DENR Antique conducts Asian bird census
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) through its Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) in Antique recently conducted a waterbird census and recorded 4,532 waterbird species.
Asian Waterbird Census (AWC) done yearly, is part of the of the Wetland Waterbird Monitoring to keep the Philippines free of bird flu.
The activity was undertaken to spotlight the importance of wetlands for reducing impacts of climate change.
During the counting from different migratory sites, the province recorded seventeen (17) migratory bird species identified to wit: Cinnamon Bittern, Yellow Bittern, Cattle Egret, Little Egret, Barred Rail, Pacific Golden Plover, Little Ringed Plover, Kentish Plover, Unidentified Shorebirds, Common Sandpiper, Striated Heron, Black Winged Stilt, Terek Sandpiper, Unidentified Egret and Undentifuied terns. Cattle Egrets counts the highest population among migratory birds at 3, 381. Unidentified Egrets came second at 567. A decrease of 602 was noticed this year. The drop must have been due to dry ponds and paddiescaused by the adverse effects of El Niño that hit the country early this year.
The activity was undertaken to highlight the importance of wetlands for reducing impacts of climate change. Regional Executive Director Julian D. Amador said that the annual activity serves as the basis of evaluation of sites and monitoring of migratory birds and the condition of wetland areas. He further enjoins the general public to support, protect and restore areas like marshes, peatlands, mangoves, and coral reefs. (RPAO/PENRO Antique)
