Compiled by Mike Lu
July 2025
July 11, 2025 – Regional Ecotourism Meeting at 1898 Hotel Colonia en las Filipinas, Makati
The Department of Tourism-National Capital Region (DOT-NCR), led by OIC Director Cathy Agustin, reconvened the Regional Ecotourism Committee-NCR members for a meeting. The presentations covered the accomplishments of the council in the last 6 years, an overview of the National Ecotourism Strategy & Action Plan, and the designation of permanent and alternate committee members. The committee also proposed ecotourism sites within the NCR. The top 3 selected sites – Las Pinas-Paranaque Wetland Park, La Mesa Eco Park, and Tagalag Eco Park – will be prioritized for validation and assessment next month. The WBCP was represented at the meeting by President Mike Lu.
July 11, 2025 – Center for Environmental Concern’s State of the Environment Forum at Melchor Hall, University of the Philippines, Quezon City
The Wild Bird Club of the Philippines was invited by the Center for Environmental Concerns and Ibon Foundation to its Annual Forum regarding the State of the Environment Forum 2025: “The Greed in “Green.” Club VP Tinggay Cinco represented the WBCP as the lone civil society organization to be one of the panelists on the effects of reclamation. The event was held at the Melchor Hall, College of Engineering, University of the Philippines, Diliman. Tinggay enlightened the audience, composed mostly of students, regarding the importance of birds as bio-indicators of the environment. Fellow panelists shed light on renewable energy, the effects of mining on indigenous peoples, and the economics of environmental degradation for the common people like fisherfolk. The WBCP is honored by the invitation of CEC, Ibon Foundation, and the Panatang Luntian to share about the club’s crusade for nature appreciation and protection.
July 12-13, 2025 – Birding Sortie 2.0 at Subic Bay
Sony Philippines and Henry’s Camera organized Birding Sortie 2.0 for members of the Wild Bird Club of the Philippines. The two-day event commenced with a photography workshop on the first day and culminated with a trip to Subic Bay on the last day. The workshop was conducted at the Sony headquarters in Taguig. Nica Agpawa of Sony Philippines shared the different camera models and lenses perfect for bird photography. Sony Guru Camille King, also a WBCP member, shared her photos and experience using Sony camera gear. After the workshop, Sony issued loaner camera bodies and lenses to all participants to use for the Subic trip the next day.
The day trip to Subic was perfect for fostering greater camaraderie amongst club members and was the best opportunity to test Sony gear in the field. All participants agreed that Sony gear is easy to use for birds in flight in particular. Although it rained on and off, the group was able to observe 40 bird species. The highlight of the day was a Besra taking refuge on the roof, observed by Mr. Kentaro Imamura, Sony Philippines Marketing Director. WBCP members who took part in this birding sortie were Russel Paul Orodio, Jan Denn Arriba, Patcha Pangatungan, Isabel Celis, Jenzon Lopez, Steve Mehta, Ana Gabrielle Alcantara, Ria Vanessa de la Cruz, David John Angeles, Jasmin Meren, Karl James Gavero, Kath Contreras, and Mylene Santos.
July 13, 2025 – Guided trip at Tagalag Eco Park, Valenzuela
The week-long monsoon rains discouraged most invitees from joining the monthly guided birdwatching activity – except for 4 brave souls. It was not a particularly birdy morning though the group still ended with a total 18 species seen. Worth mentioning was a flyby of a seldom-seen Cinnamon Bittern and a pair of Wandering Whistling Ducks after many months of no-shows. The guided trip was led by Mike Lu and Ravie Piansay.
July 17, 2025 – International Volunteer Initiative to Protect the Chinese Crested Tern at Xiangshan Landison Gold Coast Hotel, Ningbo City, Zhejiang (China)
The Wild Bird Club of the Philippines, represented by President Mike Lu, participated in the International Volunteer Protection Program for the Chinese Crested Tern held at the Xiangshan Landison Gold Coast Hotel in Ningbo City in Zhejiang Province (China.) Delegates represented the Bird Conservation Society of Thailand, Malaysian Nature Society, Burung Indonesia, National Institute of Ecology (Korea), and Wild Bird Society of Peng-hu (Taiwan) as well as other local organizations such as Beijing Normal University, Asia Academy of Philanthropy, the Beijing office of the World Animal Protection, and others. The main event was the sharing from the delegates on how to create awareness as well as best practices in bird conservation. Delegates also had the opportunity to visit the Jiushan Islands National Nature Reserve to witness the breeding colony of Chinese Crested Terns and volunteer facilities on the adjacent island.
