Census finds 32 water bird species thriving in 2 Agusan del Norte towns

by Philippine News Agency

BUTUAN CITY (PNA) – At least 32 water bird species are found thriving inside the monitoring site in Lake Mainit stretching across the towns of Jabonga and Kitcharao in Agusan del Norte province, highlighting the need for sustained ecological preservation.

WHITE Browed Crake (DENR CENRO Tubay FB)

“The census also recorded 12 new water bird species foraging and taking refuge inside the monitoring site in Lake Mainit,” the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office in Tubay, Agusan del Norte (CENRO-Tubay) said in a statement on Thursday, Jan. 19. 

It was referring to the Annual Asian Water Bird Census (AWC) launched on Wednesday, Jan. 18, which is conducted during the second and third week of every January not only in the country but also in other parts of the world, particularly in Asia.

The Top 5 water bird species with the highest number found inside the monitoring site in Lake Mainit include the Tufted Duck, Whiskered Tern, Intermediate Egret, Common Tern, and the Javan Pond Heron.

“The census also recorded 12 new water bird species foraging and taking refuge inside the monitoring site in Lake Mainit,” the CENRO-Tubay said.

The new bird species include the Yellow Bittern, Purple Swamphen, Wood Swallow, White Throated Kingfisher, Philippine Duck, White Browed Crake, Common Tern, Slender-billed Crow, Swiftlets, Short-Billed Brown Dove, Olive Backed Sunbird, Yellow Vented Bulbul, and Spotted Dove.

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The CENRO-Tubay noted the number of thriving bird species inside the sites this year decreased compared to 2022.

“Last year’s total individual count was 44,508 water birds. We recorded an almost 17 percent of decrease in their number this year,” it said.

Amazing Adventures in Awesome Agusan del Norte and Agusan del Sur (II)

The province of Agusan was named after a Malay word meaning where water flows", probably because o the might river that travellers the whole area. Early migrants from Borneo and  Celebes came to the region in Balanghais or wooden boats. Nine such boats were excavated and carbon-dated to be between the 4th and 13th centuries. The Malay settlers drove the aborigines, called Mamanwas, to the hinterlands.

By the time the Spaniards arrived, the natives were already trading with foreign merchants, as attested by 10th century ceramics unearthed near Butuan. Some historians claim that Magellan held the first mass in the Philippines in Masao at the month of the Agusan River, and not in Limsasawa, Leyte, on Easter Sunday of March 15, in the year 1521.

Must see in Agusan del Norte: "Pur Lady of Assumption Parish/Musuem: Fr. Urious instigated the people of Jabonga to look for a higher ground for a permanent church. Today, it is the oldest surviving Spanish church in the entire of Carage located in Jabonga.

"Lake Mainit", an incredible confluence of 28 rivers, a 17,430 hectare lake situated 80 feet above sea level with a mean depth of 128 meters as the 4th biggest in the country. Endemic fishes are the Gabot and Pidjanga. Native flora include the Pagosi and Tabokali, fauna includes the Giant Purple Heron, among others.  I really appreciate, that ecotourism activities are availabe and here canoeing, bird-watching, and cultual contact.

(Agusan del Sur, TO BE CONTINUED!)

Amazing Adventures in Awesome Agusan del Norte and del Sur

 

Rain or shine, I am still travelling around Mindanao. One day I arrived in Agusan del Norte. It's a province of the Philippines located in the Caraga region in Mindanao. Its capital is Butuan City and borders Surigao del Norte to the north, Surigao del Sur to the east, Agusan del Sur to the south, and Misamis Oriental to the west (one of my next destinations!).

Agusan del Norte is subdivided into one city and ten municipalities: Buenvista, Cabadbaran City, Carmen, Jabonga, Kitcharao, Las Nieves, Magalannes, Nasipit, Remedios T. Romualdez, Santiago and Tubay.

More about the history and several tourist destinations here on this website. Stay tune!