A total numberof
13,404 migratory birds were recently counted by the three teams of the
Protected Areas and Wildlife Division (PAWD) of the Department of
Environment and Natural Resources-XI (DENR-XI).
The 7-day bird watching/bird counting
activity was done in Malalag Bay, Davao del Sur; Carmen, Davao del Norte
and Banaybanay, Davao Oriental in line with the Annual Asian Waterfowl
Census (AWC) for migratory birds.
There were 3,738 birds found in Malalag,
Davao del Sur, 3,914 birds in La Paz, Carmen, Davao del Norte and 5,752
birds in Banaybanay, Davao Oriental.
These municipalities are the only
three identified temporary habitats of migratory birds in the month of
January after crossing the continents.
DENR-XI
Regional Executive Director Joselin Marcus E. Fragada said that bird
watching/bird counting activity aims to obtain information on the
population of migratory birds at wetlands in the region as well as to
monitor on an annual basis the status and condition of wetlands. This
year, most of the migratory birds that were counted are Black-winged
Stilt, Little Egret, Common Tern and Whiskered Tern among others.
Last year, a total number of 7,836
migratory birds were counted on the same areas and these were composed
of species like Godwit, Sand Plover, Common Greenshank and Black-winged
Stilt to name a few.
AWC is an annual event which takes place
during the second and third weeks of January. The census was initiated
in 1987 in the Indian subcontinent and has grown rapidly to cover over
32 countries.
According to the National Wetlands
Program, many species of water birds fly in droves during winter to go to
warmer and more hospitable tropics. After winter following weeks of
hoping from one country to another, waterbirds go back the same way
feeding on marine species of animals and plants found along the shores.
(DENR-XI PR)
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