First field visit to the forest of Kalu Wandura

After having several visits to Forest department finally we got the permission for entering the forest to observe the Kalu Wandura. We are grateful to Professor Sarath Kotagama for his assistance in getting us the permission. Mr Yalegama the new RFO for Waga forest department office was very helpful in getting us an officer to guide us in the forest. So I made a visit to the forest with my team in searching Kalu Wandura. We only did able to see 3 individuals and heard several calls. However it was a very successful field visit as we got an idea about the forest habitat and saw many birds including a Three-toad kingfisher. Now the team members are visiting the forest daily to habituate the langurs before we start their feeding behavior.

Last week was very busy one for me as I was writing proposals, making progress reports and also getting ready for the annual exhibition (March 26-28) at Pelican Conservation Project. We also confirmed the dates for Kate Stork Memorial Training programme (From 1^st – 4^th of May) for “Friends of Pelicans”.

Former Deputy Education Manager of Durrell (Jersey Zoo) Mark Chappell will be visiting us as a volunteer to ECO-V on 19^th March. He will be helping ECO-V in the exhibition, training programmes and also will be conducting a workshop for Field Ornithology Group of Sri Lanka.