Tags: Environment, Natural Wonders, Zoos and Animal Sanctuaries
By Anna Valmero
DAVAO CITY, DAVAO—The Philippines will host the first Asian bird conservation festival here from September 24 to 26 in a bid to urge the public to take an active role in saving the birds and other animals in the wild.
“Saving the birds and their habitats is tantamount to our survival,” said Mike Lu, president of nonprofit Wild Bird Club of the Philippines (WBPC), host of the birdfest which is scheduled in tandem with the 6th Philippine Bird Festival.
“Birds are natural barometers that tell us if an environment is healthy and fit for living; if you cannot find a bird on a place, chances are you cannot survive in the place because the forests are denuded and there is no watershed to supply water, a basic necessity for survival,” explained Lu.
The First Asian Bird Fair, which carries the theme “Nurture Nature, Save our Future”, is a common initiative of the Wild Bird Club of the Philippines, the Bird Conservation Society of Thailand, the Chinese Wild Bird Federation, the Wild Bird Society of Taipei, the Malaysian Nature Society and the Nature Society (Singapore).
The Philippine eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi) was used in the bird festival’s logo to decry the continuous disregard for rampant illegal logging and poaching that left the mighty agila or haribon, as we locally call it, endangered with fewer than 500 individuals left in the wild. A Philippine eagle has a wingspan of two meters or at least 6.6 feet and feeds on flying lemurs in Mindanao forests.
Alice Villa-Real, chair of the committee organizing the 1st Asian Bird Festival and 6th Philippine Bird Festival, said the latest initiative is a significant move to draw attention to pressing conservation issues, especially in the Philippines, which is a conservation hotspot due to the rapid denudation of forests and corals.
“We can make a significant difference to protect the rich bird life and habitats of our islands, while promoting responsible enjoyment of nature and encouraging related sustainable businesses in the local communities,” Villa-Real stressed.
Bird watching or observation of birds in their natural habitat started as a hobby of Lu, Villa-Real and several others who later founded the bird club. According to Lu, bird watching is a good way to promote conservation issues because a person, like students who will be joining the event, first learns to appreciate nature.
“The promotion of bird watching is not the end-goal of the club or the bird festivals that we are holding. It is the first step to create awareness about the wildlife that we have and what we can do to protect and conserve it so that the next generations will be able to see them in real, not in book photos only,” Lu explained.
There are about 572 bird species that can be found in the Philippines, about 200 of which are endemic or can only be found in the country, said Lu, quoting the data from Robert Kennedy’s book, A Guide to the Birds of the Philippines.
Countries in Asia, including the Philippines are included in the East Asian flyway so thousands of migratory birds from wintering countries visit the country from September to January.
“We are very blessed to have a very astounding bird fauna in the country—compared to other countries which only have one endemic species—that we should be proud of it and do our part to take care of it. Ecotourism is a concrete example of how we can earn from environment and wildlife conservation,” said Villa-Real.
Poachers were converted to become bird guides who will lead the forest trail for bird watchers to observe avian fauna in their habitat. Another positive impact of promoting birdwatching in an area is the awareness among people to take care of the birds so tourists will visit the area and in effect, help the local economy, she explained.
For the bird festival, Lu said WBCP partnered with other Asian birdwatching societies, about 15 of which will send delegates to attend the event, as well as the Philippine Eagle Foundation and the local government of Davao City.
According to bird photographer and WBCP member Alain Pascua, the Philippine eagle is only one among the endemic birds of Mindanao.
During his visit last month at Bislig forest, nearby Davao, his fellow photographer took photos of 20 “lifers”, or species first seen by a bird watcher.
Highlights of the bird fair include bird conservation forum, photo exhibits, presentations and fun activities for the young “and young at heart.” Children can look forward to a guided tour of the tidal flats fronting the Waterfront Insular Hotel, where children can have a close look at marine species like fiddler crabs and mudskippers as well as views of herons, egrets and other shorebirds.
Entrance to the Asian Bird Fair exhibit area is free of charge, according to organizers. For schedule of the First Asian Bird Festival and other event details, visit WBCP’s website.
(Photos courtesy of WBCP member and bird photographer Alain Pascua)
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