One of the most important wintering grounds for Central Asian Flyway shorebirds. Up to 20,000 birds funnel through this coastal lagoon system, making it important for tracking population declines across the flyway.
Colby Otero from Brooklyn, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Avian Funnel
Bundala National Park is the final destination for many birds using the Central Asian Flyway, a migration route that stretches from the Arctic Ocean to the Indian Ocean. The park's location at the southern tip of Sri Lanka makes it the last possible land-based stop for these long-distance travelers. This unique geography creates an avian bottleneck, concentrating huge numbers of shorebirds into a relatively small area. The park itself is a 3,698-hectare complex of five shallow, brackish lagoons, salt pans, and scrubland, providing an ideal refueling and wintering habitat.
Its ecological value is recognized by three separate international designations. In 1990, it became Sri Lanka's first Ramsar Wetland of International Importance. In 1993, it was upgraded from a sanctuary to a National Park. In 2005, UNESCO designated it a Man and Biosphere Reserve. The park hosts 197 species of birds, 58 of which are migratory. During the peak migration season from September to March, the park can host over 15,000 shorebirds at one time.
Star Migrants and Resident Threats
The most famous visitor is the Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus), which arrives from the Rann of Kutch in India and can form flocks of over 1,000 individuals. Other numerous migrants include the Curlew Sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea), which travels from breeding grounds in the Siberian Arctic, and the Lesser Sand Plover (Charadrius mongolus). These birds feed on the abundant invertebrate life in the mudflats.
This critical habitat faces significant threats from invasive alien plant species. A woody shrub, Prosopis juliflora, and a cactus, Opuntia dillenii, have spread across large areas of the park. These non-native plants degrade the open mudflats and scrublands that native wildlife depends on. Prosopis juliflora alone has covered over 8% of the park, while Opuntia dillenii has infested nearly 9%. These plants outcompete native vegetation and make large areas inaccessible to both animals and humans. The park also has 32 mammal species, including the Sri Lankan elephant (Elephas maximus maximus), and two species of crocodile, the Mugger (Crocodylus palustris) and the Saltwater Crocodile (Crocodylus porosus).
💡Fun Facts
Bundala was the first wetland in Sri Lanka to be designated a Ramsar site of international importance in 1990.
Some Curlew Sandpipers that winter in Bundala travel over 15,000 kilometers from their breeding grounds in the Siberian Arctic.
The park hosts all five species of globally endangered sea turtles, which use the adjacent seashore as a nesting ground.
The rare Black-necked Stork (*Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus*), with a Sri Lankan population estimated at only 20-50 individuals, is a resident breeder in the park.
Daily from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Last entry is at 4:30 PM.
Admission
Foreign adult tickets are approximately $15 USD plus taxes and vehicle fees. Safari jeep hire is separate, ranging from LKR 7,500-10,000 for a half-day tour.
Accessibility
The park can only be explored via a hired 4x4 safari jeep. The terrain is mostly flat but can be bumpy.
Bundala Shorebird Flyway BottleneckSouthern Province, Sri Lanka
