10 years and 6 months ago, on the 8th of January 2005, I joined my first guided trip with the Wild Bird Club of the Philippines. It was a Saturday afternoon birdwalk at a very familiar place: the University of the Philippines. Led by WBCP founders Michael Lu and Lala Española, I joined a large group of first-time birders - one of the few times I had worked up the courage to join a group where I didn't know a single soul. Lala and Mike pointed out birds I had hardly noticed in my 10+ years on campus. I will never forget the end of that day: we watched a Eurasian Kestrel flying over the rice fields at Hardin ng Bougainvillea, plucking a bat in mid-flight for its early evening meal. Little did I know that this particular afternoon would be the start of something big. I was hooked!
Birding has definitely changed me: the way I plan my weekends, the way I plan my out-of-town trips, the places I have been, the people I have met, my views of my neighborhood, my city, country - the way I look at the world! It is not quite as dramatic as it sounds, but birding actually HAS given me a whole new outlook, not only of the great outdoors, but also about how other people view the environment as well.
In the past 10 years, I have seen more of and learned more about the Philippines than I had ever thought I would!
I've climbed hills and mountains (and I am NOT a climber) to see magnificent (and not so magnificent) birds.
 |
| The Great Philippine Eagle in Mt Kitanglad, 2009 |
 |
| A horrible photo of the Whiskered Flowerpecker, Mt. Talomo, 2014 |
I've seen sunsets, slept under starry skies and woken up to glorious sunrise unmarred by electric lights.
 |
| Waiting for the Philippine Cockatoos to wake up at Rasa Island, 2005 |
 |
| A glorious sunrise at Agusan Marsh, 2008 |
 |
| The Southern Cross at Bucas Grande, 2013 |
I've been to tourist spots looking beyond the usual.
 |
| Watching Ashy Drongos at Mt. Tapyas at Coron, 2011 |
 |
| Ospreys at Lake Balinsasayao, Negros Oriental, 2007 |
 |
| Birding at the northern end of the country, Batanes, 2014 |
I've returned to places I had been before, seeing them again through a birder's eyes.
 |
| At the Banaue Rice Terraces, 2010 |
 |
| Birding in Bohol, 2010, photo from Melanie |
 |
| Rainy Days at Puerto Princesa, near the Underground River, 2008 |
 |
| Watching tits and nuthatches in Sagada, 2006 |
I've been back and again, year after year, For what? To count birds!
 |
| Waders and locals enjoying the Balanga Wetlands Park, 2013 |
 |
| Philippine Ducks at Candaba, 2013 |
 |
| Raptorwatch in Ilocos, 2015, photo from Alex |
I've visited places off the popular tourist trail.
 |
| Getting ready for a river crossing at Pasonanca, Zamboanga, 2012 |
 |
| Searching for the Asiatic Dowitchers at Olango, Cebu, 2013 |
 |
| Osprey and milkfish at Bani Pangasinan, 2012 |
 |
| The Ikalahan community at Imugan, Sta. Fe, 2006 |
 |
| Spotting a Koel at the Onoda Trail, Lubang island, 2011 |
 |
| The Dubduban watershed in the town of San Agustin in Tablas gave us the Tablas Drongo, 2012 |
I've been to back and again to favorite birding sites I know like the back of my hand
 |
| Sunlight on the forest trail, Makiling, Laguna |
 |
| The hidden backroads at Subic, Morong |
And I've seen them change over the years.
 |
| The Candaba wetlands, 2007, now converted to rice fields. |
 |
| Mt. Palay-palay, 2005. This is where I got most of my lowland Luzon forest lifers, now the site of the Ternate-Nasugbu highway and the Kaybiang tunnel. |
I've transformed from light traveler to one willing to carry a few extra kilos for a pair of binoculars, a camera and a field guide in her pack (good thing Adri carries the scope and tripod!)
 |
| Our typical check-in luggage. |
 |
| For a quick birding fix: La Mesa Ecopark in Quezon City, 2011 |
 |
| The last mangroves of Manila: the Las Piñas Parañaque Critical Habitat and Ecotoursim Area (LPPCHEA), 2012 |
 |
| A guided bird walk at the Ateneo katipunan campus, 2015. Photo from Lydia. |
I've discovered hidden corners of my backyard where natural history comes alive.
 |
| Our backyard brown shrike picking off the remains of a tree frog, 2009 |
 |
| A yellow-vented bulbul nest in our front yard 2014 |
In the past 10 years, I have met Filipinos from all walks of life!
