by Maia Tanedo
Only two months left to go before the 13th Asian Bird Fair kicks off at The Tent in Las Pinas City! This November, birders from all over the world will make their way to the Philippines to gather for the largest gathering of bird conservation organizations, bird tour operators, and outdoor gear companies in Asia.
The Asian Bird Fair (ABF) is the first bird fair in the world that is hosted in a different Asian City each year. Now on its 13th year, the ABF finds its way back to the country that hosted the very first one in 2010. This 2-day event is full of activities for not only birdwatchers but also for students, families, nature-enthusiasts, and basically anyone who would want to learn more about birds and nature. With the theme “Wetland We Treasure for the Future”, this ABF focuses on the importance of wetlands, specifically Manila Bay and the Las Piñas-Parañaque Wetland Park (LPPWP.)
Learning Sessions for Grade School and High School Students
For younger kids, the Wild Bird Club of the Philippines (WBCP) will be conducting learning sessions that will focus on the importance of wetlands and some of the birds that can be found in these habitats. This will be followed by fun games to check what they have learned and get chances to win some prizes too! Students will also be given a passport and time to go around the booths, interacting with delegates from different countries and learn a thing or two about birds and different cultures as well.
Here is the schedule for the learning sessions.
Reserve your seats for the learning sessions here: https://tinyurl.com/13AsianBirdFair
Forums for High School and College Students
For the older students, conservationists, naturalists, and the general public, forums that tackle a number of topics are also scheduled during the ABF. Below are the details of the forums:
Forum 1: Wetlands We Treasure for the Future
Panel will discuss about the importance of wetlands, the threats these habitats face, and the trends in waterbird populations specifically in Manila Bay.
Schedule: November 21 (Thursday); 11:00AM – 12:00PM
Speakers:
- Celes Ulep, Society for the Conservation of Philippine Wetlands
- Cristina Cinco, Wild Bird Club of the Philippines
- Atty. Liza Osorio, Oceana Philippines
Forum 2: Coming to Nature’s Rescue: What You Can Do
As regular citizens, learn about what you can do about the illegal wildlife trade and also hear about the best practices in other countries, including getting the whole community involved to rescue and restore entire habitats.
Schedule: November 21 (Thursday); 3:00-4:00PM
Speakers:
- Emerson Sy, TRAFFIC (Philippines)
- Yun-Lung Tseng, Wild Bird Society of Taipei (Taiwan)
- Yugabrata Kar, Odisha Ecotourism Foundation (India)
Forum 3: Where in the world are you birdwatching?
Let’s hear from friends around the world as they share about birdwatching in their respective countries.
Schedule: November 22 (Friday); 10:30-11:30AM
Speakers:
- Mark Jason Villa, Wild Bird Club of the Philippines
- Alexander John, Sabah Birdwatchers Association (Malaysia)
- Dr. Sundev Gombobaatar, Mongolian Ornithological Society (Mongolia)
- Johnnie Kamugisha, Johnnie Uganda Safaris (Uganda)
- Luis Uruena, Manakin Nature Tours (Colombia)
- Philip Gregory, Sicklebill Safaris (Australia)
Forum 4: Giving Back to Nature
Speakers share about how they are able to give back to nature through their activities aligned with both conservation and ecotourism.
Schedule: November 22 (Friday); 2:30-3:30PM
Speakers:
- Rene Montero Serrano, Jaguarundi Travel Colombia (Colombia)
- Mohit Aggarwal, Asian Adventures (India)
- Anna Rose Agullo, Katala Foundation (Philippines)
Opportunities to Discover the World
The Asian Bird Fair also provides the perfect chance to meet people from around the globe. Visitors are encouraged to go around all the booths and interact with the delegates. More than networking and establishing connections, the ABF has been the venue for making new friends and interacting with like-minded people no matter the nationality. One would be surprised how much in common you may have with a delegate from another continent and how much you can learn from each other. Genuine interest in birds, nature, and in finding ways to help in conservation transcends age, nationality, and culture. As is the desire to discover the natural world. Tour operators and optics companies will also be attending the ABF, opening more opportunities to discover sites and countries with a variety of high quality gear. Here is a preview of the organizations and companies that will be at the 13th ABF:
See you in November!
There is definitely something for everyone at the 13th Asian Bird Fair – Las Pinas! There are no words to properly describe being at an ABF, but it is definitely an unforgettable experience. Birders are a unique breed and this is evident in the warm, celebratory atmosphere of each Asian Brid Fair. So, whether you are a birder or not, you are invited to be part of the Asian Brid Fair experience and to celebrate birds across borders with us!