𝑴𝒊𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒚 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒊𝒆𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒃𝒊𝒓𝒅𝒔 𝒐𝒃𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝑪𝑬𝑵𝑹𝑶 𝑴𝒂𝒕𝒂𝒍𝒂𝒎’𝒔 𝑨𝑾𝑪

 

 

 

In line with the Asian Waterbird Census (AWC) target for CY 2023, the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) of Matalam conducted the same on January 24-25 in areas visited by the waterbirds at Brgy. Dugong, M'lang, North Cotabato.

 

It was spearheaded by the Protected Area and Wildlife Unit (PAWU), Chief Forester Rosie R. Camiguing together with PAWU support personnel and a composite team from PENRO Cotabato.

 

There were 14 species of migratory birds and 12 other species that were observed with a total of 1,423 individuals recorded by the team during the 2-day monitoring on-site. These are yellow bittern, intermediate egret, black-winged stilt, whiskered tern, little egret, brown shrike, common sandpiper, purple swamphen/western swamphen, wood sandpiper, Javan pond heron, white-breasted waterhen, purple heron, water rail, Chinese egret, great egret, yellow vented bulbul, Philippine coucal, brown breasted kingfisher, barn swallow, barn swallow, zebra dove, swiftlets, chestnut munia, white-collared kingfisher, common kingfisher, blue-tailed bee-eater, and brown dove. Sites covered during the census include ponds, freshwater swamps, rice fields, and marshes.

 

The annual water bird count data and site information are recorded on standardized census forms. A single count is made at each site (Site 1, 2, 3 & 4) that was visited in previous years. The said AWC activity hopes to provide the basis for the count of the waterbird population, their conservation status, and monitoring of the changes in the number of species distribution.

 

Said activity aims to increase awareness of the importance of waterbirds and their wetland habitats at local, national, and international levels. (With report from Cinconiegue, Ivy M. and photos from CENRO Matalam) | RSCIGJ #AWC2023 #TayoAngKalikasan #DENRNews