Significance of Halgolla Forest, Danture, as a Bird Habitat

Abstract

Halgolla Forest (N7o18’, E80o31’, 536 m above sea level), located close to the historic townof Danture, Sri Lanka, consists of mixed evergreen tropical plant species spanning over anarea of about 20 ha. Despite its small size, the forest reserve is home to a large number ofbird species, numbering over 50. Present study was conducted from the beginning of June tomid-August 2013. The objective of the present study was to document the bird fauna of thisforest. Peak observation hours were between 0600-0900 h and 1,600-1,830 h. Observationswere done on a weekly basis. Among the notable species were endemics such as the SriLanka gray hornbill (Ocyceros gingalensis), Sri Lanka lorikeet (Loriculus beryllinus),yellow-fronted barbet (Megalaima flavifrons), Sri Lanka scimitar babbler (Pomatorhinusmelanurus), and brown-capped babbler (Pellorneum fuscocapillum). The endemic Sri Lankagray hornbill was observed nesting inside the forest. Several proposed endemic species, suchas Sri Lanka green pigeon (Treron pompadora), Sri Lanka small barbet (Megalaimarubricapillus), and Sri Lanka wood shrike (Tephrodornis affinis) were also observed. Raptorssuch as the crested hawk-eagle (Spizaetus cirrhatus), crested serpent eagle (Spilornis cheela),shikra (Accipiter badius), and owls such as the brown wood-owl (Strix leptogrammica) andcollared scops-owl (Otus bakkamoena) have also been recorded. According to theinformation from local residents, the forest eagle-owl (Bubo nipalensis), which is a rare andlocal species in Sri Lanka, is a resident bird in this forest. Other notable species included theyellow-browed bulbul (Pycnonotus luteolus), Indian hill myna (Gracula religiosa), Orientalwhite-eye (Zosterops palpebrosus), emerald dove (Chalcophaps indica), and alexandrineparakeet (Psittacula eupatria). The populations of all these except the yellow-browed bulbulare suspected to be on the decline due to habitat loss. The fact that the reserve supports acomparatively high number of birds of prey indicates that it is rich in biodiversity since thesespecies are at the top of the food chain in any ecosystem. Given the importance of this forestas a watershed area for nearby tea and paddy cultivations, and the large number of birdspecies it supports, Halgolla Forest is undoubtedly an important area for biodiversityconservation