September 17, Colombo (LNW): Climate change is increasingly impacting migratory bird patterns, with an estimated 84 per cent of bird species listed under the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species (CMS) facing threats linked to global warming, according to environmentalist and legal expert Dr Jagath Gunawardana.
In a detailed report by Daily Mirror, Dr Gunawardana pointed out that Sri Lanka usually sees the arrival of migratory birds from regions such as Siberia, India, and Mongolia between September and October, and occasionally as early as August.
However, due to climate change, these migration periods have become unpredictable, with seasons starting either earlier or later than usual.
“This year, the migration season has commenced earlier than expected,” he noted.
Sri Lanka hosts a diverse avian population, comprising 435 species, of which 110 are migratory, making up 26 per cent of the total bird population, as per the Conservation of Migratory Species of Sri Lanka.
Over recent years, there has been a noticeable increase in the number of vagrant birds—those that appear outside their typical breeding ranges.
These migratory birds play a crucial role in maintaining ecosystems, enriching soil nutrients, aiding crop cultivation, and regulating food cycles by preying on smaller creatures.
However, Dr Gunawardana highlighted several environmental challenges confronting these migratory birds. The loss of habitat due to deforestation and the destruction of wetlands used for nesting and foraging has been particularly detrimental.
Additionally, the contamination of food sources through pollutants poses a significant risk to bird populations.
In Sri Lanka, unlike some countries with traditions of hunting birds, the primary threat stems from habitat degradation rather than hunting practices.
“Habitat loss remains the most unsustainable threat to ornithology in Sri Lanka,” he emphasised.
While Sri Lanka has made international commitments to protect migratory birds, including being a signatory to the CMS and the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance, Dr Gunawardana argued that local legislative measures are still insufficient.
He urged the government to first identify and protect critically endangered species, then categorise other endangered and endemic species, and finally recognise specific migratory species that require protection.
Illustrating the complexity of avian conservation, Dr Gunawardana referenced the reappearance of the ‘Glossy Ibis’ in Sri Lanka. This rare winter visitor, which was observed nesting at Bundala National Park in 2020 after a gap of 148 years, had been declared extinct in the region for the first half of the 20th century. Its unexpected return highlights the dynamic nature of migratory patterns, influenced by both environmental changes and conservation efforts.
Additionally, this August witnessed an unusual influx of blue-tailed bee-eaters, attributed to erratic weather conditions.
