Glossy Ibis is
considered as a rare migrant to the lowland marsh lands, paddy fields, tanks
and lagoons. It is restricted to the few wet land areas as small
flocks during its winter migration in Sri Lanka. It feeds on
worms, crustaceans, aquatic insects, frogs and such other small animals [and also
it is said to be partial to water leeches (Henry G.M. 1998)] often as small
flocks on shallow water with, head down nodding from side to side. It roosts
communally in trees with other water birds. The breeding season is from March
to July and it builds a rather small nest with sticks on trees near water
usually as colonies.
Distribution in Sri Lanka
In legge’s time (Last
half of the 19th century) Glossy Ibis was an inhabitant of
tank-districts of the country and frequents the many tank edges such as Minery
[Minneriya], Kanthelai etc. According to him it was also sometime abundance in
the extream north and it was frequently seen on the tidal flats near the Jaffna town and at the
mouth of the lake. On the eastern, north and north-western part of the island
it inhabited shores of lagoons and estuaries. In Hanbantota district also it
was found about the salterns and vicinity of tanks. Legge considered it as
merely a resident bird and he believed that what migrants do come to Ceylon [Sri Lanka] probably scatter
themselves round the north coast as far as Mullaittivu [Mulathivu] on the east,
and perhaps Puttalam [Puttalama] on the west. (Legge W. V. 1880)
In March 1872
Legge found a breeding colony of about eight pairs in company with Open-billedstorks at Uduwila near Tissamaharama on thorny trees growing in the half-dried
small tank bed. (Legge W. V. 1880)
While describing
its distribution in the island W.E. Wait in 1931 also noted that it is a bird of
tanks in the low country and lagoons of the north and east coasts. According to
him also it was mainly a resident and commonest in the north where the numbers
are probably augmented during the north-east monsoon by migrants (Wait W.E.
1931)
During avifaunal
survey of Ceylon conducted jointly by the British and Colombo Museums from 1936
to 1939 Hugh Whistler did not encounter any bird or museum specimen and he
described it as a rare resident of low country dry zone except apparently in
the south-west from Chilaw to Tangalla, and found in large inland tanks and coastal
lagoons. (Whistler H. 1944)
G.M. Henry in
1955 wrote “Nowadays, however, it must be considred – if present in Ceylon at all- as a
very rare species in the island. I have never met with it….”. Henry identified from Legge’s map the
location of its 1872 breeding colony mentioned by Legge as Uduwila is actually
the Wirawila of Hambantota district. (Henry G.M. 1955)
Considering
distribution data of above authors Glossy Ibis is considered as a former
breeding resident but become extinct in the island toward the end of 19th century. After long silent in 1965 two
birds were seen again at Kalametiya and one bird was shot (Henry G.M. , 1988).
In the subsequent years it was seen time to time in few locations in the southern part of the country such as Kalametiya, Bellanwila-Attidiya
sanctuary, Dehiwela paddy fields etc. during the winter migration season and
other times of the year as well. In
1994/95 migrate season 81 birds were observed at Muthurajawela, and others were
seen at Anaivilundawa Ramsar wetland (Henry G.M., 1988). All of these sight records are considered as
birds coming probably from Indian mainland.
Observation
In a bird
watching tour to Chavakachcheri area of Jaffna lagoon on 16th March 2013 we could
observe and photographed more than 20 birds from a pond like
water hole in a paddy field (9°38.327'N, 80°08.430'E)
about a kilometer distance from Thannikilappu junction
of Jaffna – Mannar road
(A32) toward Jaffna (See Map 1 and 2). Some birds
were feeding and others resting during the observation period of about 10 minutes and our attempt
to get a closer picture of them in an open area disturbed them and all of
them flew away. Few juvenile birds were also noticed among adults with breeding
plumage.
Map 1
Map 2
Discussion
According to
available published sight records - after 1968 Glossy Ibis has not been reported
from wetland areas of Jaffna peninsula(See Table 1 for all recent published sight records of Glossy Ibis). Most
of recent sight records of it after ‘rediscovery’ of mid 20th century are mainly from Kalamatiya and Aththidiya and other close by
wetlands of above two locations such as Bundala, Kotte, Muthurajawela etc. Wilpattu
national park, Nawadankulama and Pinkatiya of Puttalam district, Mannar and Giant
tank of Mannar district and probably Habarana are only exceptions. Prevailing civil war situation since 1980s prevented
most bird watchers visiting northern bird watching sites and it can be one
reason of lacking observations from there. What made them to revisit Jaffna peninsula again after nearly half a century Are they breeding again in our lands? Further observation are needed to solve those matters especially in the areas with similar habitats in Jaffna peninsula.
