Northern Mindanao joins worldwide Asian bird census

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(PNA), LGI/CD/ERCEL MAANDIG

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Feb. 2 (PNA) -- Environment officials in Northern Mindanao joined the annual Asian Waterfowl Census this year, as part of the conservation of bird species and the environment.

Lina Galvez, spokesperson of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in the region, said on Tuesday that the bird count started January 13 until January 22, this year.

She said the annual activity is the largest bird count for migratory birds conducted simultaneously in 51 countries worldwide, including the Philippines.

Ruth Tawantawan, DENR regional director, said the annual bird count has a very significant role in the conservation and preservation of bird species in our ecosystem since record showed that migratory birds visit to the country's wetland areas have increased.

In 2015, a total of around 4,084 different migratory bird species were monitored mostly comprising of birds such as Egrets, Wild Ducks, Sand Pipers and Chinese Pond herons, she said.

The result of the annual Waterfowl Census would also be transformed into a database that would be made available for future studies, she added.

She said the bird count would likely boost local tourism since both foreign and domestic tourists would want to participate in a “bird watching” activity on known migratory bird places in the region.

Tawatawan said the DENR has identified various wetlands and coastal areas in Northern Mindanao where large presence of migratory birds have been observed.

She identified the presence of wetlands in the cities of El Salvador and Gingoog (all component cities of Misamis Oriental); Alubijid, Opol, Magsaysay, all towns of Misamis Oriental; and NAPOCOR dam in Maramag, Bukidnon.

The towns of Kolambogan and Lala in Lanao Del Norte and the wetland areas in the towns of Sinacaban and Bonifacio, all of Misamis Occidental are also famous for migratory birds.

Tawantawan said the identified wetlands and coastal areas in Northern Mindanao are the places where the bird count was conducted in January this year.