DAVAO CITY – The City of Tacurong in Sultan Kudarat province is set to hold a two-day bird festival on May 10 to 11 to raise awareness on the conservation of the local bird sanctuary.

STUDENTS visit the Baras Bird Sanctuary in Tacurong City, Sultan Kudarat. (Tacurong City Tourism Office)

City tourism head Emelie Jamorabon said the 8th Bird Festival will feature 17 different activities that are expected to draw birding enthusiasts, tourists, artists, wildlife researchers, and outdoor lovers.

Jamorabon added that through these activities, the city government hopes to raise awareness on the conservation and protection of the city’s bird sanctuary.

The 2.5-hectare Baras Bird Sanctuary, which is one of the top main tourist attractions in the province, is home to over 20,000 different bird species, most of them egrets and herons, said Jamorabon.

Aside from egrets and herons, the sanctuary is also home to over 20 other bird species, she added.

Among the bird species that can be found at the sanctuary are the Rufous Night Heron, Black Crowned Night Heron, Glossy Ibis, Eurasian Tree Sparrow, Pied Fantail, Grey-streaked Flycatcher, Dimorphic Dwarf Kingfisher, and Rusty Breasted Cuckoo.

“With this bird festival, we wanted to strengthen the conservation and protection efforts of our bird sanctuary. We wanted to raise awareness among our constituents and neighboring areas to stop bird poaching,” Jamorabon said.

Jamorabon said that they have been inviting students from different schools within the city as part of the city government's awareness campaign.

She emphasized that the younger generation should learn to appreciate the conservation efforts of the bird sanctuary.

"We have been inviting our neighboring local government units also for a tour in the sanctuary for them to understand our work here and perhaps replicate our work in their respective areas."