Migratory birds

CEBU, Philippines - Memories of those whimbrels, Chinese egrets and Asian dowitchers which greeted me the very first time I stepped on Olango Island Wildlife Sanctuary, some 13 years ago, came back to me the moment I viewed the opening of a photo exhibit dubbed “Migratory Birds: Global Ambassadors of the Changing Environment” last July 6.

The exhibit ran from July 6 to July 12 at the SM City Cebu North Wing.

On December 18, 1998, an OIWS guide told me I was very lucky to have seen all three species through my binoculars that day, as the number of these migratory birds are already dwindling in the face of climate change.

Migratory birds, or those that leave home to escape harsh weather conditions, are exposed to various environmental conditions as they travel, rest and navigate across islands and continents.

The exhibit ran from July 6 to July 12 at the SM City Cebu North Wing.

On December 18, 1998, an OIWS guide told me I was very lucky to have seen all three species through my binoculars that day, as the number of these migratory birds are already dwindling in the face of climate change.

Migratory birds, or those that leave home to escape harsh weather conditions, are exposed to various environmental conditions as they travel, rest and navigate across islands and continents.

 “It is for this reason that migratory birds have become an important indicator and ambassador of the changing environment,” said Sir Nilo Arribas Jr., one of six photography enthusiasts and members of Cebu Birdnuts. The others are Dr. Luisito Co, Bobby Kintanar, Dr. Clemn Macasiano Jr.; Marester Bas Macasiano, and Tateo Osawa.

From Sir Nilo, it was also learned that there are about 600 species of birds known to occur naturally in the Philippines. “About a quarter of these birds are migratory or transient to the country,” he said. “Their arrival usually peak during the colder months of winter in the northern hemisphere.”

The path that these birds take in their annual migration to the Philippines and neighboring countries is known as the East Asian – Australasian Flyway. This Flyway covers Russia to Alaska in the north to Australia and New Zealand in the south which stretches across 22 countries.

Sir Nilo also said that the Olango Island in Cebu Province is in the center or crossroad of the East Asian - Australasian Flyway. There are at least 70 species of shorebirds and waders that use the flyway. More than half of these species are recorded in Olango Island Wildlife Sanctuary. It is estimated that at least 40,000 birds pass through OIWS during the annual migration.

The exhibit seeks to make us better stewards of the natural resources we borrowed from the future generations. “After all, good environmental stewardship will be measured not on the amount of resources we remove and destroy but to what we consciously leave intact for the generations to benefit and enjoy,” Sir Nilo stressed.