Bird watching in Mannar

Vankalai Sanctuary – Ramsar Wetland

Vankalai, in the Mannar district, with its numerous bird species has been declared a sanctuary by the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWLC), a first in the area since the armed conflict erupted in the north several decades ago. Vankalai Sanctuary is one of the key birding hotspots in Sri Lanka to spot many migrant species, vagrants and resident birds.

This sanctuary, partly a Wetland, comprises Puliyantivu Island, Tiruketiswaram, Pallimunai, Vankalai and the strips of land on either side of the causeway connecting the island of Mannar to the mainland. Covering about 4,839 hectares, it consists of arid-zone thorn scrubland and pastures, waterholes and tanks, sand dunes, mangroves, salt marshes, lagoons and sea-grass beds and maritime grasslands.

The sanctuary declared through a gazette notification dated September 9, 2008, follows a recommendation of the Ceylon Bird Club which has worked tirelessly towards making this a reality. Vankalai sanctuary was named as a RAMSAR wetland in 2010. It harbors more than 200 species of migrant and resident bird species.

Here are some of the bird species that you can spot,

• Gray Francolin – Ortygornis pondicerianus
• Indian Spot-billed Duck – Anas poecilorhyncha
• Northern Shoveler (M) – Spatula clypeata
• Eurasian Collared-dove – Streptopelia decaocto
• Crab plover (M) – Dromas ardeola
• Little Ringed Plover – Charadrius dubius
• Eurasian Curlew – (M) – Numenius arquata
• Black-tailed Godwit – (M) – Limosa limosa
• Common Redshank – (M) – Tringa totanus
• Marsh Sandpiper – (M) – Tringa stagnatilis
• Wood Sandpiper – (M) Tringa glareola
• Lesser Black-backed Gull – (M) – Larus fuscus
• Brown-headed Gull – (M) – Chroicocephalus brunnicephalus
• Greater Flamingo – (M) – Phoenicopterus roseus
• Glossy Ibis – (M) – Plegadis falcinellus
• Western Reef-Heron – (M) Egretta gularis
• Black Kite – Milvus migrans
• Indian Roller – Coracias benghalensis
• Black Drongo – Dicrurus macrocercus
• Ashy Woodswallow – Artamus fuscus

Apart from Vankalai Sanctuary, Adams Bridge, Urumalai, Pesalai beach, Olaithoduvai are some key areas to do bird watching in Mannar.