Balanga wetlands, important to migratory bird ecosystem

BALANGA CITY, Bataan – The Balanga wetlands and marshlands are important to the existing migratory bird ecosystem in this part of the country, according to the Wild Bird Club of the Philippines (WBCP).     

“These wetlands and marshlands in the villages of Tortugas, Puerto Rivas Ibaba, and Sibacan are important to the ecosystem involving migratory birds”, pointed out WBCP member Karen Ochavo during the water bird census here on Saturday.  

“What the city government is doing here in Balanga to protect and conserve migratory birds and their habitat is commendable insofar as not disrupting the balance of the ecosystem”, she added.

City Administrator Rudy De Mesa said incumbent Mayor Francis Garcia is committed to continue and even to improve further the effort to protect the migratory birds and their habitats in the city.   

He said Vice Mayor Vianca Venzon-Gozon shares the commitment of the city mayor to protect migratory birds and the environment.    

“Our Ibong Dayo Festival is a Hall of Fame awardee as Best Tourism Event City Category from the Department of Tourism  thus protecting migratory birds is also aligned with the tourism thrust of the city”, the city administrator said.

“The mayor is also thankful to the villagers and visitors for not harming the birds and cooperating with the city in its drive to protect the environment,” de Mesa added.

The census last Saturday counted 15,075 migratory birds in one day at wetlands in four seaside villages of this city, which is lower than last year’s number.

Census takers were composed of representatives from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and WBCP.

Cristine Cingco, WBCP secretary, said reasons for the drop were that not all the migratory birds have arrived, it was very windy, only a few fishponds were dry, and the tide was high.

She said the Saturday census still came up with a good number, considering that the counts in Candaba, Pampanga, and other birdwatching sites were much lower.

About 34 bird species were spotted in Balanga but egrets, terns and plovers were the most seen in the city’s wetlands.

 Photos courtesy of Mayor Francis Garcia’s  FB page