ILOILO CITY, Feb 10 (PNA) — The white-winged creatures that we usually see on the fields called Little egrets (Egretta garzetta) top this year’s list of Asian Waterbird Census 2015 that was conducted throughout Western Visayas in January 2015.

In its regional census report, the Protected Area Management and Biodiversity Conservation Section (PAMBCS) under the Technical Service of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Region 6 disclosed that Little egrets numbered to 3,310.

It was followed by Black-winged stilt (Himantopus himantopus) with 2,430; Cattle egret (Bubulcus ibis) with 1,462; and Common tern (Sterna hirundo) with 885. The number is yet to change when reports coming from DENR field offices in Negros Occidental and Guimaras are consolidated with that of the regional report.

The annual Asian Waterbird Census is conducted throughout the region to monitor the presence of waterbirds or migratory birds.

“They usually inhabit the wetlands and have impact not just ecologically but economically as well. The presence of waterbirds in wetland areas is an indicator that the ecosystems of that certain wetlands is still in good condition,” said PAMBCS Chief Dennis Piñosa.

In the region, the DENR-PAMBCS has identified 24 bird counting sites.

In Iloilo City and Iloilo Province, the sites are Brgy. Airport, Mandurriao; Brgy. Sooc, Arevalo, and Brgy. Hinaktakan, Lapaz, all in Iloilo City; Brgy. Nabitasan, Leganes, Iloilo; Brgy. Tubigan, Zarraga, Iloilo; Brgy. Pulao, Pabrica-Ermita, Dumangas, Iloilo; Brgy. Tinuri-an, Btac. Nuevo, Iloilo; Brgy. Plandico, Concepcion; Brgy. Pantalan-Nabaye, Ajuy, Iloilo; Brgy. Tuble, San Dionisio, Iloilo; Brgy. Padios, Sara, Iloilo.

In Antique there are five sites, namely: Brgy. Supa, San Jose; Brgy. Cubay-Napultan, Sibalom; Brgy. Lapaz, Hamtic; Brgy. Ilaures, Bugasong; and Brgy. Lipata, Culasi. In Aklan, there are three sites, namely: Brgy. New Buswang, Kalibo; Brgy. Lawa-an, New Washington; and Brgy. Lalab, Batan. In Capiz, there are four sites, namely: Brgy. Balijuagan, Roxas City; Brgy. Cudian, Ivisan; Brgy. Agustin Navarra, Ivisan; Brgy. Intongcan, Pontevedra; and Brgy. Dulangan, Pilar. (PNA)
CTB/AJP/DENR-PR/VLO