Making Each Day Count

For me, a perfect morning starts with birds. Their chirping outside my window wakes me up before the sun rises and immediately puts me in a good mood. It’s the best natural alarm clock. This year, we were lucky to have a pair of yellow-vented bulbuls nesting in a shrub next to our living room. It was fascinating to watch the parents teach their young how to fly.

My appreciation for birds deepened during a trip to Sri Lanka last year. Our guide, Thilanka, happened to be a birdwatcher. During one of our conversations, he mentioned that the Philippines is a fantastic destination for birdwatching. This is because of the number of endemic species we have. I was surprised to hear that we have more than 760 recorded bird species, about 270 of which are endemic, meaning they can only be found in the Philippines. That conversation stuck with me. When I got home, I bought a pair of binoculars, and since then, I have taken every chance I can get to watch birds around our subdivision. Even the most ordinary afternoon walk can turn into a little adventure when you start paying attention to the sky and the trees.

Last December, I finally joined my first proper birdwatching activity with the Wild Bird Club of the Philippines. The activity was held at Las Piñas–Parañaque Wetland Park, a protected coastal wetland between the cities of Las Piñas and Parañaque.

At 6:30 AM, D and I drove to the park while the city was still waking up. Before heading out, we attended a short orientation where we learned that the birds we would see that morning included both endemic species and migratory birds. Many migratory birds travel along the East Asian–Australasian Flyway and spend the cooler months, from around November to March, in places like the Philippines. Coastal wetlands like LPPWP become important resting and feeding grounds during this time.

We soon headed toward the beach with our binoculars ready. Within minutes we began spotting birds: gray-tailed Tatler, barred Rail, little and great Egrets walking along the shore; whiskered Tern and black-crowned Night Heron flying about; the flash of blue from a Common Kingfisher, the Black-winged Stilt, and the familiar Spotted Dove nearby.

I stayed focused the entire time, carefully watching each bird. Even though they’re small, their colors, movements, and behavior are really interesting to observe. At the same time, it was hard not to notice the areas of the wetland being affected by development. From parts of the park, you can see areas of nearby coastline being reclaimed. As land replaces sea, mangroves disappear, and those mangroves are not only habitats for birds but also natural protection for coastal cities.

Standing there, watching migratory birds share the shoreline with our local species, I felt both grateful and protective of these spaces.

Since that morning, I have found myself looking up at the trees more often. Because once you start noticing birds, it is hard to stop. And days become just a little more magical.