2010, January 16

THE WILD BIRD CLUB of the Philippines and the DENR in cooperation with the Municipality of Paoay conducted a thorough Asian Waterbird Census at the Paoay lake on January 16, 2010. Dr. Pete Calope, representing WBCP and head of the Ilocos Birders, takes a look at the lake for migratory wild birds. The census was conducted by (shown at the inset, l-r) DENR PENRO/CENRO representatives Ferdinand Garma, Elsie Nolasco & Nora Ibana, Dr. Calope and Richard Ruiz, who also represents WBCP. Among those predominant were the Philippine Duck A. luzonica (total count is 829) and Tufted Duck A. fuligula (239); others counted were – Great Egret (7), little Egret (5) and Baar’s Pochard (2), etc. Dr. Calope noted that, although the numbers counted is less compared to last year, he is glad and proud that Ilocos Norte, particularly at the Paoay lake, is a very safe and preserved place for migratory birds which come from as far as Korea, China and other Asian countries.