Majestic Eagle in the City

Meet Girlie. A Philippine Eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi) that is being kept in the Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife in Quezon City. Inspite of almost 30 years of efforts to study and save this endemic and majestic raptor. Not much is known about their true condition in the wild. Scientists estimate that probably less than 300 remain in the wild. With the continuing destruction of the few remaining forests that serve as the eagle's refuge, its future remains depressing.

There's Girlie in the park. Try to give her a visit, and maybe say sorry to her for what we have been doing to her kind and to her home. And if you're up to it, try to see that obvious link -- that her home also serves as our home. That we're on the same boat!

Here's also a video I made about 3 years ago.

5 Reasons - to go Birdwatching in El Nido

The nice thing about island resorts is that there is usually an ideal level of effort to keep the natural environment as it serves as the main "tourism product" in the area.

Take the case of El Nido Resorts in Palawan which has a comprehensive program on environmental protection and has been validated by various national and international awards on tourism and the environment.

And for the bird enthusiasts out there, staying in a place like Lagen or Miniloc island resorts (both managed by El Nido Resorts) in Bacuit Bay can provide a double reward for a great vacation and birdwatching.

Here are some of the birds that can be encountered in Lagen Island and most probably, other small islands of Bacuit Bay.


The Palawan Hornbill - Endemic to Palawan, it is most awesome to easily see flocks of this large bird on the trees lining the the resort pool and just behind the restaurant and cottages.


White-vented Shama - These flyers would wake you up with their melodious songs. Much smaller that the hornbills, it would take a bit of an effort to spot the shama. However, if you're in luck, you could easily spot one perched on a tree branch just beside the restaurant veranda.



Sea birds and migratory birds. It would be an honor to name this bird - "Whiskered" Pacific Swallow :D. But i have to drop the "whiskered" thing if I want to gain some credibility. As you go island-hopping, you will be treated to an optical overload of not just towering limestone islands, but also of birds that you will encounter such as terns, egrets, the edible nest swiflets, and swallows.


Green Imperial Pigeon - It is also a sight to see these huge pigeons flying and hopping on tree branches and canopies of the trees bordering the resort facilities.



Reported by the resort guides - Palawan Peacock Pheasant and Hooded Pitta. Yes!! But hold your excitement yet.... The peacock pheasants are very shy and it would still be difficult to spot them (unlike the famous one that has become a regular guest in Puerto Princesa Underground River). The easier bird to see would be the Hooded Pitta in the trail that leads to the lookout point. Had to bang my head for not waking up early to do birdwatching in the trail!!

Yup! Birding can be very rewarding for the visitors of Lagen and Miniloc Island Resorts. Its best if you bring your bins while on vacation and tick off those significant ones.

I've recommended that spotting scopes be brought into the resorts so that their guests can have better environmental moments while in their properties.

Oh, I think it would also be a good idea to set up a viewing deck or a cctv camera trained on a hornbill nesting tree! hmmmm.....

5 Reasons - to go Birdwatching in the Philippines

Palawan Hornbill

I'm gonna start some sort of a series called "5 Reasons" which would be a rough list of why you should visit a destination or do something out of your comfort zone. I will start with my advocacy which is birdwatching. Here goes....


1. You will be surprised to know that there are more than 4 kinds of birds in the Philippines aside from the sparrows (or maya/ibong bahay), pigeons, chickens and maybe your pet parakeet. In fact, the country has more than 600 species of birds of all kinds of sizes, colors, and beauty. Add to this, roughly 200 of those are called endemics and found nowhere else in this world. These are some of the samplers - Philippine Eagle, Philippine Scops Owl, Philippine Serpent Eagle, Calayan Rail, Negros Bleeding Heart, and more!


2. Its a good way to exercise. Try to do some internet research on the birdwatchers (or birders, if you prefer Euro-speak). You will find out that a lot of the avid birders are well into retirement age. Don't get me wrong that its a hobby for oldies. But look at it this way - birding can be very tiring. As you try to find as many species as possible, you may walk several kilometers (while having fun!) and for several hours without you knowing it. And if you can do that in your old age, try to imagine how healthy it can be!


3. You will gain more friends. Maybe I could say that the serious birdwatching community is a strange kind of population. They have nothing in mind but seeing their dream species. But it can actually have a lot of downtime when the birds start hiding and you will have great bonding moments with your birding mates. Share your stories, laugh and smile at your common passion, or just simply look at the clouds while lying on grass beds.

One tip I can share for those new in the activity is that never do birdwatching alone. You will be frustrated looking at a flying or perched animal and not having an idea what it is. Go with somebody who has done it, get amazed at his excitement as he watches and stutters in identifying a lifer (that's a bird he sees for the first time). You will get better chances catching the birding bug this way.


