47 migratory birds resting, refueling in Las Pinas wetland park


A total of 47 migratory birds from China, Japan, and Siberia have found a temporary home at a wetland park in Las Pinas City for resting and refueling.

Migratory birds are seen in the mudflats of the Las Pinas-Paranaque Wetland Park in Las Pinas City, Feb. 25, 2021. (Xinhua/ MANILA BULLETIN)

Las Pinas-Paranaque Critical Habitat and Ecotourism Area (LPPCHEA) superintendent Rey Aguinaldo said the migratory birds normally rest at the LPPCHEA during the months of December, February, and March.

Aguinaldo said the migratory birds are seen resting at the wetland park after escaping the winter season in China, Japan, and Siberia.

A little egret rests at the mudflats of the Las Pinas-Paranaque Wetland Park in Las Pinas City, the Philippines, Feb. 25, 2021. (Xinhua/ MANILA BULLETIN)

The nature reserve, situated south of Manila Bay, covers around 175 hectares of wetland ecosystem, with mangroves, ponds and lagoons, mudflats, salt marshes, and mixed beach forest.

Aguinaldo said the migratory birds usually migrate to LPPCHEA in December and rest up to March.

When summer comes in the Philippines, the migratory birds will then leave  for home.

Aguinaldo said the wetland area gives the migratory birds the chance to commune and they are preserving it as part of ecotourism.

He added that there are 84 bird species that can be seen at the wetland,  47 of which are migratory birds, East-Asia Flyway Network; two threatened species of the Philippine duck and Chinese egret, and five species of the Philippine duck, hanging parakeet, bulbul (an African and Asian songbird), pygmy woodpecker, and pink bellied imperial pigeon.