Deepal Warakagoda
Encyclopedia
Deepal Warakagoda is a prominent Sri Lanka
n ornithologist
. His early working career was in electronics, but for many years he has studied birds and also works as a professional guide for birding tours of the island.
He discovered a new species of bird endemic to Sri Lanka, the Serendib Scops Owl
. His expertise in vocalizations had enabled him to realize that an owl he heard calling near Kitulgala
was an unknown species, and he later saw this bird in January 2001 in the Sinharaja
rainforest.
He has also identified (each for the first time) 15 new migrant species of birds in Sri Lanka, and has published a large number of articles on the avifauna of Sri Lanka.
Warakgoda is Sri Lanka's foremost sound recordist in natural history subjects, and has produced and published the only comprehensive audio guide to the island's birds (on tape and CD). He has an unmatched knowledge of Sri Lanka's bird songs and calls. His recordings of the island's distinct bird species have played a major role in the recognition of several of them as endemic to Sri Lanka in the book Birds of South Asia. The Ripley Guide
(2005) by Pamela C. Rasmussen
and John C. Anderton
.
Although best known for his knowledge of the avifauna of Sri Lanka, and expertise in finding and identifying birds, his knowledge extends to the island's mammals and butterflies.
Warakagoda founded the Drongo Nature Sounds Library, the only one of its kind in Sri Lanka, and is joint secretary of the Ceylon Bird Club. He is a national coordinator in Sri Lanka for the Asian Waterbird Census.
He is a founder of Bird and Wildlife Team [www.birdandwildlifeteam.com], a company specializing in natural history tours of Sri Lanka and India, and works as one of its tour leaders.
He is currently working on several new publications in the print and audio/video media, including Field Guide to the Birds of Sri Lanka, of which he is co-author with three authorities on the avifauna of Asia.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
n ornithologist
Ornithology
Ornithology is a branch of zoology that concerns the study of birds. Several aspects of ornithology differ from related disciplines, due partly to the high visibility and the aesthetic appeal of birds...
. His early working career was in electronics, but for many years he has studied birds and also works as a professional guide for birding tours of the island.
He discovered a new species of bird endemic to Sri Lanka, the Serendib Scops Owl
Serendib Scops Owl
The Serendib Scops Owl is the most recently discovered bird of Sri Lanka. It was originally located by its unfamiliar poo-ooo call in the Kitulgala rainforest by prominent Sri Lankan ornithologist Deepal Warakagoda. Six years later, it was finally seen by him on 23 January 2001 in Sinharaja, and...
. His expertise in vocalizations had enabled him to realize that an owl he heard calling near Kitulgala
Kitulgala
Kitulgala is a small town in the west of Sri Lanka. It is in the wet zone rain forest, which gets two monsoons each year, and is one of the wettest places in the country. Nevertheless, it comes alive in the first three months of the year, especially in February, the driest month...
was an unknown species, and he later saw this bird in January 2001 in the Sinharaja
Sinharaja Forest Reserve
Sinharaja Forest Reserve is a national park and a biodiversity hotspot in Sri Lanka. It is of international significance and has been designated a Biosphere Reserve and World Heritage Site by UNESCO....
rainforest.
He has also identified (each for the first time) 15 new migrant species of birds in Sri Lanka, and has published a large number of articles on the avifauna of Sri Lanka.
Warakgoda is Sri Lanka's foremost sound recordist in natural history subjects, and has produced and published the only comprehensive audio guide to the island's birds (on tape and CD). He has an unmatched knowledge of Sri Lanka's bird songs and calls. His recordings of the island's distinct bird species have played a major role in the recognition of several of them as endemic to Sri Lanka in the book Birds of South Asia. The Ripley Guide
Birds of South Asia. The Ripley Guide
Birds of South Asia. The Ripley Guide by Pamela C. Rasmussen and John C. Anderton is a two-volume ornithological handbook, covering the birds of South Asia, published in 2005 by the Smithsonian Institution and Lynx Edicions...
(2005) by Pamela C. Rasmussen
Pamela C. Rasmussen
Professor Pamela Cecile Rasmussen is a prominent American ornithologist and expert on Asian birds. She was formerly a research associate at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C., and is based at the Michigan State University...
and John C. Anderton
John C. Anderton
John C. Anderton is an American ornithologist and bird illustrator.His work includes painting 69 of the 180 plates in Birds of South Asia. The Ripley Guide, written with professor Pamela C. Rasmussen.The book's covers are also illustrated by Anderton...
.
Although best known for his knowledge of the avifauna of Sri Lanka, and expertise in finding and identifying birds, his knowledge extends to the island's mammals and butterflies.
Warakagoda founded the Drongo Nature Sounds Library, the only one of its kind in Sri Lanka, and is joint secretary of the Ceylon Bird Club. He is a national coordinator in Sri Lanka for the Asian Waterbird Census.
He is a founder of Bird and Wildlife Team [www.birdandwildlifeteam.com], a company specializing in natural history tours of Sri Lanka and India, and works as one of its tour leaders.
He is currently working on several new publications in the print and audio/video media, including Field Guide to the Birds of Sri Lanka, of which he is co-author with three authorities on the avifauna of Asia.
Publications
- A Guide to the Birds of Sri Lanka Third Edition (1998) by G. M. Henry, revised and enlarged by Thilo W. Hoffmann, Deepal Warakagoda, and Upali Ekanayake ISBN 0-19-563813-1
- Photographic Guide to Birds of Sri Lanka(2000) by Gehan De Silva Wijeyeratne, Deepal Warakagoda, T.S.U.De Zylva, ISBN 1-85974-511-3
- The Bird Sounds of Sri Lanka. An Identification Guide Part 1 (1997, 2nd ed. 2001) audio tape
- The Bird Sounds of Sri Lanka. An Identification Guide Part 2 (1998) audio tape
- The Bird Sounds of Sri Lanka. 99 Species (2003) audio CD
- The Bird Sounds of Sri Lanka. Habitat Edition 2005 (2005) audio tape