Birds vanishing in the Philippines
CANDABA, Philippines — The number of birds flying south to important wintering grounds in the Philippines has fallen sharply this year, with experts saying the dramatic demise of wetlands and hunting are to blame.
Despite some harsh, cold weather across the Eurasian landmass, some waterbirds that usually migrate in huge flocks to the tropical islands have been completely absent, said Philippine-based Danish ornithologist Arne Jensen.
"The flyway populations of several waterbird species are in constant and dramatic decline," Jensen, who advises the Philippine government on species conservation, told AFP.
"Hence the urgent need to establish real and well-managed, hunting-free waterbird sanctuaries along the migratory flyways."
Candaba, a swamp two hours' drive north of Manila that has long been used as a pit stop by hundreds of species as they fly staggering distances between the Arctic Circle and Australia, appears emblematic of the downfall.
Jensen said that bird watchers routinely counted 100,000 ducks at Candaba in the 1980s as they stopped there for a rest while traversing the East Asian-Australasian flyway.
But volunteers recorded just 8,725 waterbirds and 41 species during the annual census last weekend, Wild Bird Club of the Philippines president Michael Lu told AFP at Candaba at the end of the count.
Northern pintails, common pochards, and green-winged teals were absent, and just one tufted duck was seen, while numbers for northern shovellers shrank and only garganeys were easily seen along with resident Philippine ducks.
Lu said the number of waterbirds counted at Candaba was down from more than 11,000 last year.
READ MORE http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iOmDgb_ShROvLSZc...
Despite some harsh, cold weather across the Eurasian landmass, some waterbirds that usually migrate in huge flocks to the tropical islands have been completely absent, said Philippine-based Danish ornithologist Arne Jensen.
"The flyway populations of several waterbird species are in constant and dramatic decline," Jensen, who advises the Philippine government on species conservation, told AFP.
"Hence the urgent need to establish real and well-managed, hunting-free waterbird sanctuaries along the migratory flyways."
Candaba, a swamp two hours' drive north of Manila that has long been used as a pit stop by hundreds of species as they fly staggering distances between the Arctic Circle and Australia, appears emblematic of the downfall.
Jensen said that bird watchers routinely counted 100,000 ducks at Candaba in the 1980s as they stopped there for a rest while traversing the East Asian-Australasian flyway.
But volunteers recorded just 8,725 waterbirds and 41 species during the annual census last weekend, Wild Bird Club of the Philippines president Michael Lu told AFP at Candaba at the end of the count.
Northern pintails, common pochards, and green-winged teals were absent, and just one tufted duck was seen, while numbers for northern shovellers shrank and only garganeys were easily seen along with resident Philippine ducks.
Lu said the number of waterbirds counted at Candaba was down from more than 11,000 last year.
READ MORE http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iOmDgb_ShROvLSZc...
Comment
"Destroying the New World Order"
THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE SITE!
Latest Activity
- Top News
- Everything
715995407_27066569266338656_4621890679891427521_n
"cheeki kea I was born in Los Angeles, California and I will never go back there! The Democrats have…"
What was the “Flying Pig” as the Germans Called it?
In 1943 the Eighth Air Force was in a deadly quandary. The US Air Force had no fighter aircraft at…See More
How they Planned the Destruction of America (And Nearly Succeeded)
In 2020 The Democrats went on a major offensive. Prevent Donald Trump from taking office, continue…See More
It's Over. The Tool Bans Just Arrived!
First tool ban is here! A new law was just signed in New York that requires blueprint blocking technology on every CNC machine, laser cutter, lathe and 3D pr...
Angry Old Man James Carville Warns of More to Come?
A new type of signaling is brewing among the left and disenfranchised Democrats who have refused…See More
© 2026 Created by truth.
Powered by
You need to be a member of 12160 Social Network to add comments!
Join 12160 Social Network