Field Ornithology Group of Sri Lanka
Encyclopedia
Field Ornithology Group of Sri Lanka, commonly abbreviated FOGSL, is the Sri Lanka
n affiliate of BirdLife International
. It was founded in 1976 to promote the conservation of birds
and preservation of the environment
. The group is based in the department of zoology of the University of Colombo
and Dr Dewaka Weerakoon is its current president.
s (IBAs) in Sri Lanka is one of the main activities of the group. This project has now entered its second phase, conducting studies to evaluate the biodiversity
of proposed 70 IBAs. Conducting research on some selected endemic birds, the Sri Lanka Blue Magpie
and Spot-winged Thrush
, is another activity of the group. Following the events of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami
, FOGSL provided some direct humanitarian assistance. The group helped in wetland restoration, rebuilding schools, and coastal land-use planning. National bird ringing programmes conducted in Bundala National Park
concentrate on studies on migratory birds
and the wetland
s. The Field Ornithology Group intends to extend the research to other sites on the migration route and to develop a web database.
From 2008, Field Ornithology Group conducts a bird count
in December in the lines of Christmas Bird Count
by the National Audubon Society
of the United States
. Sri Lanka's location at the tip of the Indian subcontinent
has made the island a termination point in the North-South bird migratory route. Organizing a bird education exhibition to promote awareness among general public is one of the annual programmes of the group. This commemorates the late P. B. Karunathna, who was a leading naturalist in the country and one of the founding members of the society.
and field trips for children aged over 14. Another programme, called "Preserving Heritage for Tomorrow", was carried out in collaboration with Sri Lanka Telecom
in 2007 to raise awareness on the conservation of the Sinharaja Forest Reserve
. 180 students and 45 teachers from various schools participated in the programme.
granted the Field Ornithology Group 20,308.00 for printing of selected publications and other activities. As part of their educational programmes, Field Ornithology Group has published many books and posters, not only on birds, but also mammals and wetlands. The FOGSL also publish two periodicals
, Kedetta in Sinhala and Malkoha in English.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
n affiliate of BirdLife International
BirdLife International
BirdLife International is a global Partnership of conservation organisations that strives to conserve birds, their habitats and global biodiversity, working with people towards sustainability in the use of natural resources...
. It was founded in 1976 to promote the conservation of birds
Bird conservation
Bird conservation is a field in the science of conservation biology related to threatened birds. Humans have had a profound effect on many bird species...
and preservation of the environment
Conservation biology
Conservation biology is the scientific study of the nature and status of Earth's biodiversity with the aim of protecting species, their habitats, and ecosystems from excessive rates of extinction...
. The group is based in the department of zoology of the University of Colombo
University of Colombo
The University of Colombo is a public research university located primarily in Colombo, Sri Lanka...
and Dr Dewaka Weerakoon is its current president.
Activities and events
Identifying and proposing Important Bird AreaImportant Bird Area
An Important Bird Area is an area recognized as being globally important habitat for the conservation of bird populations. Currently there are about 10,000 IBAs worldwide. The program was developed and sites are identified by BirdLife International...
s (IBAs) in Sri Lanka is one of the main activities of the group. This project has now entered its second phase, conducting studies to evaluate the biodiversity
Biodiversity
Biodiversity is the degree of variation of life forms within a given ecosystem, biome, or an entire planet. Biodiversity is a measure of the health of ecosystems. Biodiversity is in part a function of climate. In terrestrial habitats, tropical regions are typically rich whereas polar regions...
of proposed 70 IBAs. Conducting research on some selected endemic birds, the Sri Lanka Blue Magpie
Sri Lanka Blue Magpie
The Sri Lanka Blue Magpie or Ceylon Magpie is a member of the crow family living in the hill forests of Sri Lanka, where it is endemic....
and Spot-winged Thrush
Spot-winged Thrush
The Spot-winged Thrush, Zoothera spiloptera, is an Asian thrush, a group within the large thrush family Turdidae.It is an endemic resident breeder in Sri Lanka...
, is another activity of the group. Following the events of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami
2004 Indian Ocean earthquake
The 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake was an undersea megathrust earthquake that occurred at 00:58:53 UTC on Sunday, December 26, 2004, with an epicentre off the west coast of Sumatra, Indonesia. The quake itself is known by the scientific community as the Sumatra-Andaman earthquake...