July 27, 2025 – WBCP 22nd Anniversary & General Assembly at West Triangle Barangay Hall, Quezon City
WBCP members gathered for their annual General Assembly and 22nd Club anniversary. The Execom decided to tone down this year’s anniversary celebration in response to the flood calamities experienced by the country recently. The General Assembly started with reports presented by President Mike on the year’s club activities highlighted by the successful hosting of the Asian Bird Fair. Records Committee Chairperson Tinggay Cinco presented the list of rare sightings and the new species added to the country’s growing bird list. President Mike Lu, presented on behalf of Treasurer Tommy Tan, the club’s financial standing.
The program host, Secretary Maia Tanedo, acknowledged the contributions of the eBON newsletter team, and Ana Alcantara – on behalf of the Elections Committee – presented the results of the elections for Execom 2025-2027: Mike Lu as President, Cristina Cinco as Vice President, Maia Tanedo as Secretary, and Jops Josef as Treasurer. The program continued with video presentations promoting the 1st World Bird Fair to be held in Taichung (Taiwan) in September and the 14th Asian Bird Fair to be held in Seosan City (Korea) in November.
There was a break in the program for members to partake of the dinner buffet, purchase club merchandise, and place their bids for the raffle. The celebration ended with the much-awaited announcement of the raffle from the items contributed by club members.
AUGUST 2025
August 6-9, 2025 – More than a Maya Exhibit at Fisher Mall, Quezon City
The Wild Bird Club of the Philippines participated in the More than the Maya event from August 06-09, 2025 at the Event Center of the Fisher Mall in Quezon City. The club has been a main exhibitor of the event since its inception three years ago. The theme of this year’s exhibit was Birds of Prey- Raptors of the Philippines, featuring photos contributed by 14 WBCP members. The 14 contributors were Albert Abadicio, Dahlia Abadicio, Anthony Arbias, Gelo Arboleda, Marites Falcon, Karl James Gavero, Dan Juanillo, Camille King, Mike Lu, Dindo Malonzo, Sean Melendres, Djop Tabaranza, and Maia Tanedo. A bird soundscape by Janina Castro enriched the Birds of Prey exhibit with a unique audio experience. Vice President Cristina Cinco delivered a short lecture on behalf of the WBCP on Philippine Raptors during the event’s opening.
August 10, 2025 – Guided birdwatching trip at La Mesa Ecopark, Quezon City
In partnership with La Mesa Ecopark, the WBCP organized a guided birdwatching trip for 24 participants. Rains the past weeks caused the dam to overflow and wash away all the vegetation along the spillway. Nevertheless, the group managed to see White-browed Crake and White-breasted Waterhen among the vegetation. Highlights were a resting Philippine Nightjar, 3 Ospreys thermalling high up, and sightings of Ashy Thrush and Guaiabero in the mini forest. The trip was led by Mike Lu, Maia Tanedo, Dindo Malonzo, Russel Orodio, Ria de la Cruz, Ravie Piansay, and Andrew and Erika de Pano.
August 21, 2025 – Execom Meeting at Smile Elephant Thai Restaurant, Quezon City
Executive Committee members Mike Lu, Tinggay Cinco, and Maia Tanedo met up during the August 21 holiday to discuss club matters, including the appointment of committee leaders, plan new activities for the club, and prepare for the WBCP’s participation in international bird fairs in the coming months – the World Bird Fair in Taichung (Taiwan) in September, the Taipei International Bird Fair in Taipei (Taiwan) in October, and the Asian Bird Fair in Seosan (Korea) in November.
August 25, 2025 – Guided birdwatching trip in the University of the Philippines, Quezon City
WBCP’s monthly guided birdwatching trip for the general public was held at the University of the Philippines in Quezon City. The participants were treated to a show as Yellow-vented Bulbuls, Black-naped Orioles, Coppersmith Barbets, and even Colasisi converged on a fruiting grove of ficus and guava. A total of 19 species were sighted within 2 hours. Volunteer guides were Mike Lu, Maia Tanedo, Jorge de Ramos, Jops Josef, and Anthony, Weng and Frances Custodio, joined by new members Tiny Diapano, Ushabelle Bongo, and Mengji Chen.
August 30-31, 2025 – Guided birdwatching trip for UP Mountaineer applicants in the University of the Philippines, Quezon City
The WBCP conducted a guided birdwatching trip as part of the training for applicants of the UP Mountaineers over two days, with the first batch on August 30 and the second batch on August 31. The meet-up place was the College of Science Library parking area at 6AM and the walk went around the National Science Complex, dropping by the fruiting grove of ficus and guava behind the Institute of Mathematics.
WBCP guides for both days were Dindo Malonzo, Anthony Arbias, and Mike Lu. The first day was warm and sunny with different bird species such as Yellow-vented Bulbuls, Coppersmith Barbets, and Black-naped Orioles coming to feed at the fruiting Ficus benjamina. A trio of Philippine Pied Fantails also put on a good show. Other volunteer guides were Russell Andaya, Boyet Pecson, Mitch Bonsay, Tsarina and Yana Agcaoili.
