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Plight of Candaba

by Irene Dy


Do you know how your favorite wetland is doing? Irene Dy visited Candaba on May 1 and was shocked and disturbed by what she saw. What does this mean for the future of Candaba?


 

Candaba has been one of the most easily accessible birding spots of Luzon for many years. Its prime time birds includes the Island Collared Dove which is now, well, has not been seen for since probably the first and last time I saw it in year 2012.  It was home to thousands of Philippine Ducks; and for many years,  resident bird species, such as Grey Heron, Purple Heron, Black Crowned Night Heron turned the massive pond Mayor’s Pond area into a breeding colony. During migrating season, it’s home away from home of migrant duck species and warblers.  In Spring time Eastern Marsh and Pied Harriers seem to love flying around the Mayor’s pond , spooking the ducks into a massive wave that looks so alive, one can just watch in awe!
The pond where the Common Shelduck was spotted. Photo by Irene Dy.
2012, ducks and Black-winged Stilts. By 2014, there were no more ducks in this pond. Photo by Irene Dy.
Backroad entrance, November 2013. Photo by Irene Dy.
Backroad entrance, November 2013. Photo by Irene Dy.
View from the concrete road side, November 2013. Photo by Irene Dy.
November 2013, view from the concrete road side. Photo by Irene Dy.
December 2013. Photo by Irene Dy.
December 2013. Photo by Irene Dy.
December 2013. Photo by Irene Dy.
December 2013. Photo by Irene Dy.
For the past three years, this marshland has been one of my Go-To places whenever I needed a quick morning birding fix, and during migrant season, it’s been my excitement, hoping to find some new bird or rarity that might have dropped in. So, when I got new birding gear a few days ago and I wanted to test the new gear, the first place that came to mind is to go to Candaba.  But.. little did I know, I’d be seeing what would be one of the saddest sights for me and all those who’ve been birding in Candaba.
Candaba  had been one of my Go-To places.  I say “had been” because for the past 17 months, the continuous deterioration of Candaba has lead to what it is today, a total devastation of what used to be a glorious habitat for resident and migrant birds.
What has become of Candaba?
For most of year end of 2013 and year 2014, more and more ponds are being converted into rice fields.  The big pond at the bridge side of Mayor’s House had been drained mostly and being used as rice field.  Apart from the habitat deterioration, many of my visits from mid 2014 to 2015, I often hear gunshots and I’ve been told by a local that there is hunting going on.  This was not yet the worst. But it was certainly one pond less for the many ducks that used call it home. Turning ponds into rice fields during those two years isn’t exactly the worst situation yet, for the ducks and waders.  Because during those months, there are still hydration within the vast property.
November 2013, bridge pond. Photo by Irene Dy.
November 2013, bridge pond. Photo by Irene Dy.
Pond behind the mayo'rs house December 2013. Photo by Irene Dy.
December 2013, back side of mayor pond in 2013 where it used to still be filled with water. Photo by Irene Dy.
Fast forward to 2015.. My last two visits were January and February 2015.  In January of this year, despite the habitat being already in bad condition, there was still enough water in the only pond left for a Baer’s Pochard to call it temporary home.  Birders who twitched the duck  witnessed the gradual drying of the only pond left in a matter of 3 weeks.  But what I saw on 1st of May, was absolutely heart breaking.  It was the worst of what this land had been the past many months.  No more ‘Mayor’s Pond’, no vast big pond from the back road where ducks used to be estimated at 10 thousand in number when I first visited in 2012 and regular visits throughout 2013. The only pond left, is a small patch of water beside the Mayor’s House.   Where there used to be plenty of Oriental Pratincole during months of April to May, now it’s down just not even a 40 of them lingering in the dry newly cut fields.  And what used to be mix of green fields with muddy newly plowed fields for waders, now it’s all rice crops , burned crops, and cracking dry empty fields.  No more patches of water, no more patches of muddy field, trees and weeds that used to line the trails are now either burned, or drying out , while what used to be lush trees that made a beautiful scene for the trails, they’re not with less leaves.  There’s only one word to describe Candaba Wetlands now.. ” DYING” .
May 2015, dried up and burnt pond. Photo by Irene Dy.
May 2015, dried up and burnt pond. Photo by Irene Dy.
2 MAY 1 DRIED POND 2
May 2015, completely dried up pond. Photo by Irene Dy.
3 MAY 1 DRIED POND 1
May 2015, completely dried up pond. Photo by Irene Dy.
4 20150501_075808
May 2015, signs of construction going on. A drainage canal? Photo by Irene Dy.

5 20150501_115418

6 CANAL DIGGING BURNED FIELDS
May 2015, a canal being dug in the burnt fields. Photo by Irene Dy.
7 BURNING MAYOR HOUSE SIDE
May 2015, more burning going on. Photo by Irene Dy.
8 DUSKY WARBLER AREA
May 2015, this is the Dusky Warbler area. It’s now all dried up like this. The trees not as shady as well, more open and dried all the way through the back . Photo by Irene Dy.
9 CANAL DIGGING
May 2015, a closer look at the ongoing construction. Photo by Irene Dy.
little pool left at main pond. May 2015 .
May 2015, what’s left of the main pond. Photo by Irene Dy.
shallow water left on the little pool.   1 male gargany 2 female
May 2015, 1 male Gargany 2 female in the shallow water that’s all that’s left of the main pond. Photo by Irene Dy.
The question now is,  if problems of Candaba Wetlands, or what used to be a proper wetland , remains unresolved, are we prepared for its effects on the next migrating season?  What happens when migrants can’t find their annual winter ponds to rest and feed?  Can we still save Candaba and is there enough time to save what’s left of Candaba? What can be done to save Candaba?  Time is running out for the wildlife of the once glorious wetlands.  It’s a race against time before all is lost.

6 Comments

  1. Pingback:May 2015 | e-BON

  2. rcannon992

    Well this is tragic! Who is draining in? Who owns it? Is there any protection? What can be done to save it and protect it? Is there publicity about what is happening?

    • Sylvia Ramos

      The area where we bird and know as Candaba is private property owned by the former mayor of Candaba. Because it’s private property, the owner can as he wishes with the property. He is not compelled to maintain it as a sanctuary, even if he himself had it declared as such. I wish I had better news, but that’s the status as of now. Thanks for your concern. I will update you if there are other developments.
      Sylvia

  3. Paolo

    This is really heartbreaking… This was once a beautiful place to take pictures of birds… No, it’s all disappearing…

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