August 2017 Round-up of Activities
Here’s what’s been happening with the WBCP the past month!
August 2 – Ocular Trip to Manila Southwoods Golf and Country Club
Mike Lu visited the Manila Southwoods Golf and Country Club to speak with the new Environmental Officer Maricar Odon and introduce her to birdwatching. The Club has been invited to conduct a birdwatching session for the board of directors of the Manila Southwoods in November.
August 5 – WBCP-Davao 1st Saturday Birdwatching Trip
The WBCP-Davao group conducted its monthly 1st Saturday birdwatching trip in Malagos, Davao with a total of 18 people who participated, including guides. The group recorded 30 species including a pair of Black-naped Monarchs, a White-bellied Munia building its nest, and a bonus Philippine Sailfin Lizard.
August 6 – Execom Meeting
The new members of the Execom – Willem van de Ven, Karen Ochavo, Tinggay Cinco, Mike Lu, Lolet Tan and Gina Mapua met up to discuss future plans for the bird club.
August 11 – Execom at METT Workshop for LPPCHEA
The WBCP attended the Management Effectiveness Tracking Tool (METT) workshop facilitated by GIZ Protected Area Management Enhancement Program (PAME) at DENR Biodiversity Management Bureau in Quezon City. The club was represented by Club Vice President Karen Ochavo and Treasurer Mike Lu The WBCP is part of the LPPCHEA Management Council together with DENR-NCR, Philippine Reclamation Authority, Department of Tourism NCR, Las Piñas City, and Parañaque City LGUs.
August 17 – Meeting with Municipality of Masantol
Members of the WBCP attended a meeting requested by the Mayor and the tourism staff of the Municipality of Masantol, Pampanga. Representing the club were Vice President Karen Ochavo, Treasurer Mike Lu, and founding member Jon Villasper. Plans for an ecotourism area were discussed which covers Masantol’s portion of the Pampanga River up to the Manila Bay delta. The Mayor sought input from the Execom for potential birdwatching sites and related ecotourism activities.
August 13 – Guided Birdwatching Trip in UP Diliman
A guided birdwatching walk was conducted by volunteers from the WBCP in the UP Diliman campus. The group got good views of Long-tailed Shrikes and Lowland White-eyes feeding on some fruiting ficus trees.
August 25 – Royal Belum International Hornbill Expedition
Members of the WBCP led by Mike Lu, Adri Constantino, Trinket Constantino, Ixi Mapua and Mikeli Mapua were invited to the International Hornbill Expedition held at the Royal Belum State Park in Perak State, Malaysia. Of the ten species recorded in the park, Team Philippines recorded 4 species including the only sighting for the Helmeted Hornbill and the most number of birds counted. Other countries represented were from China, Japan, Singapore, India, Brunei and Taiwan.
August 26-27 – Club Trip and Bird Survey in Salinas Farm, Pangasinan
The club was invited to do a bird survey in the Salinas Salt Farm in Pangasinan. This was the second trip the club has conducted in the site. The farm was not as bird-y compared to the first visit since migration season is not yet in full swing, but the trip was fun as always.
August 31 – R.O.X. Talk on Hornbills by Dr. JC Gonzalez
WBCP member Dr. JC Gonzalez gave a lecture focusing on hornbills as farmers of the rainforest as part of ROX’s Thursday Talk in Bonifacio High Street.
