Nightly migration of thousands of birds to Angono, Rizal baffles residents

Residents in Angono, Rizal are still puzzled as to why a specific bird specie migrates at sunset and spends the night on cable wires in the municipality.

When the sun sets, hundreds of birds hover over the public market area for several minutes before they settle on the power cables of Manila Electric Company on M.L. Quezon Avenue.

By 7 p.m., majority of the feathered creatures are settled on the power lines, close to each other, while a few are seen still looking for a vacant space to perch.

“Malalaman mo na, na dumating na ang mga ibon kasi maririnig mo ang huni nila (You will know that the birds have arrived because you will hear their chirping), “ a sidewalk vendor told the Manila Bulletin as he pointed at where the birds were.

Elida Marcial, a resident of Angono, told the Manila Bulletin that the nightly phenomenon, which has been going on for years now, remains a mystery to them.

Manila Bulletin tried to refer the phenomenon to Dr. Joel Tuplano, the municipal veterinarian for an explanation, but he said that there has been no study yet on the nightly migration of the birds in Angono.

As the migrating birds are believed to be numbering about a few thousands, so are their droppings which are evident on the road particularly, in the areas where the birds stayed during the night.

“Kung hindi ka taga rito sa Angono at hindi mo alam ang oras o lugar kung saan lumilipad at dumadapo ang mga ibon, siguradong malalaglagan ka ng mga dumi nila. (If you are not from Angono and you don’t know the time and the areas where the birds fly and land, for sure the bird droppings will fall on you),” another street vendor said.

Residents who are aware of the nightly phenomenon would know where and when to walk in order for them to be spared from being “hit” by the birds’ poops or feces.

“May kasabihan nga tayo na kapag nalaglagan ka ng dumi ng ibon, suswertihin ka dahil naka jackpot ka (We have a saying that if you get hit by bird droppings, it is sign of good luck because you hit the jackpot),” another vendor jokingly said.

The residents said the birds are believed to be just staying for the night, on the power lines, and leave by sunrise. The place where the birds go and stay during the day and where they come from before staying in Angono during the night is also a mystery to many.