Yes, I blog again. XD Blame lethargy and my strong avoidance of responsibilities for still not being able to muster the courage to visit an ISP's office. I would also like to blame it on writer's block. Oooh, you could help me think of other things to blame.
Whenever I try to do this, justifying my recent incapacity to touch a keyboard for the sole purpose of writing, I go back again and again to one reason: I've been afraid to write. I've always been honest but, lately, I've been having a strong feeling or urge to write with so much frankness that I fear I would sabotage my own existence if I succeeded on completing a work. Haha. Really silly. I know. XD
Private or public. I still can't get myself to write. I cringe at the thought of pouring my sentiments when before it was the only thing that allowed me to keep my sanity. Sigh, I'm hoping I could get over it soon.
Anyway, just a little update on what has been happening to me -- after all, I keep this blog to document my life. ~_~ Too many fascinating things have been going on but I refuse to write about them unembroidered...so let me see...
I'm in Bicol. In a couple of days, I'm going back to Manila for my final practicum. It starts on the 4th of May, three days after my birthday. On my birthday, I would be obliged to add a year more to my age and would be unable to keep myself from crying out profane phrases because -dammit- I would be 21 and still no clear image of my future. I wish I was forgetful enough to forget my own birthday, the way I fail to recall birthdays of significant people in my life.
The last time I came home was during the Holy Week. We went to see the soil erosion in Brgy. Tigkiw. I was planning on birding during the hike. Unfortunately, you can't really have a decent birding activity if your company is more concerned of something else rather than listening to and locating the birds. I don't really remember how long we walked but I do remember hearing the incessant singing of Sunbirds. At one time, I saw a flock of about ten Sunbirds cross above me from one palm tree to another. Since I was looking up against the light, I was unable to identify their colors. But the chorus was unmistakably that of Sunbirds.
A few minutes after reaching our destination, my brother pointed to a blue bird, the sheen of its plumage made it easy to identify as a Kingfisher, and when I looked through my binoculars, I realized it was a White-throated Kingfisher. I was also able to spot a flying Black-naped Oriole.
The first thing you would see is the massive hole, across would be a row of trees and to the west is a gap which breaks the ring.
A few houses had been gobbled up by the earth --those located in the middle -- since the erosion was gradual, the occupants had the chance to evacuate. However, there are still residents who refuse to leave, probably because they have no other place to go. They've asked for aid. Unfortunately, the local government has done no apparent assistance.
We went down beyond the gap, and my brother tried to go near the heart of the erosion but the ground was too soft and his left leg ended up two feet under. XD
While my brother was trying to wash off the mud on his leg, I heard another Sunbird, we found it sitting on a palm tree beside us. It was a Crimson Sunbird. :D
That was my second Sunbird in three days. On the afternoon of April 8, a few hours before I left for Bicol, I was on one of the benches in front of the Main Library with a Matthew Alper book on my palms. But I just couldn't ignore all the birds calling around me. Three small birds were particularly noisy, and wouldn't quit flying from one tree to another. When one of them finally perched still on an almost leafless tree, I slowly walked near it to get a better view. It was a Red-keeled Flowerpecker. They seemed to have been performing a mating dance. I could still hear unfamiliar birdcalls so I decided to go home to get the binoculars. When I went back, about an hour after, the Red-keeled Flowerpeckers were gone. I couldn't find anymore birds except for a White-collared Kingfisher, some Golden-bellied Flyeaters and Pied Fantails, the common Yellow Vented Bulbuls, Eurasian Tree Sparrows, and Long-tailed and Brown Shrikes.
I spent a few more minutes along Betaway. There, I spotted a singly bird on a tall, leafless tree (I really need to learn the names of the trees. Haha. XD) I could only see its silhouette but when I made out its curved beak, I walked a few meters towards it. It was an Olive-backed Sunbird! I was so happy, I wanted to jump from all the excitement. I hurriedly sent messages to a few of my friends just to tell them that I finally saw a Sunbird. Hahaha. XD
Anyway, back to Tigkiw. XD We decided to take a shorter route out of the forest. It's a good thing we did, I was able to add two more lifers on my list: a pair of Red-crested Malkohas and a Lesser Coucal. :)
I wish I could've stayed longer. There's no telling how many species I would've seen if I spent more time and focused on birding. In the future, I plan on going back and visiting other barrios for the purpose of identifying other different bird species. With enough time and the proper resources. XD
Birdwatching is one of the the fastest-growing recreational activities in the world. Philippines could be considered as one of the perfect birding destinations since we have a very diverse set of bird species and we also have one of the highest endemnism in the world.
