Managed by: Professor Sarath Kotagama and Dr. E. GoodalePresent Status: In ProgressProfessor Sarath Kotagama began studying mixed-species bird flocks in the Sinharaja Forest Reserve in 1981. While logging had been stopped at this time, the future of the reserve was still in doubt, and the data gathered by Prof. Kotagama and the March for Conservation was crucial to Sinharaja being protected as a World Heritage Reserve. Flocks were sampled between 1981 and 1984, and then again between 1995 and 1998; flock composition was roughly stable during this time of forest regeneration although some species that forage in mature understorey increased. |
image © Rahula Perera
Black-naped Monarch is one of the commonest member in Sinharaja Bird Flocks. |
| Since 1998, Dr. Eben Goodale and Professor Kotagama have studied various aspects of the behavioral ecology of flocks including vocal alarm calls, testing species roles by playback, and vocal mimicry of flock participants by the Greater Racket-tailed Drongo (Dicrurus paradiseus lophorhinus). Current research investigates how the nesting of nuclear species in the flocks, the Drongo and the Orange-billed Babbler (Turdoides rufescens), effects seasonal variation in flocking. | |
Image © E. Goodale
Our Team - |
Conservation of mixed-species flocks FOGSL recently expanded this research programme aiming to understand how human activity affects flocks in both the wet lowlands and the montane zone with the funding by the Conservation, Food and Health Foundation (CFHF). Under this programme, mixed species bird flocks have been studied at three altitudinal ranges in the wet zone – at Sinharaja (400-600 m), Morningside (1000-1200 m), and forests around Nuwara Eliya (1800-2000 m) – with a further three areas planned for 2008. In order to understand human impacts, surveys are conducted in relatively undisturbed forests, forest buffer areas such as degraded forest and tree plantations, and areas of intensive agriculture. |
| Combined with the research programme, FOGSL team also involved in a variety of educational activities near the forests where the studies are carried out. To disseminate the conservation message, lectures to large groups in schools, field trips of smaller groups of children and intensive training for highly motivated students are provided by FOGSL. |