Tacurong holds 1st bird festival
TOURISM • 18:21 PM Tue May 12, 2015
1,174
By:
Jezereel Louise C. Billano Information Officer II
SPOTTING WINGED WONDERS. Locals and tourists take turns in using a spotting scope to get a better view of the birds in their nests at the Baras Bird Sanctuary during the Tacurong City 1st Bird Festival. They were assisted by Ms. Christina Telesforo o
TACURONG CITY - The 20,000 egrets and heron in Baras Bird
Sanctuary greeted at least 500 local tourists from all over the region during
Tacurong City’s 1st Bird Festival on May 9-10, 2015.
Tacurong City Bird Festival was the third
local bird festival that sprung from the Philippine Bird Festival of the Wild
Bird Club of the Philippines or WBCP. First was in Balanga in Bataan and the
second was in Zamboanga City.
The local bird festival was driven by the
themeand Be Aware! I love and protect birds and nature. The celebration
emphasized on protection and preservation of the birds and their natural
habitat.
With this festival, we aim to promote
tourism and environment conservation at the same time,” said Mayor Lina O.
Montilla.
The bird festival featured various
activities such as forums on Philippine Birds, eco-tourism, and biodiversity
conservation photo exhibit photo blogging contest bird watching face
painting origami and wooden bird painting.
Napakapalad ng Tacurong dahil meron sila
nito [bird sanctuary]. Ang mga ibon may saganang pinagkukunan ng pagkain at
wala silang nararamdamang panganib. Kahit madami tayo ngayon dito, hindi sila
natatakot dahil alam nilang hindi natin sila sasaktan,” said Ms. Tinggay Cinco
of WBCP during a guided tour in Baras Bird Sanctuary.
Among the bird species that can be found in
Baras Bird Sanctuary are the Great Egret, Cattle Egret, Intermediate Egret, White-collared
Kingfisher, Emerald Dove, Hawk, Eurasian Sparrow, Javan Pond Heron, Black-crowned
Night Heron, Variable Dwarf-kingfisher, Juvenile Black-crowned Night Heron, Yellow-vented
Bulbul, Rusty-breasted Cuckoo, Magpie Robin, Pied Fantail, Glossy Ibis, Black-naped
Monarch, Rofous Night Heron and Ruddy Kingfisher.
We will definitely help Tacurong identify
more birds in this sanctuary, and even in the city,” Cinco added.
According to DOT Regional Director Nelly
Nita Dillera, it is important to spread the word about this bird watching
destination. We want more people to know about Baras Bird Sanctuary. Aside
from boosting Tacurong’s tourism, it is also a way to encourage people to care
for the environment,” said Dillera.
Tacurong’s Bird Festival was spearheaded by
the City Government of Tacurong in partnership with the WBCP, Department of
Environment and Natural Resources, and Department of Tourism (DOT) XII.
Festival sponsors by Sultan Kudarat Water
District, Sultan Kudarat Electric Cooperative, Monte Vicenteau, Rotaract Club
of Talakudong, and Notre Dame of Tacurong College.