Potential of birdwatching for tourism, local biodiversity conservation awareness

Today we feature a discussion with Marc Katz, an ardent bird watcher from the United States who spent two weeks in Sri Lanka, searching and observing rare bird species.

- By Surya VisHWA

This interview is part of our media research to obtain insight on how Sri Lanka’s nature tourism could be innovatively linked to community-based environment protection and conservation awareness of local citizens.

Sri Lanka is a transitory home to many birds of the world, especially during winter and also boasts of feathered beauties endemic to this island. Every year birdwatchers from different parts of the earth travel to Sri Lanka. Yet rarely do Sri Lankans get a chance to engage with these travellers to ask about their experiences in ornithology. Marc Katz, an American citizen of Jewish origin, whose previous professional background had been in Information Technology spent a fortnight in the country for the sole purpose of birdwatching.

Below are excerpts of the interview with birder, Marc Katz.

Tell us about yourself.

I am from a Jewish background, living in America as a citizen of the United States. Till recently I have been professionally functioning as a coding expert in the IT field, having specialised in Mathematics which I am naturally adept at. However, I found the IT field to be monotonous, as I felt I was disconnected from the natural world. Therefore, I have moved away from this sphere and obtained the TEFL qualification as an English teacher — Teaching English as a Foreign Language. As a start I have taken on teaching English in Thailand to some friends of my wife. My wife is Chinese and she is interested in aspects such as spirituality. We travelled to Sri Lanka together but according to our interests we went to different districts individually. She spent more time in Anuradhapura and Jaffna and I searched out areas such as Sinharaja.

Since when have you been interested in observing birds?