Birds in the City

This July 16-17, 2022, Haribon invites you to look for urban birds in your neighborhood and participate in this year’s Birds in the City—a birdwatching and urban bird counting activity! 

No previous birding experience required!

About the Birds in the City

Haribon’s Birds in the City event aims to raise awareness on urban birds and their importance in our ecosystem and to highlight our collective need for green spaces in our cities.

By counting and reporting your observations, you help in identifying the most abundant urban bird species, best areas for birding, and changes in species count in Philippine cities throughout the years.  

Join us in counting these bird species this July and keep common birds common!

Take part in this nationwide count in four easy steps:

Starting today: GO OUTSIDE and find them!

Start being attentive of the birds around you. 

Don’t know their names?

  • Find them in our FREE and growing list of common urban birds:
  • Attend our Birds in The City Webinar and Q&A on Friday, July 8, 2022 at 7:00 PM via Zoom to learn the basics of birdwatching and more. FREE for Haribon Members!

Before July 16: CHOOSE a place, date, and time

Plan your Birds in the City weekend!

Place

You can observe around your backyard, walk or travel further to the nearby streets or parks around your neighborhood, or take a quick break in your schools or offices. 

Make sure it is a spot that you can easily return to for the next urban bird count. 

Date and Time

Choose one (1) from the following dates and time slots:

  • Saturday in the morning (July 16, 6:00 AM – 9:00 AM)
  • Saturday in the afternoon (July 16, 4:00 – 6:00 PM)
  • Sunday in the morning (July 17, 6:00 – 9:00 AM)
  • Sunday in the afternoon (July 17, 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM)

You will only need to count birds for 30 minutes during each time slot.

Want to watch more? Observe in a different location at least 35 minutes before your chosen time slot ends or start in a new location on another time slot!

On July 16-17: COUNT for 30 minutes

During your selected time slot, count only the perched birds, and not flying birds for 30 minutes. Use our the Birds in the City Guide  to help you identify bird species. 

Materials needed:

  1. The Birds in the City Guide. Download to your phone or print it (use recycled paper).
  2. Pencil or your mobile phone for note taking

Get your FREE Birds in the City Guide here: 

Before July 20: UPLOAD your data in our Google Form

Input only the highest number of perched birds per species to avoid double-counting. 

For example, if 5 maya birds are perched and then fly away, and another 3 maya birds perch again, the final count is five. 

For more information, see our FAQ below or join our FREE Birds in the City Webinar for Haribon Members: 

Why count urban birds?

Birds in the City watches will take place at least once a year, every year to help researchers keep track of changes in bird populations:

  • Dry/fruiting season – June
  • Rainy Season – Aug
  • Migratory Season – Nov

How we manage the landscape around us influences the wildlife it supports. Urban birding helps us understand that green spaces matter to provide urban birds with safe habitats. Ultimately, cities that are fit for birds are surely going to be fit for us as well. We count on them to show us if our metropolis are healthy enough for all life.

Your counting counts. Keep common birds common.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Why should I count birds?

By bringing attention to our city birds, we also allow urban residents to take a break and appreciate what is left of green spaces and wildlife in our neighborhoods and workplaces. By knowing how many birds we have in our cities over time, we can also see how populations are affected in different areas in a city, and help promote the growth of more greener areas for ourselves and other wildlife.

I don't know anything about birds, how do I identify them?

Download our Birds in the City Guide  in PDF to help you! You can download it to your phone, or print out using recycled paper. Bring it with you on your chosen date and time.

When should I count the birds?

Choose from 4 slots on July 16-17 with one location each: Saturday (6-9AM), Saturday (4-6PM), Sunday (6-9AM) or Sunday (4-6PM).

Why only count the highest number of perched birds? Why can't we count birds that are flying?

There are chances that birds might fly from one perch to another and will get double-counted. By only listing the maximum number of birds seen perched at one time, we provide the most accurate recording of birds at a certain location at the specific time.

How do I give my counts to Haribon?

Easy! When you’re done counting, simply input your data in our Google form here.

I found a bird not on your list, or a bird on your list is known by another local name, how do I notify you?

You can message us on social media at @goharibon or email birdsinthecity@haribon.org.ph. You are always welcome to share your knowledge with us!