By Joseph Senga
Winter is coming. For the northern half of the globe, colder seasons mean harsher living conditions for many wildlife. Various species migrate from their chilly homes to escape towards warmer climes during this period. Many of our feathered friends make stops in the Philippines to refuel and recover from their thousand kilometer journey.
As part of the East Asian-Australian flyway, the Philippines beholds the arrival of tourist birds by mid-September. Some locales have noted these patterns as a mark of the Amihan or Northeastern Monsoon season when they see the familiar white egrets arriving in our wetlands and rice paddies. Many of these birds then return to their Northern habitats near April of the following year.
Crossing several seas and countries leave these birds exhausted from their journey when they reach the Philippine territory. As such, it is important that we provide them a decent welcome by ensuring that our wetlands and forests are healthy and thriving. A chain of protected wetlands dot the country from North to South supporting the Philippine leg of their journey:
- Buguey Wetlands (Cagayan province)
- Candaba Swamp (Pampanga)
- Las Piñas-Parañaque Critical Habitat and Ecotourism Area or LPPCHEA (Manila Bay)
- Naujan Lake (Mindoro)
- Olango Island (Cebu)
- Agusan Marsh (Agusan del Sur)
For over 45 years, we have advocated for the conservation of these sites and beyond so that migrating (and resident) birds have more areas to make intermediate stops to support their wild populations.
Haribon has its roots as a bird-watching society and is closely linked with species monitoring and conservation. Bird Watching activities are available for Forest Birds, Urban Birds, and Migratory birds. During a bird watching activity, participants are able to identify and contribute to the global movement in keeping track of avian populations.
With the theme “Protect Birds: Be the Solution to Plastic Pollution”, this year’s World Migratory Bird Day observed on the 12th of October 2019 also aims to highlight the impacts of plastic pollution on migratory birds and their habitats.
Haribon continues to conduct Coastal Clean-up drives in the LPPCHEA to raise awareness on the conservation of coasts and wetlands – our migratory birds’ resting and feeding stops.
To arrange an activity with Haribon, contact partnerships@haribon.org.ph.
Joseph Senga is the Partnerships Specialist of the Haribon Foundation.
