prof.S.W. Kotagama and C.D. Kaluthota
Present Status: In progress
Sri Lanka as an important location in the Indian Ocean for migratory birds has long been identified. However, studies on migratory birds and the wetlands were limited to few aspects. The need for a National Bird Ringing Programme was discussed extensively by scientists to understand the bird migration, which is a special phenomenon in the animal world.
To seek this information, the National Bird Ringing Programme was launched in April 2005 by the Field Ornithology Group of Sri Lanka (FOGSL) at the Bundala National Park in collaboration with the Department of Wild Life Conservation (DWC). The programme has continued for the third successful year.
Presently the National Bird Ringing Programme is conducted only at the Bundala National Park which is the first Ramsar site in Sri Lanka. The Park is also identified as an Important Bird Area (IBA) especially for bird congregations of migrant birds.
Four ringing sessions are conducted for a year i.e. three sessions during the migratory season and one session (July) during the non-migratory season. The beginning of the wintering period (Sep-Oct), mid-winter (Dec-Jan) and the end of the period (Mar-Apr) are the three sessions within the migratory season.
FOGSL is planning to expand the programme in to few other locations which are the migration routes within the island, also increase the ringing sessions per year. FOGSL is also planning to develop a web based database which will ease the data dissemination for the National Bird Ringing programme.
In parallel to the National Bird ringing Programme, regular training programmes are conducted to provide training on bird study techniques and bird ringing to the officers of the Department of Wildlife Conservation.
The Programme is conducted under the supervision of Professor Sarath Kotagama, and the FOGSL research team. Volunteer FOGSL members provide assistance in the field to the research team.
References
• Kotagama, S.W., Bellio, M. & Dayananda, K. 2006. Pioneering shorebird research in Sri Lanka: launch of the National Bird Ringing Programme. Wader Study Group Bull. 109: 106-110.
• Kaluthota, C.D. & Kotagama, S.W., 2006, Banding Shorebirds: The Sri Lankan experience. Siyoth; Journal of the Field Ornithology group of Sri Lanka, 1(1): 16-21
To seek this information, the National Bird Ringing Programme was launched in April 2005 by the Field Ornithology Group of Sri Lanka (FOGSL) at the Bundala National Park in collaboration with the Department of Wild Life Conservation (DWC). The programme has continued for the third successful year.
Presently the National Bird Ringing Programme is conducted only at the Bundala National Park which is the first Ramsar site in Sri Lanka. The Park is also identified as an Important Bird Area (IBA) especially for bird congregations of migrant birds.
FOGSL is planning to expand the programme in to few other locations which are the migration routes within the island, also increase the ringing sessions per year. FOGSL is also planning to develop a web based database which will ease the data dissemination for the National Bird Ringing programme.
In parallel to the National Bird ringing Programme, regular training programmes are conducted to provide training on bird study techniques and bird ringing to the officers of the Department of Wildlife Conservation.
References
• Kotagama, S.W., Bellio, M. & Dayananda, K. 2006. Pioneering shorebird research in Sri Lanka: launch of the National Bird Ringing Programme. Wader Study Group Bull. 109: 106-110.
• Kaluthota, C.D. & Kotagama, S.W., 2006, Banding Shorebirds: The Sri Lankan experience. Siyoth; Journal of the Field Ornithology group of Sri Lanka, 1(1): 16-21