Birds observed during the month of May

The month of May with long ‘Vesak’ holidays provided more birding opportunities to our members. Therefore Vesak month was a very successful month for the ‘Sri Lanka Birds’ web-based data entry system. This report provides an analysis of data entered by ‘Sri Lanka Birds’ members for the month of May. This analysis is based on the data downloaded on 17th June 2009.

Membership
New members 12
Total members 307
FOGSL warmly welcomes new members to the ‘Sri Lanka Birds’ community. FOGSL hopes they will enjoy the system while contributing towards the conservation of Sri Lankan birds.

Observations
Total Number of Observations 1474
Number of Species 172
Number of Endemic Species 18
Number of Proposed endemic Species 7
Number of migrant species 24

Observations of Lesser Adjutant at Udawalawa and Ruhuna national Parks, Sri Lanka Scaly Thrush at Sinharaja, Black Drongo at Mihinthale are noteworthy records. Considerably higher number of migrants was also reported during the month.

Nesting records
Number of observations 14
Number of species 7
Species (Red-wattled Lapwing, Black-winged Stilt, Brahminy Kite, White-browed Fantail, Crested Tree-swift, House Crow and Oriental Magpie Robin) .

Three other species (Great Thick-knee, Black-hooded Oriole, Scaly-breasted Sunbird) and Black-winged Stilt were reported in breeding stages other than nesting.

Mostly recorded species (No: of observations)
Common Myna (52)
Yellow-billed Babbler (48)
Red-vented Bulbul (47)
House Crow (46)
Cattle Egret (44)ள

Top five users (No: of observations)
Newton Jayawardane (550)
Chandanie Wanigatunge (321)
Rahula Perera (208)
Nishantha Ganeshapriya (139)
Sujatha Mayadunnage (88)

A total of 29 locations were visited during May by ‘Sri Lanka Birds’ members. Highest number of observations was made at Ragama (415) as in many previous months.

Visit the login page of ‘Sri Lanka Birds’ to see current statistics describing the number of field visits, number of observations and bird species, as well as the number of users registered in the system.

FOGSL highly appreciates the contributions of members towards the conservation of birds through this initiative.

Download books and articles on Sri Lankan Birds

Books published by the Field Ornithology Group of Sri Lanka are now available to download free of charge at the FOGSL website. Visit ‘Download’ section of the web site http://www.fogsl.net/ to download publications as pdf files. Following publications are available at the moment.

“Common, Endemic and Threatened Birds in Sri Lanka”
This book describes almost all common birds together with endemic and threatened birds recorded in the island. It was authored by well-known ornithologist Prof. Sarath Kotagama. This book is available to buy at FOGSL office and all leading bookshops.

“Birds of Sinharaja”
This book describes the all birds recorded, at the Sinharaja National Heritage Wilderness Area which has one of the highest Avifaunal diversities. It was authored by well-known ornithologist Prof. Sarath Kotagama. This book is available to buy at FOGSL office and all leading bookshops.

“Birds of Sri Lanka: A Tally List”
This list is based on the recent taxonomic revision of Sri Lankan avifauna done by FOGSL researchers. This booklet is prepared to use in the field. FOGSL hopes this will speed up your recording ability in the field and will help you to upload data into the ‘Sri Lanka Birds’. This will be available to buy at FOGSL office soon.

“Siyoth – Journal of the Field Ornithology Group of Sri Lanka”
All articles published in Siyoth Volume 2, Number 1 and 2 are available to download. ‘Siyoth’ is available to buy at FOGSL office and all leading bookshops. Contact FOGSL office to buy past issues of ‘Siyoth’.

Will be online soon.
“Bird Flocks of Sinharaja”
The “Mixed species Feeding Flocks” of Sinharaja National Heritage Wilderness Area is the worlds’ most extensively researched flock since 1981. The study has enabled the publication of numerous research papers and the doctoral thesis of Dr. Eben Goodale. It has thus brought fame to Sinharaja in terms of avifaunal studies. This book is a field guide to identify birds in the mixed species feeding flocks. It was authored by well-known ornithologist Prof. Sarath Kotagama and Dr. Eben Goodale. This book is available to buy at FOGSL office and all leading bookshops. This will be added to download section soon.

World Environment Day 2009

World Environment Day (WED) was established by the UN General Assembly in 1972 to mark the opening of the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment.

Commemorated yearly on 5 June, WED is one of the principal vehicles through which the United Nations stimulates worldwide awareness of the environment and enhances political attention and action. The day's agenda is to:

1. Give a human face to environmental issues;
2. Empower people to become active agents of sustainable and equitable development;
3. Promote an understanding that communities are pivotal to changing attitudes towards environmental issues;
4. Advocate partnership which will ensure all nations and peoples enjoy a safer and more prosperous future.

The theme for WED 2009 is 'Your Planet Needs You-UNite to Combat Climate Change'. It reflects the urgency for nations to agree on a new deal at the crucial climate convention meeting in Copenhagen some 180 days later in the year, and the links with overcoming poverty and improved management of forests.

For more details…