Wild Bird Conservation and Bird Watching Seminar & Workshop

Proponent: Cordillera Green Network Inc

Duration of the Project: April 2019 - March 2020

Project Site: Kibungan, Benguet Province, Philippines

Grant: AEON Environment Foundation, Japan

Person in Charge : Mhyra Seset (CGN)

Introduction:

             Sagpat, Kibungan used to be a diverse land with diverse forest trees and wildlife. However, despite the existing management and forest protection systems in the barangay, environmental degradation is still prevalent because of conversion of forest/timberlands into agricultural lands and pasture lands; establishment of kaingins and cutting of trees. Resulting to the extinction of wildlife species like the wild chicken “sabag”, wild pigs, wild amphibians like lizard “banyas”, wild cats or “musang”, etc.

            With this situation, Coffee-based Agroforestry is best replicated to conserve the wild birds and animals to help balance the environment. Some studies prove that coffee plantations are wildlife friendly-habitat than monoculture agriculture and it also provides an important refuge for mammalian wildlife especially for mature and old trees in a coffee farm.

            Since Sagpat has the highest coffee production in the municipality and with the existing coffee farms it is best to expand and create habitat for wildlife. Also, it is important to conduct an inventory of wildlife and biodiversity assessment to areas having coffee trees of more than 10 years to help promote agroforestry to communities.

            Thus, it is essential to know more about wildlife species like birds and their contributions to our community/forest, as well as the vital role of the Coffee –based Agroforestry into the existence of wild birds.

Objectives:

 To let the Coffee farmers be aware of the importance of wild birds in the forest community

1. To let the Coffee farmers fully understand the importance of the Coffee-based Agroforestry to the conservation of wild birds.
2. To be able to familiarize the different kinds of bird existing in the country.
3. To have basic knowledge in doing bird watching in their own Coffee farms.
4. To let the Coffee farmers realize bird friendly farming will help the coffee market especially in abroad.

Output:

1.      Learned the importance of wild birds in the forest community or in an Agroforestry farm.

2.      Learned the advantages of Coffee-based Agroforestry to wild birds.

3.      Farmers can perform and enjoy the benefits of bird watching.

4.      Farmers will be more encouraged to have sustainable Coffee Agroforestry farm for the     protection and conservation of wildlife species especially wild birds.

Participants:

             The participants are the 20 beneficiaries of the project and members of the Sagpat Farmers Agriculture Cooperative (SFAC). 

Time and date:

             The seminar/workshop will be implemented on December 12, 2019 at 8:00 am to 5:00 pm at Kalahi Multi-Purpose Building, Sagpat, Kibungan, Benguet.

Program:                

Guest Speakers:

          Mr. Kazuo Koyama 

Kazuo Koyama is a Japanese Bird Watcher Specialist and the Monitoring Project Coordinator of Japan Bird Research Association. As the coordinator he is responsible in planning surveys, collecting data from volunteer, and produce analytical reports.

Japan Bird Research Association organizes nationwide bird monitoring programs in Japan. Monitoring is a long-term survey which assesses species, distribution , and number of birds. The bird surveys are done by citizen volunteers. Birdwatching is a popular activity in Japan and many people are good at identifying birds. 

Ms. Jennica Paula Masigan 

Jennica Paula Masigan is a Biodiversity Specialist and currently working at Center for Conservation Innovation Ph Inc. (CCIP). She is well experienced in conducting biodiversity assessments of terrestrial faunal populations; managed conservation value areas assessments projects for various high companies, government agencies, protected areas , and local civil society groups. Ms. Masigan assists in developing master plans and a facilitator of workshop and training on biodiversity assessment.

The Center for Conservation Innovation Ph Inc. (CCIPH) is a non-profit NGO that was set up to help enable and accelerate the achievement of effective and sustainable biodiversity conservation. CCIPH is an enabler and aims to be a consolidator and broker of conservation capacity, innovations and successes through the development of partnerships and capacity- building for science-based, nature-inspired, and socially appropriate conservation strategies. 