I've been led through the forest by the most experienced, and sometimes, the most unlikely guides.
 |
| Nicky, the epitome of a bird guide, 2010 |
 |
| Zardo at PICOP, Bislig (2011) |
 |
| With Danny and Carlito at Kitanglad after seeing the Apo Sunbird (2009) |
 |
| A butterfly lands on the foot of our guide, one of the inmates at the penal colony in Sablayan, Mindoro Occidental (2010) |
 |
| Ryan of Bohol's Raja Sikatuna National Park leads us on a very successful sweep of our target birds, 2010 |
 |
| Laoag-resident Richard, always on the look out for unusual migrants up north, 2013, photo from Tere |
 |
| Warden, Oking's dog who scrambled up the limestone cliffs of Tabunan, Cebu with amazing ease, 2013 |
I've worked with people with a passion for conserving Philippine biodiversity and sustaining communities.
 |
| Peter and Indira of the Katala Foundation, Inc. (2015) |
 |
| The PEF staff and stakeholders in preserving the Philippine Eagle and its habitat. (2014) |
 |
| Peace Corps Volunteer Rhonda and the fisherfolk of Ginablan, Romblon (2012) |
 |
| Fredd and the UP mountaineers fighting to save the Ipo watershed (2010) |
 |
| The WBCP with Mayor Joet of Balanga after the waterbird census (2012), photo from Leny |
 |
| DOT Regional Director MJune showing us the migratory Barn Swallows congregating at downtown Zamboanga City, 2012 |
 |
| With the always enthusiastic staff of Anvaya Cove (2014), photo from Tinggay |
 |
| And of course all the hard-working birders and volunteers of the WBCP! (2015) photo from Marites |
I've learned about the Philippine's natural heritage from academics, conservationists, enthusiasts, volunteers, guides, fishermen, farmers, forest rangers, students: all devoted to their fields. I've met leaders with a clear vision that includes the environment.
And I have seen children who will inherit all that is left behind.
 |
| The families of the Ipo Watershed, Bulacan (2010) |
 |
| Children of PICOP in Surigao, 2011) |
 |
| An impromptu guided trip with the children at Ginablan, Romblon, 2012 |
 |
| Kid and their slingshots at Siargao 2015 |
 |
| Students filming a project at La Mesa, sidetracked by birders and a thrush, 2014 |
 |
| Promoting the 4th Philippine Birdfestival held in Puerto Princesa at ROX, 2008 |
 |
| At the Philippine Eagle Center in Malagos, 2015 |
 |
| Guiding the staff and guests at Anvaya Cove, 2013, photo from Raymond |
Birding friends have become part of my life.
 |
| The birders' tables at our wedding, 2012. Photo from Kim, Imagine Nation. |
I am thankful to have crossed paths with all these people. They have changed me and my world.
Birding has opened my eyes and my ears, challenged me physically and mentally, given me space to breathe.
 |
| Adri and myself in Dumaguete, 2011, photo from Drew. We're 10-year birders and looking forward to more! |
10 years and 400+ Philippine bird species later, I am still hooked. And I am excited and looking forward to where the next 10 years of birding will take me!
What a wonderful post about a wonderful journey! =) May cameo pa ako! hehe =) I'm grateful birding has allowed me to be friends with you and Adri =) Happy 10th! =) mwah!
ReplyDeleteThank you Maia! I am also grateful for having shared many birding days with you. Tara na, birding na ulit! :-)
DeleteHappy 10th Anniversary! Thank you for being one of my first guides. Encouraged me enough to become a birdwatcher for the past 7 years. Cheers to a continuing passion for the love of birds and nature for the next decades to come.
ReplyDeleteThank you Tinngay! I will never forget walking the mountains of Rodriguez with you. :-) Wishing you many birding adventures in the years to come!
Delete