World Environment Day 2009

People around the world will unite for the planet on 5th June for World Environment Day 2009, with a strong call for environmental action. This year's theme is 'Your Planet needs You! Unite to combat climate change' - a topic that reflects everyone's individual responsibility to protect the planet.

FOGSL, one of the leading environment organizations in Sri Lanka has organized series of events from 5th to 10th June to celebrate the WED 2009. All these events are aimed at the school children who have strong will to protect the environment.

5 June – Kivula Junior School, Kalametiya –Events: Seminars, Tree planting programme, Assessment of students’ creations.

5 June – Ekala Maha Vidyalaya (J.B. Senanayaka School) - Events: Seminars, Tree planting programme.

9 June – Alawathupitiya Junior School - Events: Seminars, Tree planting programme.

10 June – Yashodaradevi School, Gampaha - Events: Seminars, Tree planting programme.

5 June –A citizen science programme to assess status of Asian Openbill in and around Colombo will be started. This programme will be implemented with the volunteer participation of School children. Students who travel from Colombo to Polgahawela by train are invited to participate in this interesting study. For more details, contact Mr. Aruna Padmaperuma or Mr. Pradeep Suranga at FOGSL.

World Migratory Bird Day 2009 celebrations at Kalametiya

World Migratory Bird Day 2009 was held on 9th and 10th May under the theme ‘Barriers to Migration”. With 122 registered events in 51 countries worldwide, it was celebrated with a great deal of enthusiasm and dedication to the cause.

Field Ornithology Group of Sri Lanka organised a two-day Workshop for School children on ‘Wetland conservation and migratory birds’ to celebrate this event. Workshop was held on 11th and 12th May at Kalametiya for the children of two selected schools in the area. A total of 60 students and 10 teachers from Kivula junior school and Deniya Pingama junior School were participated in the workshop.

Series of seminars on wetlands and wetland conservation, bird migration, and wetland ecology was completed. Field visits to Kalametiya sanctuary and Bundala National Park was also conducted during the period. Students got first hand experience on habitat ecology of many vegetation types at the Bundala National Park, Sri Lanka’s first Ramsar site. Participants were also able to visit one of the oldest prehistoric sites in Sri Lanka at Bundala during the workshop.

Education officers Aruna Padmaperuma, Chandralal Kumara and Susantha Sanjeewa of FOGSL conducted the workshop.

Capturing birds at the end of migratory period 2008/09

FOGSL conducted another bird ringing session at Bundala National Park from 05th to 09th April 2009 in collaboration of the Department of Wildlife Conservation. As part of the National Bird Ringing Programme, this session was conducted to capture birds at the end of migratory season 2008/09.

Netting sessions for waders were done at the Bundala saltern. Very low numbers of birds and species were observed in and around the saltern during the period since many of the birds have already gone. Total of 92 birds were captured while Little Terns gave the highest account. A total of eight waterbird species including a five wader species were captured. Two Common redshanks which were ringed during the last ringing session in December 2008 were recaptured.
Striated heron, Indian Cormorant, Kentish Plover, Lesser Sandplover, Common Redshank, Little stint, Curlew Sandpiper and Little Tern were the captured species.

A training programme for the officers of the DWC on bird ringing and other related bird studies was conducted. A total of seven participants engaged in the programme during this session. During the training programme a series of lectures and practical components on bird ringing and other field studies were conducted. Participants from the DWC were Mr. Thissa Ariyawansa, Mr. H.A. Premasiri, Mr. H.K. Piyasena, Mr. Mishan Kariyawasam, Mr. M.R.U.D. Perera, Mr. R.J. Kumara and Mr. D.C. Mahanama. Participants from FOGSL for this ringing session were Prof. S.W. Kotagama, Mr. C.D. Kaluthota, Mr. R.A.R. Perera, Mr. Kasun Dayananda, Mr. Sameera Ariyarathna, Mr. Pradeep Suranga, and Mr. Dilshan De Silva.

FOGSL acknowledges all the participants for their difficult task in the field, Mr. W.A.A.D.U. Indrajith (Park Warden, Bundala NP) and his staff for their role to facilitate this session in the Bundala National Park.