Census takers were composed of representatives from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Wild Bird Club of the Philippines (WBCP).
Cristine Cingco, WBCP secretary, said the number was almost one-half lower than last year’s count of 29,384 waterbirds.
“Mababa ngayon pero hindi masasabing may kasalanan ang Balanga,” she said, adding that there were factors to be considered – that migratory birds might not have yet arrived, that it was very windy and only a few fishponds were dried and the tide high.
Cingco said that 15,072 was still a good number considering that the general trend in other birdwatching sites like in Candaba, Pampanga was much low. “Pakalahati nang pakalahati dahil nag-iiba itsrua ng kapaligiran. Marami tinatamnan na ng palay kaya nawawalan ng tirahan ng mga ibon,” she said.
Different groups took census of the birds in Sibacan, Puerto Rivas Ibaba and Itaas and Tortugas, seaside villages of Balanga City where fish are dried and turned into “tuyo”.
City administrator Rudy de Mesa said that Mayor Francis Garcia was grateful for the concern to the environment of DENR and WBCP.
“Mayor Francis is also thankful for the villagers and visitors for not harming the birds and cooperating with the city in its drive to protect the environment,” de Mesa said.
There were 34 bird species spotted in Balanga but egrets, terns and plovers were the most seen in the city’s wetlands this census.
Migratory birds from Europe and mainland Asia to escape the freezing weather arrive annually in Bataan to feed from the last week of September and start to leave for their countries of origin last week of March.