DAY 1 (December 10, 2019) – Meeting and Travel to Sagpat, Kibungan

At 10:12 am to 11: 53 am a meeting was conducted in Yagam Café, Ms. Mariko Sorimachi, the CGN Adviser headed the meeting with Ms. Mhyra Seset, CGN Staff and Ms. Masayo Matsuda, a Japanese Theatre Coordinator, CGN intern together with Ms. Hiroku Takahama, painter and freelance writer who wants to write stories behind coffee cultivation and to publish these to Coyote magazine publications. Together with the two guest speakers and Bird Specialists, Mr. Kazuo Koyama, Monitoring Project Coordinator of Japan Bird Research Association in Tokyo, Japan and Ms. Jennica Paula Masigan, Biodiversity Specialist of Center for Conservation Innovation Philippines Inc. in Manila, Philippines. Ms. Seset informed the guests on the profile of Sagpat, Kibungan where the project is held, and also the overview of the project wherein the activity is interrelated with. Ms. Mariko gave the CGN’s background and all its projects involvement especially on Agroforestry projects, how CGN started to implement Coffee-based Agroforestry farming within their selected area and one is Kibungan, Benguet. After the introduction the team discussed the activity itinerary to be undertaken for 3 days in Sagpat, Kibungan which are the birdwatching in the selected coffee farms and seminar on Wild Bird Conservation and Birdwatching Demo.

By 2:38 pm the team departed at CGN Office to Sagpat, Kibungan and they arrived at 5:44 pm at KALAHI Multi-Purpose Building, Sagpat, Kibungan, Benguet. The team had the planning and orientation for the bird watching and seminar to be conducted for the following days with the SFAC Chairman and the 3 SFAC Members. 

DAY 2 (December 11, 2019) – Birdwatching in the 3 Sites

                Mr. Koyama lead the early birdwatching of the team along the road and they were able to see 3 wild bird species. At 9:33 am they had their birdwatching at Irvin Camelo’s Coffee farm and around 11:00 am in the coffee farm of Ms. Nita Sacpa. The two coffee farms are both under the Alnus trees, where in the most present bird seen is the Elegant tits, others with less number or only sounds that was heard are the Yellow-vented Bulbul, Tawny Grassbird, Luzon Bush-Warbler, and Large-billed Crow. They’ve also got some information to the farmer of what species of bird they usually seen within their coffee farm. And they mention the Elegant tits, Grey Wagtail (Tiway), Little Pied Flycatcher (Kalinbabanga), Brown Shrike (Tala) and Blue-headed Fantail (Labeg).

                In the afternoon (3pm), the team went to Sagpat Communal forest for a birdwatching to know and compare the birds’ population in their original habitat and into the Coffee-based Agroforestry farm.

As observed by the team, wild birds are in the bushes or in the first story of the forest that’s why the team couldn’t see in the canopy. Birds were identified through their sounds or chirps like the Philippine Coucal, Luzon Bush-Warbler, Rubythroat (Kiling), White-eared Brown Dove and Yellow-Vented Bulbul. There are some sounds of wild birds that couldn’t be identified but local people named it as “Andukit”.

                For the whole day of pre-bird watching of the team they identified wild bird species present in the three areas these are Elegant Tit (Kusili), Large-billed Crow (Gayang), Brown Shrike (Tala/Aladdas), Pigmy Swiftlet (Pipingew), Tawny Grassbird (Salaksak), Luzon Bush-Warbler (Samote), Yellow-vented Bulbul, Philippine Coucal (Chikog), Grey Wagtail (Tiway), Plain throated, and White-breasted Water hen.

