Cabusao Birds’ Sanctuary (A Place to be Visited)

Barceloneta wetlands taken during migration season in early 2006[1]

“The Philippines is a recognized mega-diversity area with a very high percentage of endemism.  With 200 of over 600 bird species in the country listed as endemic, the Philippines positions itself as the newest birdwatching hotspot!”[2] To mention some, we can boast of Kalbario-Patapat, Natural Park, Barangay (village) Pancian, and Saud Beach Resort in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte, Mt. Polis Protected Landscape of Cordillera Administrative Region, Hamut Camp in Cagayan, Hundred Islands National Park in Pangasinan, Subic Bay Freeport Zone in Zambales, Balanga City in Bataan, Mt. Palay-Palay National Park in Cavite, Candaba Marsh in Pampanga, Mt. Makiling Forest Reserve in Laguna, Villa Escudero in Quezon, Lake Danao and Rasa Island in Palawan, Mt. Kanlaon National Park in Negros Occidental, Balinsasayao Twin Lakes Natural Park in Negros Oriental, Alcoy Forest and Olango Island Wildlife Sanctuary in Cebu, Rajah Sikatuna Protected Landscape in Bohol, Sohoton Natural Bridge National Park in Samar, Philippine Eagle Centre in Davao, Mt. Kitanglad Range Natural Park in Bukidnon, Pasonanca Natural Park in Zamboanga and many more.  

Those names above are already big names in the country. They are already prominent not just in terms of bird’s migratory places but also in tourism and culture. I just want to emphasize here that there are many more places that are not been yet discovered but they possess the same or even more quality and beauty of a place to visit. And hopefully, like the name above, they will be considered also a distinct and big name in tourism of the country at large.

Here I am, a native of new blooming town in the South Camarines, glad to present to you the town of Cabusao. Eventually, this year – 2011, this town is celebrating it’s centenary. And seemingly fit to its hundred years of development, birds from different place in the world have chosen this humble place to be their habitat. Cabusao, together with Magarao, are part of what we called Bicol River Estuary. This river estuary is now being known to be the newest and hottest birdwatching spot especially in Bikol. “ The coast of Cabusao hosts one of the largest numbers of migratory ducks and waders in the country.”[3]

Northern Shovellers and Northern Pintails in Barceloneta wetlands in early 2006[4]

I have been there. I have witnessed the virgin site of the sanctuary. It is being maintained and preserved. Good to discover that somewhere in our town, hides the must-to-see-place that a nature lover should visit. One traveler recorded his experience in this place. “The scenic drive cuts through the vast rice fields which also serve as birding sites for wandering mixed flocks of waterbirds: Black-winged Stilts, Intermediate Egret-Yellow Bittern, Oriental Pratincole, Clamorous Reed-Warbler, Chesnut Munia... Continue to Barcelonita in Cabusao, just in front of San Miguel Bay. Short walk through mangroves and marsh leads to a muddy shore which is about 8-10 kilometers stretch. The muddy shore area is alive with mudskippers.  Interesting migratory and resident birds: Northern Pintail, Northern Shoveler, Little Ringed-Plover, Whiskered Tern, Great Cormorant, Purple Heron, Common Greenshank, White-collared Kingfisher.”[5] On the adventure of Birdwactch.Ph, The official website of the Wild Bird Club of the Philippines, they shared also their experience on this birds’ sanctuary. “We continued to a fisheries school at Barceloneta in Cabusao, just in front of San Miguel Bay. A short walk through the mangroves brought us to a muddy foreshore that stretched for a total of 8-10 kilometers to left and right... About one kilometre in front the mud reached a sandbank and beyond that we could make out the sea. The wet mud was alive with mudskippers but on that day there were no birds close-by. There was a distant Purple Heron near the sea, and what appeared to be a Great Cormorant and some plovers. Some early Greenshanks flew along the shore. In the winter there are thousands of duck, notably Pintail, Garganey and Shoveler, along with waders.”[6]

Now, I feel that I have the right to be proud Cabusawenio, though as always but now with concrete picture of Cabusao Pride. My town is beginning now to be known. And with pride, I could say that we have Cebu, Palawan, Ilocos and Davao on our own place.  I am dreaming one day that even one specy of birds could carry the name of my town just like of Cebu flowerpecker, the colourful Palawan peacock pheasant, Negros Bleeding-heart and the majestic Philippine eagle that are being named after their chosen habitat. It could be Cabusao Shell Pecker or Cabusao Bakawan Bird or anything that it could spread the name of our town to the rest of the bird’s Sanctuary and to the whole world.

Gibsao Cabusao... Lupad Halangkaw...

Come and join as in our celebration and visit the one of the most visited birdwatching hotspot in country...

Happy Centenary Years, Cabusao....

Proud to be Cabusawenio...

   

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[1] http://www.birdwatch.ph/html/trip/trip20060621.html

[2] http://www.wowphilippines.co.uk/data/upload/fck/Philippines%20Birdwatching%20Sites.pdf

[3] Ibid.

[4] http://www.birdwatch.ph/html/trip/trip20060621.html

[5] http://adventurephilippines.com.ph/packages-bw.html

[6] http://www.birdwatch.ph/html/trip/trip20060621.html