The DOT has started recognizing the role of birding in ecotourism, so they have been doing projects to promote birding in the country.
If properly implemented in our town, no doubt, it would also boost our tourism, and would give both the local government and people more opportunities for revenue-generation. Take Candaba, Pampanga for example. Known as the Home of Migratory Birds, it is probably the most popular birding site in the country, thanks to its active and successful publicity and conservation projects. Visit their site and on its homepage is a logo of their Ibon-Ebon Festival. Yes they have a festival for it and they only started last year, its success has been amazing.
It would be great to read it on the newspaper, Gubat as a birding destination. XD But there really is no need for that. Even just the documentation of the species would be a meaningful move by the local government. It should seem pointless at first, not much apparent environmental destruction has been going on in the town anyway, but it could greatly contribute to the current records, which would give additional chance for wider scientific insights on the current climate change.
But you really can't expect much from the local system. ~_~ Do'h.
We had to hike for an hour or so to reach Tigkiw-na-Saday. We rode a tricycle to Brgy. Tigkiw and it took us less than 20 minutes. Along the way is a spectacle of the greenest mountains and rice fields. Our house is located in the center of the town. I'm inside the living room right now. I've been hearing various birdcalls for the past hour. I thought the sunbird's song was just playing in my head. I opened the bathroom window to get a view of the neighbor's backyard, avocados and guavas hang from the trees, three palm trees are standing tall, and various other flowering trees. I wasn't delusional. XD There's a sunbird in the highest palm tree, I just can't locate it but I can certainly hear it singing. Three swiftlets were gliding around and a lonely Pied Fantail was perched on the nearest tree to the window. :) Who would've thought that I didn't really need to leave the house just to find a sunbird? I'll locate it soon enough. :)
Whenever I try to do this, justifying my recent incapacity to touch a keyboard for the sole purpose of writing, I go back again and again to one reason: I've been afraid to write. I've always been honest but, lately, I've been having a strong feeling or urge to write with so much frankness that I fear I would sabotage my own existence if I succeeded on completing a work. Haha. Really silly. I know. XD
Private or public. I still can't get myself to write. I cringe at the thought of pouring my sentiments when before it was the only thing that allowed me to keep my sanity. Sigh, I'm hoping I could get over it soon.
Anyway, just a little update on what has been happening to me -- after all, I keep this blog to document my life. ~_~ Too many fascinating things have been going on but I refuse to write about them unembroidered...so let me see...
I'm in Bicol. In a couple of days, I'm going back to Manila for my final practicum. It starts on the 4th of May, three days after my birthday. On my birthday, I would be obliged to add a year more to my age and would be unable to keep myself from crying out profane phrases because -dammit- I would be 21 and still no clear image of my future. I wish I was forgetful enough to forget my own birthday, the way I fail to recall birthdays of significant people in my life.
The last time I came home was during the Holy Week. We went to see the soil erosion in Brgy. Tigkiw. I was planning on birding during the hike. Unfortunately, you can't really have a decent birding activity if your company is more concerned of something else rather than listening to and locating the birds. I don't really remember how long we walked but I do remember hearing the incessant singing of Sunbirds. At one time, I saw a flock of about ten Sunbirds cross above me from one palm tree to another. Since I was looking up against the light, I was unable to identify their colors. But the chorus was unmistakably that of Sunbirds.
A few minutes after reaching our destination, my brother pointed to a blue bird, the sheen of its plumage made it easy to identify as a Kingfisher, and when I looked through my binoculars, I realized it was a White-throated Kingfisher. I was also able to spot a flying Black-naped Oriole.
The first thing you would see is the massive hole, across would be a row of trees and to the west is a gap which breaks the ring.
