389 
 
Proceedings of 9th International Symposium (Full Paper), South Eastern University of Sri Lanka, Oluvil.  
27th – 28th November 2019, ISBN: 978-955-627-189-8 
AVIAN SPECIES DIVERSITY IN SATHURUKONDAN WETLAND MANGROVE 
HABITAT, BATTICALOA DISTRICT, SRI LANKA 
 
S. Thanusanth1, A.M.R. Ahamed2, J.M. Harris3, S. Sumuthini4 & K. Priyanka5 
 
Correspondence: riyasahame@yahoo.co.uk 
 
ABSTRACT 
 
Avifauna are playing significant role in ecosystem and highly interrelated with biotic and abiotic condition of habitats. 
Wet land ecosystem is the best and important place for breeding and foraging site as well as shelters of avifaunal 
species. Wet lands with mangrove habitats are considered as excellent biodiversity hot spots. The present study 
carried out during the period of September 2017 to assess the avian species diversity in Sathurukondan mangrove 
habitat. The prime objectives of the study are to ensure the avian species diversity in Sathurukondan wet land 
mangrove habitat and to get familiar with residential as well as migratory birds present in particular habitat. The bird 
counting was done by point count method within ten randomly selected sampling points. Totally 447 individuals of 
36 avian species representing 22 families were recorded during the study period. Out of 36 species 3 were migratory 
bird species and others were breeding resident. Gull billed tern (Gelochelidon nilotica), Common redshank (Tringa 
totanus) and Common sand piper (Actitis hypoleucos) were recorded as migratory birds. Little egret (Egretta 
garzetta) and Lesser whistling duck (Dendrocygna javanica) were the most abundance species in this region. The 
Shannon index (3.19) and Simpson’s diversity index (0.95) were clearly shows that, the Sathurukondan mangrove 
habitat site owning rich avifaunal diversity. This also ensures that, the area coming under the Important Bird Area 
(IBA). Proper management and protection against anthropogenic activities are necessary to enhance the existence 
of avian species diversity. 
 
Keywords: Birds, species diversity, Sathurukondan wetland 
 
 
INTRODUCTION 
Wetlands are simply habitats with permanent or temporary accumulation of water with 
associated floral and faunal communities. These are the most productive ecosystem that 
having high bio diversity in nature, and many flora and fauna depending on these places 
for their survival (Green, 1996). Wet land ecosystem is the best and important place for 
breeding and foraging site as well as shelters of avifaunal species (Shapuor et al., 2013). 
Wet lands are worldwide hold more than 40% of bird species and about 12% of other 
faunal species (Rajpar and Zakaria, 2010). The distribution and type of animals are 
determined by the distribution of plants in the ecosystem (Gunaratne and Gunatilleke, 
2003; Thanusanth and Ahamed, 2018). Wet lands with mangrove habitats are considered 
as excellent biodiversity hot spots. Mangroves are well tolerant to the wet land ecosystem 
and its support many faunal species include birds. Some faunal species totally depend 
on mangrove habitat to better survival (Ahamed and Dharmaretnam, 2016). But in recent 
                                                          
1 Department of Zoology, Eastern University Sri Lanka. 
2 Department of Biological Sciences, South Eastern University of Sri Lanka. 
3 Department of Zoology, Eastern University Sri Lanka. 
4 Department of Zoology, Eastern University Sri Lanka. 
5 Department of Zoology, Eastern University Sri Lanka. 
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Proceedings of 9th International Symposium (Full Paper), South Eastern University of Sri Lanka, Oluvil.  
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days wet lands and mangrove ecosystems are the most threatened habitats because of 
their vulnerability and attractiveness by anthropogenic activities (Giri and Chalise, 2008).  
Sri Lanka is an island located in Indian Ocean which owing enriched avifauna diversity, 
about 439 species were recorded so far with 236 breeding resident and 203 purely 
migrant species. Among 33 species are endemic to it (Kotagama and Ratnavira, 2010). 
Owing to this diverse nature and endemism, Sri Lanka has been renowned as a country 
with “Important Bird Areas” (IBA) (Surasinghe and Alwis, 2010). According to the high 
bird diversity nature wet lands act as one of the most birding site. In Batticaloa district 
Sathurukondan and Urugamam are named as IBA and in this Sathurukondan Birding site 
coming under migratory disperse way from the Eastern route and Andaman route entries 
(Kotagama and Ratnavira, 2010). Sthurukondan is one of the well-known mangrove 
habitat wet land which supports many faunal species include residential and migratory 
birds by its productive nature. So we initiate the study on Sathurukondan birding site to 
ensure the current status of avian species diversity in this wet land mangrove habitat 
ecosystem and to get familiar with residential as well as migratory birds present in 
particular habitat. 
 
