Birds Kingdom Kumana
The Kumana National Park is the most important and most popular bird sanctuary in Sri Lanka. Kumana, being one of the most important parks in Sri Lanka, comprises of a part of the Yala National Parks on the south side and Lahugala National Park to the north.
Kumana birdlife, supported by Some 20 lagoons and tank, is an ornithologist’s paradise. During April–July, tens of thousands of birds migrate to the Kumana swamp area. These birds include herons, pelicans, spoonbills, painted storks, egrets, white ibis, and hundreds of little cormorants.
The bird species that migrate here in large flocks include Asian Open bill, Spot-billed Pelican, White-breasted Water hen, Common Moorhen, Lesser Whistling Glossy Ibis, Weathercock, Purple Heron, Great Egret, Indian Pond Heron, , Purple Swamp hen, Duck Black-crowned Night Heron, Intermediate Egret, Little Egret, , Indian Cormorant, Little Cormorant .
Among the rare birds that migrate to the swamp include Yellow-footed Green Pigeon, Greater Racket-tailed Drongo, Malabar Trogon, Red-faced Malkoha, and Sirkeer Malkoha. Pacific Golden Plover, Greater Sand Plover, Lesser Sand Plover, Grey Plover, Ruddy Turnstone, Little Ringed Plover, Wood Sandpiper, Marsh Sandpiper, Common Redshank, Common Sandpiper, Curlew Sandpiper, Little Stint, Common Snipe, and Pintail Snipe are the common wading birds at the Park
Apart from being abound with the birdlife, Kumana is also home to some of the mammals found in the adjacent Yala National Park such as Elephants, Leopards, Golden Jackal, Wild Boar, European Otter as well as the endangered Fishing Cat.
The Kumana National Park, also known as Yala East National Park is located in the Ampara district of south-east of Sri Lanka at a distance of 391 kilometers from Colombo.
Though it is a bit hard for tourists to find accommodation near the park, it is not difficult to find a comfortable lodging in Panama, Okanda, Pottuvil and Arugam Bay, the surfer’s Paradise, which are towns nearby.
