New birding site to open in Puerto Princesa

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan, March 16 (PIA) -- The city government in collaboration with Birdwatch Palawan Ornithological Society (BPOS) will open a new birding site in barangay Simpocan that will offer  excellent bird watching and education opportunities.

BPOS President Rommel M. Cruz said this in a press conference at the opening day of the 2nd Bird Watching Basics Training for Eco-Tourism held at Sunlight Guest Hotel this city, where 50 participants most of whom came from the tour-guiding industry attended.

Cruz said that Simpocan as a bird watching site, will open community livelihood opportunities for the residents, help boost ecotourism and promote appreciation of the beauty of birds and the environment.

The book Bird Watching in the Philippines identified 13 best bird watching sites in the country which are located at the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park (PPSRNP), Lake Danao and Rasa Island in Taytay and Narra  towns, respectively.

PPSRNP is a major birding site for Palawan peacock pheasant and the Palawan hornbill, both of which are endemic to the province.

Lake Danao is the only freshwater lake in the province and is home to Philippine ducks and wandering whistling ducks.  Lake Danao is in Taytay town about 230 kilometers north of Puerto Princesa City.

Rasa Island in Narra located 95 km south of this city, is home to the Philippine cockatoo, which is also endemic in Palawan and the country.

BPOS is spearheading the three-day bird watching training to promote it as an important part of the ecotourism industry and in the protection and conservation of the environment.(LBR/VSM-PIA4B Palawan)

By Victoria Asuncion S. Mendoza