‘Sri Lanka Birds’, Sri Lankan section of the global effort of bird conservation named ‘Worldbirds’ completed another fruitful month by the end of February 2009. Summary results of the analysis for February are given in this report. This analysis is based on the data downloaded on 21st March 2009.
Membership
New members 15
Total members 254
We warmly welcome new members to the ‘Sri Lanka Birds’ community.
Observations
Total Number of Observations 1446
Number of Species 178
Number of Endemic Species 8
Number of Proposed endemic Species 7
Number of migrant species 34
Nesting records
Number of observations 5
Number of species 5
Species (Brown-headed Barbet, Black-rumped Flameback, Shikra, Indian Roller, Brahminy Kite)
Mostly recorded species (No: of observations)
Yellow-billed Babbler (57)
Red-vented Bulbul (49)
House Crow (48)
Common Myna (48)
Oriental Magpie Robin (46)
Top five users (No: of observations)
Newton Jayawardane (558)
Chandanie Wanigatunge (164)
Chaminda Jayaratne (161)
Rienzie Fernando(141)
Rahula Perera (141)
A total of 36 locations were visited during February by ‘Sri Lanka Birds’ members. Highest number of observations was made at Ragama (346) as in many previous months.
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, are displayed on the login page of ‘Sri Lanka Birds’ - www.worldbirds.org/srilanka .
Membership
New members 15
Total members 254
We warmly welcome new members to the ‘Sri Lanka Birds’ community.
Observations
Total Number of Observations 1446
Number of Species 178
Number of Endemic Species 8
Number of Proposed endemic Species 7
Number of migrant species 34
Nesting records
Number of observations 5
Number of species 5
Species (Brown-headed Barbet, Black-rumped Flameback, Shikra, Indian Roller, Brahminy Kite)
Mostly recorded species (No: of observations)
Yellow-billed Babbler (57)
Red-vented Bulbul (49)
House Crow (48)
Common Myna (48)
Oriental Magpie Robin (46)
Top five users (No: of observations)
Newton Jayawardane (558)
Chandanie Wanigatunge (164)
Chaminda Jayaratne (161)
Rienzie Fernando(141)
Rahula Perera (141)
A total of 36 locations were visited during February by ‘Sri Lanka Birds’ members. Highest number of observations was made at Ragama (346) as in many previous months.
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, are displayed on the login page of ‘Sri Lanka Birds’ - www.worldbirds.org/srilanka .
We would like to thank all the members for entering their valuable observations into Sri Lanka Birds. We highly appreciate the contributions of members towards conservation of birds through this initiative.
It was yet another 
Early next morning after a wood smoke flavoured cup of tea the team set off to observe birds along the coast. We were indeed rewarded with some good birding which included a number of terns. Late morning was a trip to the saltern where we were able to see a large number of waders. It was a keen bunch of birders who braved the hot burning sun beating down on us to identify the different plovers and sandpipers, terns and shanks. It was a day of waders and more waders. Evening ended charmingly with the making of new friends. Desperate to charge our mobile phones, we made friends with the people of the area who turned out to be absolutely wonderful. This resulted in also the making of one new birder from the area - Nigel.
The much awaited owling was not a success even though we heard the calls of quite a few.
Sunday was a fantastic day of birding which again began with the early morning coastal walk. Most of us were able to spot lifers in the form of Grey francolin and western reef egret. A trip close to the Nurachcholai power plant and the Puttlum salterns, provided more waders to our already confused struggle for identification. Thanks to Dhammithra and Podda (Dilshan) of the FOGSL team, that difficult task was accomplished. The enthusiastic team took turns to educate the new participant - Nigel - on the finer points of bird watching and the poor guy was given such a thorough briefing on all birds that, at the end of the day, he saw even the crow in a special ornithological light. 
The final day started with the bustle of packing up and seeing that everything was in order. Touching goodbyes were said to our new found friends with promises to meet again. On the way birding at Annavilundawa proved to be very good. The Watercock was a great observation. Each of us also kept our eyes open for our other interests such as butterflies and reptiles. After a late lunch the team returned to the University of Colombo completing yet another birding trip.
Reported by Tharu de Silva