Published sight records of Glossy Ibis since 1952 are shown in Table 1 mostly base on
Ceylon Bird Club notes published in Loris - Journal of Wildlife and Nature protections society of Sri Lanka.
Table 1 -
Year
|
Location
|
Number of
Birds
|
Reference
|
1952
|
C. E. Norris observe it at Kalamatiya
|
|
Cameron, R., 1964
|
1963 September 11 to 16
|
Kalamatiya
|
1
|
Cameron, R., 1964
|
16th
August 1963
|
Koholankala- Hambantota,
|
1
|
Hoffmann, T. W., 1974
|
11th
September 1963
|
Kalamatiya
|
1
|
Hoffmann, T. W., 1974
|
19th
January 1968
|
Sarasalai Jaffna
|
2
|
Hoffmann, T. W., 1974
|
2nd
October 1969
|
Dematawila Wilpattu
|
1
|
Hoffmann, T. W., 1974
|
|
|
|
|
1967? Or probably 1968 - January
|
Two birds appeared once in Jaffna but were not seen again
|
2
|
Cameron, R.Mcl.L., 1968
|
2nd October 1969
|
Dematawillu of Wilpattu. Only record for this season
|
1
|
Cameron, R.Mcl.L., 1970
|
1970 –
December
|
Kiula near Kalamatiya
|
3
|
Hoffmann, T. W., 1974
|
9th January
1971
|
Kiula near Kalamatiya
|
5
|
Hoffmann, T. W., 1974
|
1971 - January
|
Single bird captured at Kalamatiya, said to be one of
5 seen at Kiulla. 5 also observed in 1969 at the same place
|
1
|
Hoffmann, T. W., 1974
|
1973 – Mid
December to 1974 - July
|
At Dehiwela seen regularly.
|
1
|
Hoffmann, T. W., 1974& Hoffmann, T. W., 1975
|
1975 December
|
Observed at the Dehiwela paddy field.
|
|
Anon., 1977
|
1976 December
|
Again seen at Mt. Lavinia
|
|
Hoffmann, T. W., 1977
|
1977 - first week of March
|
Once again observed at Dehiwela paddy field with full
breeding plumage. It was not sighted afterward.
|
|
Anon., 1977
|
1977 March
|
In breeding plumage was again sighted in the Dehiwela
paddy fields. The last sighting there was in December 1973.
|
1
|
Hoffmann, T. W., 1978
|
1978 June
|
Kalamatiya
|
2
|
Hoffmann, T. W., 1979
|
1980 January
|
2 at Kalamatiya [Sunil wikramasuriya recapitulates
his own sightings at Kalamatiya as – 4 in Jan uary 1971, 2 in September 1978,
2 in January 1980 ]
|
2
|
Hoffmann, T. W., 1981
|
1982 january
|
10 have been seen regularly at Kalamatiya and
continue to be seen at there
|
10
|
Hoffmann, T. W., 1983
|
1982 March
|
Kalamatiya
|
13
|
Hoffmann, T. W., 1983
|
1983 April
|
Kalamatiya
|
4
|
Hoffmann, T. W., 1984
|
1985 February
|
Malala lewaya
|
|
Hoffmann, T. W., 1986
|
1985 – November
|
Kalamatiya
|
9
|
Hoffmann, T. W., 1986
|
1986 January - December
|
Kalamatiya
|
Continued to be observed throughout the year in
varying numbers.
|
Hoffmann, T. W., 1987
|
1986 - March
|
Bolgoda lake
|
3
|
Hoffmann, T. W., 1987
|
1986 January
|
3rd mid-winter waterfowl counted 4 from
Tangalla-Ambalantota area.
|
4
|
Hoffmann, T. W.,1986a
|
1986 December
|
In a paddy field not far from new parliament at
Kotte.