METHODOLOGY 
Study area 
The study area lied between the Geographical coordinates 7° 44′ 12″ N and 81° 39′ 47″ 
E in Batticaloa district, Eastern province, Sri Lanka (Figure 1). The total area extend about 
1 km2 and 6.17 km in perimeter. It situated near to the urban area of Batticaloa and 
adjacent to Batticaloa lagoon. This area comming under the migrant disperse route from 
the Eastern and Andaman route entries of Sri Lanka. Study site having marshy land in 
nature and associated with large belts of mangroves, which support the bio diversity 
nature. 
 
 
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Proceedings of 9th International Symposium (Full Paper), South Eastern University of Sri Lanka, Oluvil.  
27th – 28th November 2019, ISBN: 978-955-627-189-8 
 
Figure 1. Map of study area (Source: Google Earth Pro, 2018) 
Methodology 
Study was carried out on September 2017, during day time (0600h to 1800h). The bird 
count was directed using point count technique. Within a standard period of time (usually 
8 to 10 minutes), bird records consisted of individuals by seen directly or with the help of 
8×40 binoculars (Nikon, USA) from a fixed point. A survey consists of a series of such 
counts done at randomly selected ten various points within the study site because this 
site having water locked areas and dense mangrove patches (Somenzari et al., 2011). 
Clear photographs were taken by using digital camera (Canon EOS 1100 D, Japan) for 
further confirmation of species, and observed birds were identified using bird guide books 
(Kotagama and Ratnavira, 2010; Grewal et al., 2002). The species diversity were 
measured by using Shannon diversity index and Simpson’s diversity index (Usher, 1983) 
as follows. 
Shannon-wiener diversity index, H = ∑ |pi× lnpi|  
Where pi is proportion of the total number of individuals in the population of ith species. 
Simpson’s diversity index, D’ = 
( 1)
1
( 1)
n n
N N
 × –
–
× –
  
Where n is total number of individuals of particular species, N is total number of organisms 
of all species. 
 
DISCUSSION AND RESULTS  
Total of 447 individuals of 36 avian species representing 22 families were recorded throughout 
the study period. Out of 36 species 3 were migratory bird species and others were breeding 
Study area 
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Proceedings of 9th International Symposium (Full Paper), South Eastern University of Sri Lanka, Oluvil.  
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resident. Gull billed tern (Gelochelidon nilotica), Common redshank (Tringa totanus) and Common 
sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos) were recorded as migratory birds. Water dependent birds such as 
little cormorant (Phalacrocorax niger), Little egret (Egretta garzetta) and Lesser wistling duck 
(Dendrocygna javanica) were the most abundance species in this region. Owing to the favorable 
conditions for foraging and breeding, some species also having their own nesting patches in this 
area. Shannon index (H) and Simpson’s diversity index (D’) of study site were 3.19 and 0.95 
respectively. These findings clearly shows that, the Sathurukondan mangrove habitat having rich 
avifaunal diversity.  
 
Table 1 shows the bird species observed in the study site during the study period with their 
respective families, their residential and general abundance status of them. Total number of 
individuals of each species also mentioned in the table. 
Where, BrR is Breeding Resident, M is Migrant, VC is Very Common and C is Common. 
Table 1: Recorded avian species in Sathurukondan mangrove habitat 
 