A few houses had been gobbled up by the earth --those located in the middle -- since the erosion was gradual, the occupants had the chance to evacuate. However, there are still residents who refuse to leave, probably because they have no other place to go. They've asked for aid. Unfortunately, the local government has done no apparent assistance.
We went down beyond the gap, and my brother tried to go near the heart of the erosion but the ground was too soft and his left leg ended up two feet under. XD
While my brother was trying to wash off the mud on his leg, I heard another Sunbird, we found it sitting on a palm tree beside us. It was a Crimson Sunbird. :D
That was my second Sunbird in three days. On the afternoon of April 8, a few hours before I left for Bicol, I was on one of the benches in front of the Main Library with a Matthew Alper book on my palms. But I just couldn't ignore all the birds calling around me. Three small birds were particularly noisy, and wouldn't quit flying from one tree to another. When one of them finally perched still on an almost leafless tree, I slowly walked near it to get a better view. It was a Red-keeled Flowerpecker. They seemed to have been performing a mating dance. I could still hear unfamiliar birdcalls so I decided to go home to get the binoculars. When I went back, about an hour after, the Red-keeled Flowerpeckers were gone. I couldn't find anymore birds except for a White-collared Kingfisher, some Golden-bellied Flyeaters and Pied Fantails, the common Yellow Vented Bulbuls, Eurasian Tree Sparrows, and Long-tailed and Brown Shrikes.
I spent a few more minutes along Betaway. There, I spotted a singly bird on a tall, leafless tree (I really need to learn the names of the trees. Haha. XD) I could only see its silhouette but when I made out its curved beak, I walked a few meters towards it. It was an Olive-backed Sunbird! I was so happy, I wanted to jump from all the excitement. I hurriedly sent messages to a few of my friends just to tell them that I finally saw a Sunbird. Hahaha. XD
Anyway, back to Tigkiw. XD We decided to take a shorter route out of the forest. It's a good thing we did, I was able to add two more lifers on my list: a pair of Red-crested Malkohas and a Lesser Coucal. :)
I wish I could've stayed longer. There's no telling how many species I would've seen if I spent more time and focused on birding. In the future, I plan on going back and visiting other barrios for the purpose of identifying other different bird species. With enough time and the proper resources. XD
Birdwatching is one of the the fastest-growing recreational activities in the world. Philippines could be considered as one of the perfect birding destinations since we have a very diverse set of bird species and we also have one of the highest endemnism in the world.
The DOT has started recognizing the role of birding in ecotourism, so they have been doing projects to promote birding in the country.
If properly implemented in our town, no doubt, it would also boost our tourism, and would give both the local government and people more opportunities for revenue-generation. Take Candaba, Pampanga for example. Known as the Home of Migratory Birds, it is probably the most popular birding site in the country, thanks to its active and successful publicity and conservation projects. Visit their site and on its homepage is a logo of their Ibon-Ebon Festival. Yes they have a festival for it and they only started last year, its success has been amazing.
It would be great to read it on the newspaper, Gubat as a birding destination. XD But there really is no need for that. Even just the documentation of the species would be a meaningful move by the local government. It should seem pointless at first, not much apparent environmental destruction has been going on in the town anyway, but it could greatly contribute to the current records, which would give additional chance for wider scientific insights on the current climate change.
But you really can't expect much from the local system. ~_~ Do'h.
We had to hike for an hour or so to reach Tigkiw-na-Saday. We rode a tricycle to Brgy. Tigkiw and it took us less than 20 minutes. Along the way is a spectacle of the greenest mountains and rice fields. Our house is located in the center of the town. I'm inside the living room right now. I've been hearing various birdcalls for the past hour. I thought the sunbird's song was just playing in my head. I opened the bathroom window to get a view of the neighbor's backyard, avocados and guavas hang from the trees, three palm trees are standing tall, and various other flowering trees. I wasn't delusional. XD There's a sunbird in the highest palm tree, I just can't locate it but I can certainly hear it singing. Three swiftlets were gliding around and a lonely Pied Fantail was perched on the nearest tree to the window. :) Who would've thought that I didn't really need to leave the house just to find a sunbird? I'll locate it soon enough. :)
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