|
1
|
Hoffmann, T. W., 1987
|
1987 January
|
Kalamatiya
|
3
|
Hoffmann, T. W., 1988
|
1987January 10/11
|
4th mid-winter waterfowl census counted 3
from Kalamatiya
|
3
|
Hoffmann, T. W., 1987a
|
1987 July
|
Bundala
|
7
|
Hoffmann, T. W., 1988
|
1987 September
|
Kalamatiya
|
1
|
Hoffmann, T. W., 1988
|
1987 October
|
Kalamatiya
|
5
|
Hoffmann, T. W., 1988
|
1988 January
|
5th waterfowl census recorded no birds
|
|
Hoffmann, T. W., 1988a
|
1989 - January
|
Not a single bird was reported by 6th waterfowl ccensus
|
0
|
Hoffmann, T. W., 1989
|
1989 October
|
At Kotte till December
|
1
|
Hoffmann, T. W., 1989a
|
1990
|
7th annual waterfowl census in 1990
observed 5 glossy ibis after interval of several years in the south at
Bundala.
|
5
|
Hoffmann, T. W., 1990
|
1990 October
|
Bellanwila
|
Initially only single bird and number increased to 4
and eventually to 8. Never have so
many been recorded from Colombo
area.
|
Hoffmann, T. W., 1991
|
1990 December
|
7 at Kalamatiya, continue in the Bellanwila-Attidiya
|
7
|
Hoffmann, T. W., 1991
|
1991
|
8th waterfowl census reported 6 birds at Bellanwila
and 5 at Kalamatiya
|
11
|
Hoffmann, T. W.,
1991a
|
1991 January
|
Kalamatiya
|
5
|
Hoffmann, T. W., 1992
|
1991 February
|
6 bird still at Bellanwila since October 1990
|
6
|
Hoffmann, T. W., 1992
|
1991 September
|
Attidiya
|
|
Hoffmann, T. W., 1992
|
1993
|
10th waterfowl census recorded 26 birds
|
26
|
Hoffmann, T. W., 1993
|
1993 January
|
15 at Attidiya in some numbers present throughout the
winter month till April. 11 at Kalamatiya.
|
26
|
Hoffmann, T. W., 1994
|
1993 September
|
Returned to Bellanwila
|
15
|
Hoffmann, T. W., 1994
|
1993 November
|
Flock at Bellanwila
increased to 34
|
34
|
Hoffmann, T. W., 1994
|
1993 July
|
Pinkattiya tank Battalu oya
|
11
|
Hoffmann, T. W., 1994
|
1994 January - March
|
Noted throughout the winter at Bellanwila and in paddy fields in wider vicinity as well
as at Muthurajawela at Ja-Ela, where as many as 83 birds were present from
January to March
|
83+
|
Hoffmann, T. W., 1995
|
1994 - Second half of January
|
37 birds were counted during 11th waterfowl census.
|
37
|
Hoffmann, T. W., 1994a
|
1994 Sep
|
Boralesgamuwa
[first arrival of the season]
|
5
|
Hoffmann, T. W., 1995
|
1995 January
|
Kalamatiya
|
13
|
Hoffmann, T. W., 1996
|
1995 September
|
Bellanwila
|
7
|
Hoffmann, T. W., 1996
|
1995 October
|
Bundala
|
1
|
Hoffmann, T. W., 1996
|
1995 December
|
Bellanwila
|
In varying numbers (Maximum 38)
|
Hoffmann, T. W., 1996
|
1995 December
|
Kalametiya
|
2
|
Hoffmann, T. W., 1996
|
1996 January
|
13th annual waterfowl census counted 18
birds
|
18
|
Hoffmann, T. W., 1996a
|
1996 January
|
Kalamatiya
|
7
|
Hoffmann, T. W., 1997
|
1996 February
|
Thalangama
|
24
|
Hoffmann, T. W., 1997
|
1996 October
|
Attidiya
|
22
|
Hoffmann, T. W., 1997
|
1996 December
|
Bellanwila
|
48
|
Hoffmann, T. W., 1997
|
1997 February
|
Bellanwila
|
5
|
Hoffmann, T. W., 1999
|
1997 July
|
Habarana
|
1
|
Hoffmann, T. W., 1999
|
1999 January
|
5 at Mirijjawila and another 5 at Lunama.
|
10
|
Warakagoda, D., 2000
|
2000 – From first week of January to the first week
of February
|
17th waterfowl census cnducted of 2000 counted only
2.
