Avifaunal Diversity and Abundance at Kammalakkulama Tank in Mihintale, Sri Lanka

Most of the studies related to avifaunal diversity have been focused to the wet zone of SriLanka and there are few recorded studies on dry zone freshwater bodies. The objective of thisstudy was to evaluate diversity and abundance of avifaunal species around Kammalakkulamatank. The study was carried out from April to December 2013 and the field survey wasconducted twice per week, covering the first intermonsoon, the north-east monsoon and thedrought period in the dry zone. Point count and line transect methods were used to countaquatic birds and forest birds respectively. A total of 71 species of both 28 aquatic (39%) and43 forest (61%) belonging to 58 genera and 41 families including three endemic species, i.e.,Sri Lankan Jungle Fowl (Gallus lafayetii), Crimson-fronted Barbet (Megalaimarubricapillus) and Pompadour Green-pigeon (Treron pompadora). Asian Paradise-flycatcher(Terpsiphone paradise), Grey Drongo (Dicrurus leucophaeus) and Whiskered Tern(Chlidonias hybrida)) were the recorded migrant species. Shannon Weiner Diversity index(Hʼ ) of aquatic birds in the morning and the evening was 1.74 and 1.45 respectively. The H‟index for forest birds in the morning and the evening was 1.75 and 1.33 respectively.Simpson Index (D) of aquatic birds in the morning and the evening was 0.27 and 0.40respectively whereas the D index for forest birds was 0.08 in the morning and 0.25 in theevening. Margalef‟s Diversity Index (Dmg) of aquatic birds in the morning was 3.62 and inthe evening it was 3.55. The Dmg index was 5.51 and 3.31 for forest birds in the morning andin the evening respectively. Pielou‟s J (Evenness) (EH) of aquatic birds in the morning and inthe evening was 0.54 and 0.45 respectively. This EH index for forest birds was 0.50 and 0.45in the morning and in the evening respectively. This study clearly reveled that both forest andaquatic birds can be seen in the morning than in the evening which may be the best time forbird watching and study purposes.Keywords: Forest birds, Aquatic birds, Dry zone, Diversity indices, Sri Lank