N
o 
 
Common name 
 
Family 
 
Residentia
l status 
 
Abundanc
e Status 
 
Individual
s 
1 Black-headed Ibis Threskiornithidae BrR C 14 
2 Lesser-wistling duck Anatidae BrR VC 31 
3 Little egret Ardeidae BrR VC 35 
4 Intermediate egret Ardeidae BrR C 18 
5 Great egret Ardeidae BrR C 17 
6 Cattle egret Ardeidae BrR VC 9 
7 Indian cormorant Phalacrocoracida
e 
BrR C 8 
8 Little cormorant Phalacrocoracida
e 
BrR VC 47 
9 Oriental darter Anhingidae BrR C 3 
10 Indian pond-heron Ardeidae BrR VC 25 
11 Purple heron Ardeidae BrR C 3 
12 Grey heron Ardeidae BrR C 4 
13 White-breasted water hen Rallidae BrR VC 6 
14 Purple swamphen Rallidae BrR VC 32 
15 Painted stork Ciconiidae BrR C 4 
16 Red wattled lapwing Charadriidae BrR VC 18 
17 Black-winged stilt Recurvirostridae BrR C 12 
18 Gull billed tern Laridae M C 16 
19 Common redshank Scolopacidae M C 2 
20 Common sandpiper  Scolopacidae M C 7 
21 Eurasian thick-knee Burhinidae BrR C 1 
22 Little green bee-eater Meropidae BrR VC 12 
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Proceedings of 9th International Symposium (Full Paper), South Eastern University of Sri Lanka, Oluvil.  
27th – 28th November 2019, ISBN: 978-955-627-189-8 
Little cormorant Lesser whistling duck Black-headed Ibis 
23 Pied kingfisher Alcedinidae BrR C 1 
24 Stork-Billed kingfisher Alcedinidae BrR C 1 
25 White-throated kingfisher  Alcedinidae BrR VC 3 
26 Yellow-billed babbler Timaliidae BrR VC 12 
27 Indian roller Coraciidae BrR C 4 
28 Common myna Sturnidae BrR VC 24 
29 Asian koel Cuculidae BrR C 1 
30 Greater coucal Cuculidae BrR VC 2 
31 Plain prinia Cisticolidae BrR VC 3 
32 Brahminy kite Accipitridae BrR C 25 
33 Spotted dove Columbidae BrR VC 15 
34 Rock Pigeon Columbidae BrR VC 6 
35 Jungle crow Corvidae BrR VC 4 
36 House crow Corvidae BrR VC 22 
Total number of individuals 447 
 
 
 
Figure 2: status of birds 
 
 
 
 
 
 
15
18
3
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
Common Resident Very Common
Resident
Common Migrant
N
u
m
b
er
 o
f 
sp
ec
ie
s
Status
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Proceedings of 9th International Symposium (Full Paper), South Eastern University of Sri Lanka, Oluvil.  
27th – 28th November 2019, ISBN: 978-955-627-189-8 
Red wattled lapwing Black-winged stilt Purple swamp hen 
Grey heron Purple heron Indian pond-heron 
Brahminy kite Common redshank Common sandpiper 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Figure 3: very common and common resident birds 
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Proceedings of 9th International Symposium (Full Paper), South Eastern University of Sri Lanka, Oluvil.  
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Figure 2 shows the general abundance status of avian species recorded in this region during the 
study period. The findings revealed that very common resident bird species are most abundant 
(about 50%) and common migrant species are less abundance (about 8%) in this habitat (Figure 
3). There were no any endemic species observed throughout the study. The well grown mangrove 
patches along with shallowest water logging areas and marshy biofilm layers highly support the 
existence of avian species with ensuring dominancy of aquatic birds. 
 
CONCLUSION 
The results and findings clearly figure out that, the Sathurukondan wet land mangrove habitat 
consisting high avifaunal diversity in nature. The marshy wet land combine with mangrove 
ecosystem was give favorable condition to the survival of many flora and fauna. According to this 
productive nature many species of water birds as well as terrestrial birds use this site as foraging, 
nesting and breeding habitat. The findings of migratory birds clearly shows that, this area coming 
under the migratory disperse way. The high avian diversity of Sathurukondan birding site also 
ensures that, the area coming under the Important Bird Area (IBA). 
RECOMMENDATIONS 
Saturukondan wet land having large patches of mangrove ecosystem which one of the main factor 
influence the avian species diversity in this region. But in present situation mangrove destruction 
and land encroachment like anthropogenic activities are highly impact on the existence of 
avifauna. So proper management and protection against this kind of activities are necessary to 
enhance the existence of avian species diversity. Further long term studies with seasonal 
comparison will be helpful to understand the dynamic nature of particular mangrove habitat.  
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