|
2
|
Gunawardena, K., 2000
|
2000 January
|
Kalamatiya
|
|
Senanayake, N., 2001
|
2000 November
|
Borelasgamuwa
|
15
|
Senanayake, N., 2001
|
2000 December
|
Over Nugegoda
|
1
|
Senanayake, N., 2001
|
2001 December
|
Weligatta
|
16
|
Siriwardana, U., 2002
|
2002 – Mid January to mid February
|
Observed in the 19th waterfowl census
|
|
Siriwardana, U., 2002a
|
2002 January
|
Kalamatiya
|
14
|
Siriwardana, U., 2003
|
2002 February
|
Mannar
|
|
Siriwardana, U., 2003
|
2002 September
|
2 at Nawadankulama and 2 at Bellanwila
|
4
|
Siriwardana, U., 2003
|
2002 November
|
Hungama
|
|
Siriwardana, U., 2003
|
2002 December
|
Kalamatiya
|
|
Siriwardana, U., 2003
|
2003 – Mid January to Mid February
|
Observed during 2003 waterbird census
|
|
Siriwardana, U., 2003a
|
2003 January
|
Hungama
|
8-10
|
Warakagoda, D., 2004
|
2003 February
|
Debarawewa
|
|
Warakagoda, D., 2004
|
2003 May
|
Giant tank
|
30-40
|
Warakagoda, D., 2004
|
2004 - Mid January to late February
|
Reported from Kalamatiya and Mannar during the 2004
waterbird census.
|
|
Siriwardana, U., 2004
|
2004 January
|
Giant tank
|
3
|
Siriwardana, U., 2005
|
2004 February
|
Hungama
|
9
|
Siriwardana, U., 2005
|
2004 December
|
Borelasgamuwa
|
c.25
|
Siriwardana, U., 2005
|
2005 February
|
Bundala National
Park
|
|
Siriwardana, U. & Warakagoda D
|
2005 October
|
Thalangama wetland
|
7
|
Siriwardana, U. & Warakagoda D
|
2006 September
|
Pillewa
|
6
|
Siriwardana, U., 2007
|
2012 July 8
|
Embilikala,
Bundala
|
59
|
|
References and Bibliography
Anon., 1977 The Glossy Ibis Loris 14 (4) 243
Cameron, R.., 1964 Notes from the Ceylon Bird Club. June, 1963 to March, 1964 Loris 10 (1),
71-72
Cameron, R.Mcl.L., 1968 Notes from the Ceylon Bird Club - 1967/68. Loris.11(3):153-154.
Cameron, R.Mcl.L., 1970 Notes
from the Ceylon Bird Club -1969/70 Loris 12 (1), 62-63
Gunawardena, K., 2000 The 2000
waterfowl census in Sri Lanka Loris, 22 (4), 25-26.
Hoffmann, T. W., 1974. Notes from the Ceylon Bird Club 1970-1973. Loris, 13(4), 211-214.
Hoffmann, T. W., 1975. Notes from the Ceylon Bird Club, 1974. Loris, 13(5), 275-276.
Hoffmann, T. W., 1977 Notes
from the Ceylon Bird Club 1976 Loris 14 (3) 154 - 156
Hoffmann, T. W., 1978 Bird Club Notes. Loris, 14 (5), 289-290.
Hoffmann, T. W., 1979 Note from the Ceylon Bird club
1978. Loris, 15 (1), 6-8.
Hoffmann, T. W., 1981 Notes from the Ceylon Bird Club 1980. Loris, 15 (5), 283-284,292.
Hoffmann, T. W., 1983 Notes from the Ceylon Bird Club – 1982 Loris 16 (3), 132-134
Hoffmann, T. W., 1984 Notes from the Ceylon Bird Club 1983. Loris, 16 (6), 299-301.
Hoffmann, T. W. (1986). Notes from the Ceylon Bird Club 1985. Loris, 17(3), 99-101.
Hoffmann, T. W., 1986a
The 3rd Mid-winter waterfwl (Duck) count in Sri Lanka (January 1986) Loris 17 (4), 142-144
Hoffmann, T. W., 1987 Notes from the Ceylon Bird Club 1986. Loris, 17 (5), 209-210
Hoffmann, T. W., 1987a The fourth mid-winter waterfowl
census in Sri
Lanka
(January -1987) Loris 17 (6) 233 - 235
Hoffmann, T. W., 1988a The 5th waterfowl
census in Sri
Lanka
(January 1988) Loris 18 (2) 80-82
Hoffmann, T. W., 1989 The 1989 Waterfowl Census in Sri Lanka. Loris, 18 (4), 160-164.
