FORAGING ECOLOGY OF SELECTED BIRDS IN A HILL FOREST IN SRI LANKA

This is a study of foraging ecology of some selected species of coexisting birds in a Sri Lankan hill forest. Some of these species are endemic to the island of Sri Lanka. The importance of in-depth study of basic ecology of the Sri Lankan avifauna lies in their conservation. As a considerable number of resident species is either threatened or endangered, knowledge of their ecology as well as their status is extremely important for their conservation - to devise and implement successful management and conservation plans. Therefore, the present study was aimed at addressing the questions concerned with the foraging behavior and ecology of some selected species of birds in Udawattakele Forest Reserve, Kandy, Sri Lanka, with the hope that the results will provide insight into implementing effective management plans for their conservation. Furthermore, quantitative studies on the foraging behavior and ecology of birds in Sri Lanka are virtually non-existent. Therefore, the second objective of the present study was to fill in this aspect of their ecology, at least partially.