AWC 2024 – WBCP Checklists – Wild Bird Club of the Philippines

Every year, members of the Wild Bird Club of the Philippines (WBCP) volunteer in the annual Asian Waterbird Census (AWC) which is led by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Biodiversity Management Bureau (DENR-BMB). The AWC is conducted every January and is coordinated globally by Wetlands International. The aim of the AWC is to:

obtain information on an annual basis of waterbird populations at wetlands in the region during the non-breeding period of most species (January), as a basis for evaluation of sites and monitoring of populations;
monitor on an annual basis the status and condition of wetlands; and
encourage greater interest in waterbirds and wetlands amongst people, and thereby promote the conservation of wetlands and waterbirds in the region.

More info on the AWC 2024: https://south-asia.wetlands.org/news/join-us-for-the-asian-waterbird-census-2024/

This year, 38 volunteers from WBCP participated in 10 sites across 5 provinces and 3 cities. Some were supplementary counts done on weekends because most of the official dates were on weekdays when no volunteers were available because of their work schedules. It is important to highlight that the AWC volunteers need not be experts in counting and identifying the waterbirds. Volunteers who will simply take tallies and notes, even if new to birding, are needed to assist the more experienced birders looking through the scopes. Volunteering in the AWC is an excellent opportunity to learn and improve the skills in identifying waterbirds and counting them by the hundreds and thousands with the appropriate methods. The following are the eBird checklists from the sites where WBCP members volunteered.

Candaba, Pampanga (Karen Ochavo, Enrico Legaspi, Nikdye Realubit)

7 January: https://ebird.org/checklist/S158609630

Masbate (Justine Albao) (Photo of Philippine Ducks from Justine Albano)

9 January: Naro Island https://ebird.org/checklist/S158486820
10 January: Chico Island https://ebird.org/checklist/S158621719
11 January: Danao Marshland https://ebird.org/checklist/S158622526

Pagbilao, Quezon

11 January: https://ebird.org/checklist/S159596559
12 January: https://ebird.org/checklist/S159798145
12 January: https://ebird.org/checklist/S159596930

Pampanga River West Bank (Mike Lu, Karen Ochavo, Diuvs De Jesus, Bom Gomez, Weng Custodio, Anthony Custodio, Frances Custodio)

14 January:
https://ebird.org/checklist/S160863567
https://ebird.org/checklist/S160863588

**WBCP Members Cathy Mendoza, Justin de Ramos**, **Riza Melicor, Gwen So and the DENR NCR at** **Tanza, Navotas**

Navotas City and Valenzuela City (Riza Melicor, Cathy Mendoza, Gwen So)

16 January
https://ebird.org/checklist/S159165739
https://ebird.org/checklist/S159181375
https://ebird.org/checklist/S159165727

Las Piñas – Parañaque Wetland Park (Maia Tañedo, Djop Tabaranza, Vinz Pascua)

18 January: https://ebird.org/checklist/S160081396

Canarem, Victoria, Tarlac (Bom Gomez, Bambi Martinez, Cecil Morella, Angie Macunan, Allan Fernando, Camille King, Diuvs De Jesus, Gabby Gomez, Moira Vergel de Dios, Misha Jao, Sophia Bantilan)

21 January: 2024