, FOGSL provided some direct humanitarian assistance. The group helped in wetland restoration, rebuilding schools, and coastal land-use planning. National bird ringing programmes conducted in Bundala National Park
Bundala National Park
Bundala National Park is an internationally important wintering ground for migratory water birds in Sri Lanka. Bundala harbors 197 species of Birds, the highlight being the Greater Flamingo, which migrate in large flocks. Bundala was designated a wildlife sanctuary in 1969 and redesignated to a...
concentrate on studies on migratory birds
Bird migration
Bird migration is the regular seasonal journey undertaken by many species of birds. Bird movements include those made in response to changes in food availability, habitat or weather. Sometimes, journeys are not termed "true migration" because they are irregular or in only one direction...
and the wetland
Wetland
A wetland is an area of land whose soil is saturated with water either permanently or seasonally. Wetlands are categorised by their characteristic vegetation, which is adapted to these unique soil conditions....
s. The Field Ornithology Group intends to extend the research to other sites on the migration route and to develop a web database.
From 2008, Field Ornithology Group conducts a bird count
Avian ecology field methods
There are many field methods available for conducting avian ecological research. They can be divided into three types: counts, nest monitoring, and capturing and marking.-Basic counts:...
in December in the lines of Christmas Bird Count
Christmas Bird Count
The Christmas Bird Count is a census of birds in the Western Hemisphere, performed annually in the early Northern-hemisphere winter by volunteer birders...
by the National Audubon Society
National Audubon Society
The National Audubon Society is an American non-profit environmental organization dedicated to conservation. Incorporated in 1905, Audubon is one of the oldest of such organizations in the world and uses science, education and grassroots advocacy to advance its conservation mission...
of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Sri Lanka's location at the tip of the Indian subcontinent
Indian subcontinent
The Indian subcontinent, also Indian Subcontinent, Indo-Pak Subcontinent or South Asian Subcontinent is a region of the Asian continent on the Indian tectonic plate from the Hindu Kush or Hindu Koh, Himalayas and including the Kuen Lun and Karakoram ranges, forming a land mass which extends...
has made the island a termination point in the North-South bird migratory route. Organizing a bird education exhibition to promote awareness among general public is one of the annual programmes of the group. This commemorates the late P. B. Karunathna, who was a leading naturalist in the country and one of the founding members of the society.
Activities for youth
The FOGSL also organise activities for children. They have launched an "FOG Kids" programme, focusing on environmental educationEnvironmental education
Environmental education refers to organized efforts to teach about how natural environments function and, particularly, how human beings can manage their behavior and ecosystems in order to live sustainably. The term is often used to imply education within the school system, from primary to...
and field trips for children aged over 14. Another programme, called "Preserving Heritage for Tomorrow", was carried out in collaboration with Sri Lanka Telecom
Sri Lanka Telecom
Sri Lanka Telecom PLC is the premier telecommunications services provider in Sri Lanka and one of the country’s most valuable blue chip companies with an annual turnover in excess of Rs 40 billion...
in 2007 to raise awareness on the conservation of the Sinharaja Forest Reserve
Sinharaja Forest Reserve
Sinharaja Forest Reserve is a national park and a biodiversity hotspot in Sri Lanka. It is of international significance and has been designated a Biosphere Reserve and World Heritage Site by UNESCO....
. 180 students and 45 teachers from various schools participated in the programme.
Publications
The small grants programme of the United Nations Development ProgrammeUnited Nations Development Programme
The United Nations Development Programme is the United Nations' global development network. It advocates for change and connects countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. UNDP operates in 177 countries, working with nations on their own solutions to...
granted the Field Ornithology Group 20,308.00 for printing of selected publications and other activities. As part of their educational programmes, Field Ornithology Group has published many books and posters, not only on birds, but also mammals and wetlands. The FOGSL also publish two periodicals
Periodical publication
Periodical literature is a published work that appears in a new edition on a regular schedule. The most familiar examples are the newspaper, often published daily, or weekly; or the magazine, typically published weekly, monthly or as a quarterly...
, Kedetta in Sinhala and Malkoha in English.