RSPB talk on Sri Lanka

RSPB Central Ayrshire Local Group and friends meet on Monday, November 20, for this month’s indoor meeting.

The speaker is Andy Shand, a member of the RSPB North Ayrshire Local Group, who will transport his audience to Sri Lanka and share his holiday experiences in a country very often referred to as Paradise!

Sri Lanka is a very old civilisation and can take the visitor deep into its past. Buddhist shrines and temples, huge sculptures of Buddha, monasteries, caves and wall paintings.

And all are witness of the thriving kingdoms going back more than 2000 years.

It is so easy to combine culture with birdwatching in Sri Lanka as all of these monuments are also attractive to birds.

In the third century BC, brilliant engineers solved the problem of irrigation by creating a network of reservoirs and canals, ‘ wewas’ in Sinhalese, which were also known as ‘ tanks’ by the British. These reservoirs, still in working order, also provide food and shelter to a great variety of waders, waterfowl, storks and many more.

One of highlights for Andy was watching blue whales.

These gentle giants are one of the most endangered species on earth and can be watched by boat in the calm waters of the southern sea.

Andy’s illustrated talk is at Hall B of the Newton Wallacetown Church, 60 Main Street, Ayr, at 7.30pm.

As always, visitors are very welcome.