In contrast, the second day was overcast. The birds were slow to come out but put on a better show and stayed longer like the Philippine Hanging Parrot and the Pied Triller. The highlight was a Long-tailed Shrike consuming a Gervais Reed Snake – a rare sight even for seasoned birders. Other volunteer guides on the second day were Sean Mansukhani, Edgar Zeta-Yap, Weng & Anthony Custodio.
August 30-31, 2025 – Guided trip and lecture for UPIS students at the University of the Philippines, Quezon City
The WBCP was invited by the UP Zoological Society to conduct a lecture and a guided birdwatching activity for UPIS senior high school students under BIWA-NAWA, a project supported by the Gen SEA program of Save Philippine Seas and the Embassy of France. The project aims to increase awareness of our native trees and birds, their importance, threats faced, and conservation efforts. WBCP member Ana Alcantara discussed the avian biodiversity in UP Diliman and the Philippines, threats to biodiversity, and how the youth can take part in citizen science and conservation in their own ways. The birdwatching activity around the campus allowed the students to see the resident birds of UP Diliman, some for the very first time, and to learn how to identify them by appearance, behavior, or birdsong. Other WBCP volunteers were Mike Lu, Mengji Chen, and Boyet Pecson.
SEPTEMBER 2025
September 6, 2025 – Radyo CSR interview with DZXL 558AM
Radyo CSR hosts Sir Max Todo Max and Sir Ricky d’Maestro interviewed WBCP President Mike Lu on its 8:30-9:00 am time slot last September 6. The interview started with discussions on how and why the bird club started and the bird species found in the Philippines. The hosts continued by delving into the achievements and the issues that continue to matter to the Club while highlighting the defining role of volunteerism which sets the Club aside from other organizations.
September 14, 2025 – Guided Birdwatching Trip in Ninoy Aquino Park, Quezon City
Thirty participants joined the WBCP’s monthly guided trip at the Ninoy Aquino Park despite the overcast skies. Birding started slow with only Black-crowned Night Herons and Pacific Swallows turning up but eventually gathered momentum to reach a decent 13 species even as it drizzled on and off. The usual migrant species were nowhere in sight yet. WBCP volunteers for this trip were Justine Albao, Ushabelle Bongco, Weng, Anthony, and Frances Custodio, Tiny Diapana, Micah Lim, Mike Lu, Jasmin Meren, Patcha Pangatungan, Andrew de Pano, Ravi Piansay, and Leonard Rizada.
September 19-22, 2025 – 1st World Bird Fair in Taichung City, Taiwan
The World Birdfairs Council in partnership with the Wild Bird Association of Taiwan hosted the 1st World Bird Fair over two days on September 20-21 at the Taichung Civic Square in downtown Taichung City, Taiwan. The 2-day event brought in birdwatching clubs, environmental conservation organizations, optics and outdoor gear suppliers, and bird tour operators from 30 countries from all continents. The festivities started with a rousing Welcome Dinner highlighted by cultural dance numbers by Taiwan aborigines, as well as gift exchange between the delegates and the Taiwan Tourism Board and various government agencies.
The Opening Ceremony was graced by Vice President of the Legislative Yuan, Johnny Chiang, who represents the 8th district of Taichung City. Despite the heat, visitors streamed in to take part in the many informative and educational activities or browse through the 120 stands. Delegates also took part in open forums with topics from hosting bird festivals, conservation and tour destinations. Taichung City hosted a Taichung Night with games and prizes from different sponsors, while the ABF Fellowship Night was highlighted by a fund-raising raffle with articles donated by the participating delegates.
The main activity of the third day was a birdwatching trip to the famed Mt. Dasyueshan, where delegates caught a glimpse of the Swinhoe’s Pheasant but missed out on the other Taiwan endemic, the Mikado Pheasant. Dinner on the last night was the Turnover Dinner where the World Bird Fair banner was turned over to the next city to host the 2nd WBF in 2027, the City of Cali in Colombia. On hand to receive the banner was WBF Execom/South America Bird Fair chairperson Horacio Matarasso along with members of the Colombian delegation.
September 20-21, 2025 – Bird Photography Trip in Tagaytay Highlands Golf and Country Club, Cavite
Tagaytay Highlands Golf and Country Club invited the WBCP to take photos of birds for the country club’s 2026 calendar. WBCP member Camille King led the team of photographers on September 20-21. Joining her was a strong team of highly skilled photographers and great spotters namely, Jasmin Meren, Karl James Gavero, and Russel Paul Orodio. A total of 40 species were observed for both days. The species highlights were the Philippine Green Pigeon, Guaiabero, and a pair of Luzon Hornbills.