                The two Bird Specialists commented that wild bird’s greatness in number depends on the trees present or the diversity of plants and trees in a certain habitat. Like in the communal forest sounds of many birds was heard because the environment is more diverse with different kinds of plants and trees (Benguet Pine, Alnus, Tibig, Mala-tibig, Hauili, Calliandra and Indigenous trees), as compared to the coffee farm (Alnus and Coffee trees). Also, Alnus fruits are not eaten by some wild birds since it is an exotic tree, they prefer to eat fruits of indigenous trees like “Apiit”and Tibig, that explain why birds are more abundant in the surrounding of the Coffee farm.

DAY 3 (December 12, 2019)- Seminar on Wild Bird Conservation and Birdwatching Workshop 

                The Wild Bird Conservation Seminar was conducted in KALAHI Multi-Purpose Building with a 14 participants (SFAC Members) and facilitated by CGN Staffs with Maam Hiroku. It was started by a prayer led by Mr. Jose Bandiwan (SFAC Member) and followed by welcome remarks of Mr. Arnold Ampal (SFAC Chairman). The overview and objectives of the activity were presented and guest speakers were introduced by Ms. Seset (CGN Staff). The discussion started at 9: 36 am by Mr. Koyama as he gave introduction to what is the form and function of a wild bird and their importance to the agricultural land and environment. The participants were well-informed and realized the benefits of having birds in the community, as Mr. Koyama mentioned that birds help for plant pollination, food chain resulting to a good soil for plants to grow and insect/small mammal control. Mr. Koyama shared one study on biological control of coffee cherry borer which is the Yellow Warbler or the Luzon Bush-Warbler (Samote), which eats coffee cherry and stem borer that helps to reduce the spread of the borer in the coffee farm. By having this control, coffee farm should have more diverse trees not only Alnus but different species of indigenous trees like Tibig and Tuai and other fruit trees which can attract birds. Thus he encouraged the participants to plant more shade trees in their farm not only for the habitat of wild bird but for reforestation purposes. Mr. Benito Siadto, one Key Informant and SFAC member, approves that coffee farmers should plant trees that is both beneficial for the coffee and wild birds like “Apiit”, Calliandra, and Mulberry. Mr. Koyama added that having Bird friendly coffee farm have a potential in the future because some coffee consumers demand bird friendly coffee, especially in Northern countries. Mr. Koyama presented the 15 wild birds species from Japan migrating to the Philippines during the winter season and some the species presented were identified by the participants like the Brown Shrike which comes in the month of September -December and Siberian Rudythroat (Kiling). Participants claimed that Kiling announces to the people the wet-ends season of the year or the last typhoon of the year usually in the month of October.

Table 1. List of Migratory Bird from Japan

As for the wild birds that resides or visits in the forest of Luzon, Ms. Masigan presented the 21 wild bird species and the participants were able to identified and confirmed that they’ve seen some in early times and even at present at different months. Mr. David Lopez, shared that the peak season of birds or usual months that birds great in numbers are in the months of August-November.  Participants were informed that there are 700 bird species in the Philippines and some species are now endangered or threatened because of deforestation and hunting. Mr. Siadto added that before when they were young they used to see different kinds of wild birds but now only few were seen because their habitat was loss, it was converted into an agricultural land.

 Also, he asked what is the difference of the House Bird and the Chesnut Munia?

Ms. Masigan: Chesnut Munia is an exotic bird, and prefer to be in a rice fields or in the low forest while the House bird prefers in nearby houses they are not considered as wild bird.

Mr. Lopez: What is the English name of the bird we called it as “andukit”?

Ms. Masigan: This area have birds that we are not familiarized with the sounds, I can’t name it, it needs to be documented first.

Ms. Masigan explained also that the more different kinds of trees planted the more species of birds flocks for it provides habitat and food. Endemic birds prefer to eat fruits of indigenous trees, that calls for the coffee farmers to plant more indigenous trees. 

Table 2. List of Wild Birds in Northern Luzon

                Ms. Masigan introduced the Species Distribution Models of Coffea Species in the Philippines, one project of the Center of Conservation Innovation of the Philippines (CCIP), this helps predict where the variety of coffee is suitable to plant with and helps to locate where coffee farm to be found.

