Overview
The extension areas of the Anawilundawa Ramsar Wetland — the broader habitat zone surrounding the core protected sanctuary between Chilaw and Puttalam — encompass the paddy margin wetlands, seasonal ponds, and scrub habitats that collectively create a larger ecological context for the core sanctuary. These extension zones are where the agricultural wetland transitions gradually into the rice farming landscape of the North Western Province coastal belt, and the habitat mosaics at these boundaries are among the most productive bird habitats in the broader sanctuary zone. The extension areas are less visited than the core sanctuary but often produce the most unexpected species.
Highlights
- The transition zone between the core sanctuary and agricultural landscape
- Habitat mosaics at the agricultural boundaries are most productive
- Less visited than the core zone — private birdwatching encounters
- October–March for the migratory species additions
- The paddy margin habitats attract different species from the core wetland
- Painted storks, ibis, and migratory waders in the extension margins
- Part of the broader ecological context of the Anawilundawa protected zone
- Early morning drives through the extension area roads produce productive encounters
Best Time to Visit
October–March for migratory species. Early mornings year-round.
Activities
- Birdwatching in the habitat margin zones
- Agricultural margin ecology study
- Combined core sanctuary visit
| Detail | Information |
|——–|————-|
| Location | Around Anawilundawa, Puttalam District |
| Type | Wetland extension and agricultural margins |
| Best Time | October–March, early mornings |
| Distance from Colombo | 110 km |
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