RESEARCH ARTICLE

SPECIES DIVERSITY AND ABUNDANCE OF AVIFAUNA IN AND AROUND AN URBANIZED LAKE SITUATED AT PERALANDA - RAGAMA, NORTH COLOMBO - SRI LANKA

Abstract

Avifauna species diversity and abundance in and around of an urbanized lake called Peralanda Lake were recorded using point transect technique from January 2015 to December 2016. The lake is situated at North Colombo area adjacent to Ragama city in Gampaha District. Three Different habitat types were identified as Water body habitat, Terrestrial habitat adjacent to the water body and Disturbed habitat. Bird census was performed on 20 sampling points with a radius of 25m which were fixed by using a Global Positioning System device (GPS) (Garmin e Trex). Each point was visited 3 times per month at different times of the day between 0600h to 1000h and 1500h to 1900h. Sixty-two species belonging fourteen orders and thirty-seven families were recorded during the study. These include three globally near threatened species Spot-billed Pelican (Pelecanus philippensis), Oriental Darter (Anhinga melanogaster) and Black-headed Ibis (Threskiornis melanocephalus); three locally near threatened species, Cotton Pygmy-goose (Nettapus coromandelianus), Oriental Honey-Buzzard (Pernis ptilorhynchus) and Black Eagle (Ictinaetus malayensis); one critically endangered species, Blue-tailed Bee-eater (Merops philippinus); two endemic species, Sri Lanka Small Barbet (Megalaima rubricapilla) and Sri Lanka Swallow (Hirundo hyperythra) and four migrant species, Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica), Asian Paradise Flycatcher (Terpsiphone paradisi paradisi), Blue-tailed Bee-eater (Merops philippinus) and Forest Wagtail (Dendronanthus indicus). Highest species diversity was recorded in terrestrial habitat adjacent to the water body followed by Disturbed habitat while least species diversity was recorded in Water body habitat.

Keywords: urbanized lake, avifauna, avian diversity, North Colombo, Ragama, Sri Lanka.

How to Cite: Silva,E.I.P, Prabath,M.C,Sumanarathne,A.R, (2017). SPECIES DIVERSITY AND ABUNDANCE OF AVIFAUNA IN AND AROUND AN URBANIZED LAKE SITUATED AT PERALANDA - RAGAMA, NORTH COLOMBO - SRI LANKA.WILDLANKA, 5(2):Pages 036-045

Published On:2017-07-31

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