Early morning is a magical time at Attidiya. As dawn breaks through
the cool mists that surround the marshy waters, one can observe the rich
bird life at Attidya as they move freely around looking for food and
preening themselves for the day.
Silhouetted against the orange dawn, we could see the dark outline of
the Adam’s Peak range of mountains. The air was damp with the remnants
of an early morning mist and the peaty, dark soil was soft and muddy as
we began a nature trek through the sanctuary.
The best traveled trail begins close to the information centre at
Attidiya and continues through the marsh, alongside the Bolgoda canal on
to the opposite boundary of the park on Attidiya road.
Halfway down the trail there is a viewing tower built by the
department for nature lovers to view the wild life of the park at close
quarters.
According to a study done by the Society for Environmental Education,
there are some 166 species of birds sighted in the area of which most
are residential and around 40 migratory. The area also has a recorded 71
species of butterflies and 44 species of fish.
The rare birds inhabiting the marsh are the Indian Shag, the Blue
Breasted Banded Tail and the Ruddy Crake. Rare visitors including Spot
Billed Pelican, White Ibis, Painted stork and the elusive Glossy Ibis
which is believed by bird-watchers to be migratory.
There have been reports of crocodiles inhabiting the canals now and
then. There are also small mammals like the fishing cat here. Some have
recorded sighting jackals too.
During the couple of hours we spent there, we recorded 35 bird
species and a couple of water monitors. Our eyes feasted on flocks of
Purple Coot feeding among the marshes, Storks watching still ponds for
breakfast and wide winged purple herons flying overhead with quiet
grace.
There are other trails to follow inside the park depending on- as one
young bird watcher put it- how much mud you’d like to get on yourself.
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