Over 26,000 migratory birds recorded by DENR Capiz

By: Jessie Reyes

Roxas City- An influx of colorful feathered friends in different sizes and shapes dotted the wetlands of Capiz province as the bird migration season continues.

Armed with binoculars and DSLR cameras, the team of personnel from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in the province of Capiz through its Provincial ENR Office in Roxas City together with the Community ENR Office in Mambusao, has jointly conducted the Asian Waterbird Census (AWC) from January 6-9, 2026, in the following bird count sites:

• Roxas City: Palina River, covering the Barangays of Cagay, Barra, Talon and Balijuagan
• Ivisan: Barangays Cudian and Agustin Navarra
• Sapian: Barangays Poblacion, Dapdapan, and Lonoy.

An estimated total of 16,748 individual water birds were recorded on the said count sites. The Capiz AWC team recorded the highest number of birds in Sitio Talingting, Brgy. Poblacion, Sapian numbering to 11,547 on estimate. Whiskered tern (Chlidonias hybridus) topped the list with an approximate number of 8,943.

Additionally, on January 12-15, 2026, the following six sites were also surveyed, namely: Roxas City Airport; Barangay Dulangan, Pilar, and Barangays Intongcan, Agbanog, Bantigue and Gabuc in Pontevedra.

By estimate, around 9,915 birds were counted in the six sites, bringing the total number of migratory birds flocking to the rich wetlands of Capiz province to around 26,663.

For the January 12-15, 2026 AWC, Brgy. Gabuc in Pontevedra recorded the most number of waterbirds at roughly 5,415. Little Egret (E. garzetta) flocked the most in Brgy. Gabuc estimated at 2,574 heads.

Approximately 40 species of migratory birds were seen touching down in Capiz wetlands. “Our wetlands here in Capiz are still rich, giving these migratory visitors a good supply of food for the next leg of their journey. When we see them, we knew that our biodiversity here is abundant,” said DENR Capiz Provincial ENR Officer Ernest C. Federiso.

The data on the number and species of the migratory birds from these locations provide a snapshot of the avian biodiversity in the province of Capiz. The AWC is part of the annual regional and international effort to monitor waterbird populations and promote wetland conservation. The results offer critical insights in the population trends of both resident and migratory birds.

In supporting DENR PENRO Capiz and CENRO Mambusao’s annual AWC activity are the respective local government units of Roxas City, Ivisan, Sapian, Pilar and Pontevedra, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) and Mr. David G. Quimpo of the Haribon Foundation.

Migration season for waterbirds in the Philippines commence from September until February of the succeeding year then the birds travel back to their breeding grounds by March.

            “The AWC is not just about counting birds rather, it is a vital scientific tool that provides deep insight into the status of our wetland areas. With the data, we can contribute something to biodiversity assessment, conservation planning and most of all, policy formulation,” said DENR 6 Regional Executive Director Raul L. Lorilla./DENR 6