4. You may not know it, but you will slowly become an eloquent advocate for the environment and conservation. Sooner that you realize it, you will have the passion on everything environment. After 2 or 3 trips, you will realize that its not just looking at the colorful birds. You will have the hunger to know more. About their habitats, their roles in this universe, why they are disappearing, and what are the relationship of bird protection to our own survival. It can initially be very nebulous, but it will be very fulfilling.


5. Its a very good excuse to travel. You may have seen the 10 species in your neighborhood. But more birds are meant to be discovered by your own eyes. Avid birdwatchers are known to spread to various corners of the world just to see even a glimpse of species found only on a small island or a disappearing patch of forest. Yes, its a good excuse to discover other cultures, laze on the beach while waiting for the "birding time," dine in the most exotic buffet tables, and make a more complete travel adventure.

Birds, Birdwatching and Ecotourism

It is becoming almost unthinkable that you would encounter a wild animal up close in the Philippines. They either get shot for food or collected as trophies or dispensable pets.

A sea eagle that was soaring less than 30 feet from me should remind me how lucky I was to experience the moment. For I don't know if I would get another chance in my lifetime.

You see, birdwatching should be a major ecotourism activity in the Philippines. We have more than 600 different species flying in our territory. And about 200 of them are found nowhere else in the world. Some are so rare that they live only on small islands and forests.

But we hardly value our wildlife. Not for ecotourism, nor the more abstract thing called biodiversity conservation. Their babies get collected, smuggled and sold as pets. Only 5% of the illegally traded birds usually survive. The rest die along the trade trail. We burn their habitats or cut down their nesting trees. We pour concrete on even the last remaining territories of birds. Just look at the plan of the government to destroy the bird sanctuary in Manila Bay (Las Pinas and Paranaque area) to give way for more reclamation.

I have to admit, that on a national scale, ecotourism is a lame excuse to save the remaining bird species in the Philippines or even for the people or the government to earn revenues for them. The money to be earned from birdwatching may not be enough to cover the profits of cutting down the trees, selling the baby birds, or building skyscrapers on their habitats.

But there are success stories of former hunters finally becoming advocates of conservation, of children convincing their parents to love the environment, of communities coming to terms that in order to survive, they have to live to the terms of their environments.

How I wish that a hundred, nay a thousand or even a hundred thousand Filipinos would declare that they have seen wildlife up close..... And yes, even personal.

Birdwatching in Sagada

For those who have been to the rustic town of Sagada in the northern part of the Philippines (Mountain Province), many would agree that it is a frontier destination. With cool climate, really dramatic mountain views, impressive and adventure-filled caves, and a proud Cordillera culture, Sagada has become an ultimate destination for many travellers seeking an adventure experience only a place like this could offer.

Then here comes birdwatching! In only one day, a birder could be gifted with a chance to spot a good number of endemic species.

Here's the complete blog and photos of the birds I saw in Sagada -
http://www.mytravelphilippines.com/blog/2010/10/16/birdwatching-in-sagada/

Fast Sketching by Robert Alejandro

My good friend, Robert Alejandro and I were given the opportunity to help promote birdwatching in the Philippines at the Taipei International Bird Fair last November 7-8. It was a great event to showcase the Philippines as a birding destination and gain really nice Taiwanese friends!

Robert did great sketches of birds from the names of Taiwanese visitors to the Philippine booth. He was such a hit!

Here's a timelapse video of him working on the sketches. It usually took him one minute to complete a sketch.

Birdwatching in the Philippines Volume 1

These are the selected pages of the book published by the Department of Tourism which I was very lucky to be part of as the writer of the material. This is one advocacy that is very close to my heart. By promoting birdwatching, the Philippines will not only benefit from tourism, but nature also will be given the chance to be protected and appreciated by the locals through the more environment-friendly activity of watching birds (instead of shooting or using slingshots on them!).

This book is a product of collaboration of the Department of Tourism (through its marketing arm, the Philippine Convention and Visitors Corporation), R.O.X., and the Wild Bird Club of the Philippines.

I have to thank the Philippine Convention and Visitors Bureau for allowing me to publish these pages in my blog. Please note that I don't have any copyright thing on all the photos (they are in low-res jpegs, anyways...). You may have to contact the PCVC or the photographers if you want to have a good copy of the bird photos.

This goes on until 14 entries.

Stay tuned for Volume 2! Yes, its already published.....

Birdwatching in the Philippines Volume 1 - Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, Palawan

Birdwatching in the Philippines Volume 1 - Rasa Island, Narra, Palawan

Birdwatching in the Philippines Volume 1 - Hundred Islands National Park, Alaminos City, Pangasinan

Birdwatching in the Philippines Volume 1 - Bangrin Marine Protected Area, Bani, Pangasinan

Birdwatching in the Philippines Volume 1 - Subic Bay Freeport Zone, Zambales

Birdwatching in the Philippines Volume 1 - Balanga City, Bataan

Birdwatching in the Philippines Volume 1 - Candaba Marsh, Pampanga