Hoffmann, T. W., 1989a
The Ceylon Bird Club A brief avifaunal survey – 1989 Lors 18 (3),
129-131
Hoffmann, T. W., 1990 The 1990 Waterfowl census in Sri Lanka. Loris, 19 (1), 38-41.
Hoffmann, T. W., 1991. Notes from the Ceylon Bird Club, 1990. Loris, 19 (3), 103-105
Hoffmann, T. W., 1991a 1991
Waterfowl censud in Sri Lanka Loris 19 (4), 147-152
Hoffmann, T. W., 1992 Notes
from the Ceylon Bird Club, 1991 Loris 19 (5), 171 - 173
Hoffmann, T. W., 1993 The 1993
Waterfowl census in Sri Lanka. Loris 20 (2), 49-51
Hoffmann, T. W., 1994 Bird Club Notes, 1993. Loris, 20 (3),
107-109
Hoffmann, T. W., 1994a The 1994 Waterfowl census in Sri
Lanka Loris 20 (4) 180-184
Hoffmann, T. W., 1995 Bird
Club notes, 1994 Loris, 20 (5), 226-228.
Hoffmann, T. W., 1996 Ceylon Bird Club Notes 1995. Loris, 21 (1), 16-18.
Hoffmann, T. W., 1996a The 1996 Waterfowl census in Sri
Lanka Loris 21(2) 42-44
Hoffmann, T. W., 1997 Ceylon Bird Club Notes 1996. Loris, 21 (3), 112-113.
Hoffmann, T. W., 1999 Ceylon
Bird Club notes, 1997 Loris 22 (1), 57-58.
Senanayake, N., 2001 Report from the Ceylon Bird Club for 2000. Loris, 22 (5), 43-44
Siriwardana, U., 2002 Report from the Ceylon Bird Club for 2001. Loris, 23 (1&2), 36-40
Siriwardana, U., 2002a The 2001 Waterbird census of Sri
Lanka 23 (1&2), 40-41
Siriwardana, U., 2003 Report
from the Ceylon Bird Club for 2002 Loris, 23 (3&4) 36-39
Siriwardana, U., 2003a The 2003 Waterbird Census in Sri Lanka. Loris, 23 (3&4), 32-35
Siriwardana, U., 2004 The 2004 Waterbird census in Sri
Lanka Loris, 23 (5&6), 42-43
Siriwardana, U., 2005 Report from the Ceylon Bird Club for 2004 Loris 24 (1&2), 33-35
Siriwardana, U. & Warakagoda D., 2006 Report from
the Ceylon Bird Club for 2005 Loris 24 (3&4) 24-28
Siriwardana, U., 2007 Report of the Ceylon Bird Club 2006 Loris, 24 (5 & 6), 50-56
Warakagoda, D., 2000 Report from the Ceylon Bird Club for 1999. Loris, 22 (4), 23-25.
Warakagoda, D., 2004 Report from the Ceylon Bird Club for 2003 Loris, 23 (5&6), 37-41
Harrison,
J. 2011. A Field Guide to the
Birds of Sri Lanka.
(2nd edition). New York:Oxford University
Press.
Henry G.M. 1998 A Guide to the birds of Sri
Lanka. (3rd edition). Delhi:Oxford University
Press.
Kotagama,
S., Ratnavira, G. 2010. An illustrated Guide to the Birds of Sri Lanka. Field Ornithology Group of Sri
Lanka, Colombo.
Legge
1880 A History of the birds of Ceylon 1983 second edition. Tisara Publishers.
Wait,
W.E. 1931 Manual of the Birds of Ceylon. 2nd edition. Colombo: Colombo
museum.
Warakagoda,
D., Inskipp, C., Inskipp, T. & Grimmett, R. 2012. Helm Field Guides - Birds of Sri
Lanka. Christopher Helm, London.
Whistler,
H. 1944 The Avifaunal survey of Ceylon conducted jointly by the British and
Colombo museums, Checklist of the Birds of Sri Lanka Spolia Zeylanica 23: 119-321
