AFTER a 15-year hiatus, the Philippines made a triumphant return to the largest and biggest bird fair in the world – the Global Birdfair – thru a private initiative, the Bird Finder Philippines, last July 12-14, 2024 in Lyndon Top, Rutland, United Kingdom.
The Philippines made its first debut in the birdwatching world by participating at the British Birdwatching Fair in Rutland, England in 2009.
Represented by the Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Wild Bird Club of the Philippines (WBCP), the delegation also distributed two volumes of “Birdwatching in the Philippines” books, highlighting the country’s diverse avian species and prime birdwatching sites.
This event also marked the selection of the Cebu Flowerpecker as the flagship species of BirdLife International, a global partnership of non-governmental organizations geared towards avian conservation.
The Cebu Flowerpecker, critically endangered and endemic to the Philippines, was believed to be extinct until its rediscovery in Cebu in 1992. Despite its elusive nature, with no photographs ever captured until now, its story inspires birdwatchers worldwide.
The British Birdwatching Fair is an annual event that began in 1989. It is so far the biggest and largest birdfair in the world that attracts birdwatchers, bird photographers and enthusiasts from all over the world, including a diverse audience from different parts of the United Kingdom and Europe.
Hundreds of exhibitors from various sectors, including conservation organizations, art, media, photography, books, optical equipment, nature tourism, tour companies, local products, outdoor attire, bird food, and other bird and nature-related products, participated in the event.
Bird Finder Philippines, the birding tour outfit of Birds in Focus, Inc. (BIF), spearheads the promotion of Philippine birdwatching and bird photography tours. BIF also manages the Haring Ibon brand, known for bird-themed merchandise and publications like “Haring Ibon: The Great Philippine Eagle” and “Endangered Bird Species of the Philippines.”
Haring Ibon is also the country distributor for renowned books from Spain and the UK, including “All the Birds of the World,” “All Mammals of the World,” “Threatened Birds of the World,” “Birds of the Philippines,” “A Naturalist’s Guide to the Butterflies of the Philippines,” “A Naturalist’s Guide to the Birds of the Philippines,” among others.
The cover of historic book All the Birds of the World which covers all the 11,524 bird species of the world features the powerful portrait of the national bird of the Philippines – the Great Philippine Eagle – photographed by wild bird photographer Alain Pascua.
The recently concluded Global Birdfair attracted over 300 exhibitors from various countries and more than 15,000 visitors during the three-day event. The Bird Finder Philippines booth garnered significant attention, with visitors expressing surprise and delight at the diversity of the Philippines’ avian life. Comments such as, “We didn’t know the Philippines has so many colorful birds and such a number of endemics,” and “We’re glad to know you have birding tours there,” highlighted the newfound interest. The canvas on the walls of the Bird Finder Philippines’ stand was designed by Vinz Pascua. He adorned it with 20 of the most sought after colorful Philippine endemic birds – a vibrant display that really attracted visitors at the fair.
Wild Bird Photographers of the Philippines (WBPP) co-founder and president Alain Pascua presented at one of the stages an “Introduction to Philippine Endemic Birds and Birding Tours”, a lecture that attracted many participants who later trooped to the Bird Finder Philippines’ stand for more information. More than a hundred presentations in four stages have been held during the three-day event.
The Philippines is home to approximately 743 bird species, with more than 260 endemics, birds that can only be found and seen in the Philippines. It ranks third in the world with the most number of bird endemics per square kilometer. Every serious birdwatcher and bird photographer are compelled to visit the Philippines to see and capture these unique avian treasures. Bird Finder Philippines offers comprehensive birding tours across Luzon, Mindanao, Palawan, and the Visayas, ranging from 5 to 7 days for each package. It caters to groups of up to six birders but can also tailor-fit tours for solo or smaller groups for shorter or longer durations. Most inquiries involve extensive tours of 14 to 21 days, covering all major islands.
During the Global Birdfair, Bird Finder Philippines forged partnerships with international birding tour operators, like Birdfinders, Rockjumper, All4Birding, and 2by2 Holidays to cite a few, enhancing the country’s appeal as a birdwatching destination. Birdwatching in the Philippines began in the 1980s, led by pioneers like the late Tim Fisher, co-author of the “A Guide to the Birds of the Philippines.” Despite early efforts, the establishment of corporate birding tour operators remained limited as competent and expert bird guides did not grow as fast as the visiting birders. Bird Finder Philippines was created to fill this gap, capitalizing on the experiences of its officers and bird guides who have been exposed to countries like the United States, Argentina, Costa Rica (which attracts around 100,000 birders annually just for Resplendent Quetzal), and the growing birding infrastructure (hides, feeding stations and guides) in neighboring Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam.
While birdwatching and wildlife photography tours are still growing sectors in the Philippines’ tourism industry, there has been a steady increase in foreign birder visitors. This growth could be accelerated with the support of the Department of Tourism (DOT), Tourism Promotions Boards (TPB), Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), and other government agencies in the promotion of the Philippines not just as a tropical beach destination but as a premier birding hotspot. Serious birdwatchers and photographers often visit countries with many endemic species repeatedly, offering a sustainable tourism model that extends beyond typical beach vacations.
The Philippines’ rich avian biodiversity and the dedicated efforts of Bird Finder Philippines position the country as a must-visit destination for birding enthusiasts worldwide. With continued promotion and support, the Philippines can soar to new heights and gain a place of prominence in the global birdwatching community.
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Alain Pascua is the co-founder and president of the Wild Bird Photographers of the Philippines, a member of the Wild Bird Club of the Philippines (at one time its vice president), and author of Haring Ibon: The Great Philippine Eagle book, and co-author of Endangered Bird Species of the Philippines book. He served as Undersecretary of the Department of Education of the Republic of the Philippines from 2016 to 2022.
