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[av_heading heading=’ It’s the season of migratory birds’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=’30’ subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”][/av_heading]
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Saturday. September 16, 2017
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ILOILO City – Migratory birds recently made a touchdown at the bird sanctuary in Barangay Hinactacan, La Paz district.
The Far Eastern Curlew (Numenius madagascariensis), usually a loner among thousands of other migratory birds, is a rare sight in the sanctuary.
The Philippines is part of the migratory birds’ East Asian Australasian flyway and the arrival of the birds in Western Visayas – and in the rest of the country – signals the beginning of the annual migration season for migratory birds.
The season starts in September and ends in March when they leave.
Last week, the Far Eastern Curlew, along with whimbrels, egrets, ducks and other birds, were spotted in the wetlands of Hinactacan. They waded and spent the morning feeding in ponds.
“Birds migrate to find food and even find safe breeding grounds,” said Regional Director Jim Sampulna of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
Panay Island has a total of 37 official count sites for migratory birds.
The Far Eastern Curlew breeds in North-eastern Asia, including Siberia to Kamchatka, and Mongolia. Its breeding habitats are marshy and swampy wetlands and lakeshores.
It is identified as a non-breeding visitor to the Philippines and is an uncommon, migratory shorebird with a declining population due to wetland destruction and change, pollution and hunting.
As of 2006, only 38,000 Far Eastern Curlews are believed to exist globally.
“The presence of migratory birds in our areas indicates they’re finding rich sources of food here. However, in the light of the avian flu outbreak, our public would do well not to touch or harm them,” said Sampulna.
DENR Region 6 recently conducted its Annual Waterbird Census (AWC) among DENR-identified AWC sites in the provinces of Antique, Aklan, Capiz, Guimaras, and Iloilo.
The census is a regular activity of the department since the Philippines is a signatory to the Convention on the Migratory Species and the Convention on Wetlands or the Ramsar Convention.
Results gleaned from the 2017 AWC showed a total of 17,018 birds, with 52 identified species and two unidentified species.
The highest number of species – 26 – was recorded in Pantalan, Nabaye in Ajuy, Iloilo while the highest number of birds counted was in Barangay Gabuc, Pontevedra, Capiz.
“We must keep Region 6 a safe haven for these beautiful and ecologically important migratory birds by conserving and protecting our wetlands,” said Sampulna.
He called out local government units, villagers, non-government organizations, the academe and other concerned national government agencies.
“Only with vigilance can we truly provide protection and be able to conserve the migratory birds’ natural habitat,” said Sampulna.
DENR secretary Roy Cimatu, meanwhile, ordered the strict implementation of Republic Act 9147 or the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act.
The rich biodiversity of this country makes it an ideal place for the hosting of the 12th Session of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS COP12).
The event will be held in Manila from Oct. 23 to 28, 2017 – the first time the COP will be held in Asia. (DENR-6/PN)
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