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Nature lovers to promote bird-watching

by P. Rajaratnam in Nuwara Eliya

A team of nature lovers have organised 'Bird-Watching' in Nuwara Eliya, including Horton Plains, Bomburuwella, Hakgalla and other areas, where rare migrant and endemic birds are popular among the bird watchers.

These young men have started an eco-tourism concept with special emphasis for bird-watching for the benefit of holiday crowds and foreign tourists. This team headed by young D.G. Mahinda Kumara, a Municipal Councillor and Chairman of the Development Committee for Tourism, together with leading scientists, zoologists and others have identified 89 rare varieties of birds.

Recently Professor Sarath Kottagama held a seminar on this subject at the Alpine Hotel, where a team of American and Britishers with Professor U.K. Gregory W. Brock of the University of Kentucky were present. Professor Kottagama speaking to a representative and distinguished gathering, outlined some of the rare species seen in this part of the country and the names of which were of the Latin origin. He went on to explain some of the varieties which were seen both in Sri Lanka and India.

He said the names of such birds were traced by the popular scientist the late Professor Hillary Cruze of the University of Peradeniya.

Professor Kottagama said the concept of eco-bird watching was a good move, provided the concept is properly monitored and implemented, which will enable 'Bird Watchers' from all over the world be encouraged and promoted. He added that there were nearly 389 different birds that could be traced in this country and such species should be protected.

He advocated the theory of having live fences, with the beautiful ornamental species, which will not only protect and it will also cost less than erecting concrete parapet walls.

D.G. Mahinda Kumara, the Chairman of the tourism Committee said that the influx of holiday crowds throughout the year in Nuwara Eliya come to enjoy themselves on various patterns of their own choice, but he said his eco-tourism concept and anxiety was to encourage them on programs like hiking, camping, bird-watching, mountaineering, rafting, sight seeing tours, boating, mountain biking, fishing and other adventurous sports, so that the holiday moods could be diverted on better things.

Another bird-watching enthusiast, and a senior lawyer of Nuwara Eliya Vijayasundaram says the long tail, short tail multi-colour birds which were plenty in the hill country zone are now totally extinct and such species he has seen in India, particularly in the rural areas.

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