Situated off the northwest coast of Sri Lanka, where the sandy shoals of Rama’s Bridge connect Sri Lanka to peninsular India, Mannar is one of the four richest waterbird regions in the country. Its super-productive coastal and freshwater wetlands play a crucial role as overwintering grounds for an estimated 400,000 to one million waterbirds annually, representing around 122 species. The bird diversity in Mannar is astounding, boasting a list of approximately 250 species, which accounts for half of Sri Lanka’s total bird species.

Mannar is particularly renowned as a habitat for the charismatic Greater Flamingo and hosts a variety of rare shorebirds seldom seen elsewhere in Sri Lanka. Beyond its local significance, Mannar serves as a vital migratory gateway to the country. Its wetlands have become essential field sites for programs like the Central Asian Flyway-Sri Lanka Waterbird Tracking Program and Mannar Bird Ringing Program, conducted by the University of Colombo. These initiatives have yielded novel insights into Mannar’s connection to the broader flyway, stretching beyond Central Asia to Europe and the high-Arctic.