DENR braces for migratory birds influx in Leyte’s wetlands

 By Sarwell Q. Meniano

TACLOBAN CITY, Jan. 11 (PNA) –- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is stepping up their watch in the Carigara Bay and Ormoc Bay wetlands in Leyte, one of the regular paths of migratory birds in the country.

Within this month, the DENR will send a monitoring team to Baruguhay Norte and Can-omantang villages within Carigara Bay wetlands and San Juan and Naunagan villages covered by Ormoc Bay wetlands to conduct bird count.

“Just like in the past, there’s a big possibility that birds from other countries will migrate to Region 8. We have identified sites for conservation efforts and we will closely monitor observatory areas,” said DENR assistant regional director for technical services Carlito Tuballa.

The two areas are the permanent monitoring sites for migratory birds being monitored every first quarter of the year. The wetlands’ beach type with an expansive sand bar is an ideal place for migratory birds to take shelter and hunt food.

Tuballa identified hunting and loss of habitats as the major threats to migratory birds. These are being addressed through the enforcement of the Wildlife Protection and Conservation Act and the National Integrated Protected Areas System Act.

These laws prohibit the harvesting of forest products and hunting of wildlife, including migratory birds.

“To ensure compliance, we educate the locals, come up with an agreement, and provide alternative livelihood to communities like enlisting them in reforestation program for them to avail incentives,” Tuballa explained.

Last year, a total of 723 of migratory birds were counted by the DENR in Carigara and Ormoc, both in Leyte province.

Topping the list was the Philippine Duck with a total of 286 heads counted. The Egrets (Little Egret, Chinese Egret and Great Egret) comes in second with a headcount of 127. This account is followed by the Plovers (KentishPlover, Malaysian Plover, Mongolian Plover and Greater Sand Plover with a collective count of 92 heads).

Other species observed were Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea), Little Curlew (Nemenius minutus), Whimbrel (Nemenius phaeopus), Redshank (Tringa tetanus), Greenshank (Tringa nebularia), Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoluecos), Great Knot (Caladris tenerius) and Curlew Sandpiper (Caladris ferruginea).

The DENR encourages the continued protection of migratory birds and the host wetlands as this will open opportunities for eco-tourism development. (PNA)
JMC/SARWELL Q. MENIANO