The year opened with the Philippine Eagle-Owl as my lifer. Thanks to birding friend Karen Ochavo who brought us to her office last January 2 where the biggest owl of the country (second in the world) is perched. The biggest surprise is that it’s just in Quezon City. Tim Fisher’s birding guide says that this bird “is difficult to see and remains little known.” What gladness it brought to me and birding friends Karen Ochavo, Maia Tañedo, Jops Josef, Kuya Jun Osano and his daughter Yana, Abby Santos and Mark Jason Villa when we saw that there is actually a family of Eagle-Owls. I’m still amazed with what we saw. I just see owls through the documentation of Discovery Channel or National Geographic. I wasn’t able to photograph the family of owl because it was already dark.
Then my church Higher Rock had a three-day retreat in Jabez Campsite, Pala-pala, Dasmariñas, Cavite that started last January 5 up to January 7. Last year, the youth ministry went there for a camp and they saw an Indigo-Banded Kingfisher. Unfortunately, it accidentally went to the electric fan and it died because of the impact. I just saw the photo of the dead bird. I planned of seeing the bird alive so I brought my birding gear. I didn’t see the endemic kingfisher but I saw another lifer instead. I saw a White-Breasted Waterhen. Further, I was able to see a family. A saw the pair and then I saw four young chicks.
I wasn’t able to photograph the waterhen family because I’m observing from a perilous spot. The waterhen lives in a creek, which is two to three meters below where I’m standing. Nevertheless, I enjoyed what I saw. I never ventured going nearer where the nest is because I discerned that the parents seems to have sense my presence, even though I’m quite a distance away and I’m camouflaging behind trees and shrubs. The creek wasn’t a pleasant place to bird because it really stinks because it serves as the piggery sewerage of someone somewhere. But then for the sake of observing a bird in its natural habitat, the foul odor has to be tolerated.
My Bible reading plan is in Genesis this month. I was by the creek spending time in the Word while I also being keen to what is happening in my surrounding. I was struck by the Bible truth written in Genesis 9:2, “The fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth and upon every bird of the heavens, upon everything that creeps on the ground and all the fish of the sea. Into your hand they are delivered.” I readily remembered when I first saw the waterhen. The bird is quite jittery. Now I understand why birds flee from the presence of humans. Their fear was set by God.
For a Christian birder and photographer like me, there’s deeper and biblical meaning now to the birding etiquette to respect the birds. I have learned before that one should not go near where the birds nest or go near the feeding area. I also learned not to destroy some trees or plants just to have a better view or just to have a better photograph. I also learned to consider the use of playback and other stalking techniques so as not to stress the bird. Well, I would be writing further on this topic in the near future. See you next time.
Then my church Higher Rock had a three-day retreat in Jabez Campsite, Pala-pala, Dasmariñas, Cavite that started last January 5 up to January 7. Last year, the youth ministry went there for a camp and they saw an Indigo-Banded Kingfisher. Unfortunately, it accidentally went to the electric fan and it died because of the impact. I just saw the photo of the dead bird. I planned of seeing the bird alive so I brought my birding gear. I didn’t see the endemic kingfisher but I saw another lifer instead. I saw a White-Breasted Waterhen. Further, I was able to see a family. A saw the pair and then I saw four young chicks.
I wasn’t able to photograph the waterhen family because I’m observing from a perilous spot. The waterhen lives in a creek, which is two to three meters below where I’m standing. Nevertheless, I enjoyed what I saw. I never ventured going nearer where the nest is because I discerned that the parents seems to have sense my presence, even though I’m quite a distance away and I’m camouflaging behind trees and shrubs. The creek wasn’t a pleasant place to bird because it really stinks because it serves as the piggery sewerage of someone somewhere. But then for the sake of observing a bird in its natural habitat, the foul odor has to be tolerated.
My Bible reading plan is in Genesis this month. I was by the creek spending time in the Word while I also being keen to what is happening in my surrounding. I was struck by the Bible truth written in Genesis 9:2, “The fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth and upon every bird of the heavens, upon everything that creeps on the ground and all the fish of the sea. Into your hand they are delivered.” I readily remembered when I first saw the waterhen. The bird is quite jittery. Now I understand why birds flee from the presence of humans. Their fear was set by God.
For a Christian birder and photographer like me, there’s deeper and biblical meaning now to the birding etiquette to respect the birds. I have learned before that one should not go near where the birds nest or go near the feeding area. I also learned not to destroy some trees or plants just to have a better view or just to have a better photograph. I also learned to consider the use of playback and other stalking techniques so as not to stress the bird. Well, I would be writing further on this topic in the near future. See you next time.
