Sri Lanka is a bird watcher’s paradise, there’s no doubt about it; exotic species, large reserves just teeming with birds of all kinds and that sense of excitement flowing-or should we say ‘flying’-through the air! When in Sri Lanka, birds of many species both migratory and resident can be seen in these five amazing destinations.
Kumana Bird Sanctuary
Distance from Colombo: 391 kilometres
Located quite a long way away from Colombo in Sri Lanka’s southeastern coast, the Kumana Bird Sanctuary is situated within the Kumana National Park. If you book a bird watching tour with a reputed agent like Jetwing Eco Holidays, the journey won’t be that difficult as they will make stops at luxury resorts along the way. The sanctuary is renowned as one of most important bird nesting and breeding grounds in the nation. A total of 255 bird species are recorded in the park and some of them include rare birds like the black-necked stork, Eurasian spoonbill, Pacific golden plover, Malabar trogon and many more.
Sinharaja
Distance from Colombo: 128 kilometres
Just a two and a half drive from the commercial capital will take you to Sinharaja, the UNESCO World Heritage Site and Biosphere Reserve, that literally translates to “Lion Kingdom”. Sadly no lions live here now but plenty of birds do! One of the most interesting things about Sinharaja is that unlike most places, birds tend to move in mixed feeding flocks.
Kaudulla National Park
Distance from Colombo: 197 kilometres
The Kaudulla National Park has been identified as an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International, along with the adjoining Minneriya and Girithale national parks. There are about 160 bird species found here and some of these include the lesser adjutant and the spot-billed pelican.
Kanneliya National Park
Distance from Colombo: 197 kilometres
The Kanneliya Rain Forest Reserve or to be more precise, the Kanneliya-Dediyagala-Nakiyadeniya (KDN) forest reserve is a designated biosphere reserve by UNESCO. The forest is located within 35 km northwest of Galle, in the southern province. Identified as the last large remaining rainforest in the country other than Sinharaja, KDN is home to 20 of Sri Lanka’s 26 endemic birds. Some of these include the red-faced malkoha, the Sri Lanka grey hornbill, Sri Lanka blue magpie, orange-billed babbler and the country’s national bird, the Sri Lanka junglefowl.
Damon Starky is a creative nomadic travel writer, who is well informed and experienced on a wide range of interests that would connect to the needs of any type of traveler. Google+
