New migratory birds seen in Pampanga

CLARK FREEPORT— Bird lovers, watchers, conservation ists, and probably to a certain degree, hunters: attention.

Eleven new migratory birds have been sighted in various parts of Pampanga, according to Juanita Santos-Ancheta, a well-known Kapampangan conservationist and bird phot ogr apher.

Ancheta revealed the new fowl migrants as the Siberian white tail, Chinese white wagtail, grey-faced buzzard, common kestoel, Chinese goshaw, red jungle fowls, brown shrike, brown-breasted kingfisher, common kingfisher, Artic babbler and grey wagtail.

These birds could mostly be found in Asia and Europe, particularly in China and Taiwan, said Ancheta during a forum of the Capampangan in Media, Inc. (CAMI) last Friday at the Bale-Balita here.

The new birds have flown to the country to seek better climate with the onset of winter from their places of origin.

Unfortunately, their Philippine sanctuary is no longer an ideal sanctuary, said Ancheta.

The Candaba swamp which used to be an ideal feeding ground for migratory birds is no longer what it used to be.

“There is less food available in the area today,” she said.

The yearly migration of birds to Candaba used to be a local and national tourist draw because of a program called “Ibon-Ebun” Festival initiated during the time of former Mayor Jerry Pelayo.

The project was abandoned by Pelayo’s successor, Rene Maglanque who beat Pelayo allegedly because the former protected birds by banning poor people to hunt them for food.

Maglanque was defeated by current Mayor Danilo Baylon who apparently is not keen on reviving the pr oject .

Ancheta cited at least three destinations in Pampanga: Candaba, Clark and Lubao, the hometown of Governor Lilia G. Pineda.

In Clark, Ancheta said, some of the new birds have landed and stayed near a four-star hotel by a stream. Earlier, she said, the hotel management had requested the state-owned Clark Development Corporation to clear the area, but the arrival of the birds ruled it out.

Ancheta said she has not disclosed the exact location for fear that hunters will drive them away.

She revealed that a well-known actor whose wife is a lawmaker is being watched out for reckless hunting.

Noel Tulabut, CDC communications division head said that Ancheta is an authorized photographer of birds and wildlife. As for the rest, they need to get permission from CDC authorities before shooting photographs.— NCS