This model can be used for easy access of information of coffee products needed by the consumers and can be a tool for a promotion of coffee industry. The discussion was ended by 12:05 pm and time for the lunch of everybody.

After lunch (1:10 pm), Birdwatching demo was led by Mr. Koyama, he instructed how to use the Binocular telescope and the field guides to the participants. Afterwards, they proceed to Ms. Nita Sacpa Coffee farm, where they had their practicum in birdwatching. The participants were able to perform birdwatching using the telescope and identified 13 species of wild birds with the help of Mr. Koyama and Ms. Masigan. The old participants were good in identifying birds, Mr. Pot, revealed that they are very familiar of the birds because they used to be hunter of birds using slingshot, tie-knot traps, and Ear gun.

Mr. Siadto claimed that the time of the birdwatching is timely because of the present of Labeg, leader of the flocks that’s why they’ve seen many birds. The practicum ended by summarizing all the list of the birds by the practicums and giving of assignments to the 9 participants to do the research/birdwatching in their own coffee farm until the end of January. Participants were grateful to the seminar conducted and birdwatching demo for they have learned lot and they’ve become more aware in the conservation of wildlife species. 

Table 3. List of Wild Birds Identified during the Practicum

Day 4 (December 13, 2019) – Birdwatching in 2 Coffee Farms and Travel back to CGN Office

                The team visited and did the bird watching in the Coffee farm of Mr. Ampal wherein trees and plants are more diverse. The team identified 5 species (Mountain Verditer-flycatcher, Mountain White-eye, Crested Myna, Siberian Rudythroat and Andukit). Wild civet cat poo which is the coffee beans was seen also in the tree, this indicates that wild mammals still exists in the coffee farm. After having breakfast, the team proceeded to the Coffee farm of Mr. Bandiwan and continued the birdwatching where they listed the Brush Cuckoo, Elegant Tits and Andukit.

                The team departed in Sagpat at around 2:00 pm and arrived at CGN Office at 5:12 pm. And at 5:30 the team had a post meeting in Café Yagam, summarizing the activities done from the field and finalization of the bird list. Mr. Koyama and Ms. Masigan explained how to consolidate the lists and how to do the bird field guide for the farmers. Ms. Mariko asked the two Bird Specialists on their point of views and observations in the birdwatching conducted in the coffee farms. Mr. Koyama said that the Coffee farm is composed of two-storey only and Alnus trees are not enough for the birds since it is an exotic tree, also coffee is not food for birds, it is for mammals (rats, bats and civet cat). He added that birds are usually in the surroundings of the Coffee farm since birds tends to stay in the shrubs. Thus, they suggest that Coffee farm need more complex diversity or landscape for bird conservation and deeper or longer time to research on wild birds living in a Coffee farm. And it is best to conduct research or birdwatching during the breeding season of birds (April), wintering season (February-March) and the migratory season (November) to have a good result of the research. Ms. Mariko also suggest that it is good to conduct Environmental Education to the children to let them know the importance of the birds in the environment.

The birdwatching for three days is not enough to conclude if Coffee-based Agroforestry is for wild bird conservation, but at least it is started and there are data gathered to serve as the baseline information for the study. 

DAY 5 (December 14) – Birdwatching in Botanical Garden

                Mr. Koyama and Ms. Masigan had their birdwatching in Botanical Garden with Ms. Seset at 6:30 – 8:12 in the morning. They visited the eco-trail where they heard different sounds of the birds such as the sound of Siberian Rudy Throat, Elegant Tit, Luzon Bush-Warbler and Brown Shrike. Large-billed Crow, Elegant Tit, Tawny Grass bird and one species of hereon were seen in the area. Mr. Koyama and Ms. Masigan were encouraged to do more research in the wild birds resides or visits in the Northern Luzon.