Pelayo said no less than 72 species of birds escaping from the harsh winter of neighboring countries have flown to the 33,000-hectare swamp.
“Our Task Force Anti-Bird Flu has been on alert to enforce safety measures, including a 100-meter buffer zone between the migratory birds and bird watchers,” he said.
Pelayo said that this year’s bird census at the swamp will be held this Saturday by experts from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Wild Bird Club of the Philippines.
In the recent years, such census revealed bird species which had never been noted before at the swamp, including the black-browed reed warbler (Acrocephalus bistrigiceps), the American widgeon (Anas americana) and the white-shouldered starling (Sturnus sinensis).
Pelayo also announced that a building for information and rest has already been finished within the 72-hectare bird sanctuary within the swamp. The building, he noted, was funded by a grant from the German government.
“The building also has a viewing deck for bird watchers,” he added.
Pelayo reported that so far, only one case of bird shooting has been reported at the swamp. “The shooter was caught and is now facing appropriate charges,” he said.
He said he has also been leading his task force in monitoring the selling of wild ducks in other parts of Central Luzon. Wild ducks known to local folk as “dumara” used to be caught and sold live along highways in the region.
“So far, our campaign against catching wild birds, including ‘dumara’ seems to be working. No one has been caught selling them along highways,” he said.
Pelayo also said that his task force has also convinced restaurants which used to offer migratory wild ducks as specialty to serve local ducks instead. This, he said, is also part of his task force’s anti-bird flu campaign.
