So I picked up a new hobby over the summer. When I attended the Sustainability Fiesta last April, organized by the UP Diliman Environment Management Office (UP DEMO), I was fortunate to get a slot in a guided bird walk. It was a birdwatching activity within the UP Diliman campus. Birdwatching is the practice of observing wild birds in their natural habitat, free from cage or captivity, either with our naked eyes, binoculars or any magnified viewing equipment. The activity was facilitated by Prof. Carmela Espanola of UP Institute of Biology, she's also a bird specialist and a champion of wildlife conservation. She started orienting us about birds and why it's necessary to birdwatch, as a form of recreation or citizen science. Then we went off walking around the campus and spotting different wild birds. It was an eye-opening event for me, I was pleasantly surprised to see different bird species in a highly urbanized city. I knew there are plenty of sparrows and pigeons in the city, but I always thought that I'd have to go into the woods or mountains to see colorful birds. From then on, everywhere I go, I paid attention, when time permits, to my surroundings, in search of birds.
Photo courtesy of the Wild Bird Club of the Philippines
Now what's the bicycle to do with birdwatching? I don't mean to say it's fun to birdwatch while riding a bike, that would be dangerous. It's just that I always use the bike whenever going to birding spots. I'm just a beginner so I usually just do it around me. When I went to Australia a couple of months ago, I went to libraries most of the time by bike. When I'm done with my research work, I would always stop by a park to birdwatch on my way home. A lot of times, I would spot birds perched on trees along the road, and what's good with cycling is that I can easily stop to look at them or take photos.
A juvenile Laughing Kookaburra, a large kingfisher, native to Australia
Rainbow Lorikeet is also commonly found in Australian cities
I found birdwatching mentally enriching and therapeutic. It expands my patience and helps me to become more observant and attentive. It's always a challenge to take pictures or videos because a lot of times they are so restless. When they do sit still, it's such a joy to see them live their life, free from schedule and deadlines. I also feel my connection to the Earth deepen while watching them from afar. Their presence give me a strong sense of hope. As I watch them from my binoculars, I see colors amidst the dirty concrete jungle, and as I listen to their calls and songs, I hear music amidst the urban noise. It's a fleeting peace of mind, but leaves a lasting impression.
I found this Garden Sunbird on a tree under the LRT-1 Santolan Station while cycling along Marcos Highway
I'm still new to birding so I'm still reliant on Merlin Bird ID app to identify the birds I see. I haven't really gone as far as recognizing them by their sounds, I think that's another skill worth developing. The two times that I joined a group bird walk, I'm so amazed to see seasoned birders spot birds so easily even from a distance. As a newbie, I'm still on the process of exploring around my area to discover the bird species dwelling among us in urban space. For this, the bicycle is the best way to go around. It offers a unique blend of mobility, quietness, and connection to nature. Unlike cars or motorbikes, bikes move almost silently, allowing you to get closer to birds without disturbing them, while covering more areas in a short amount of time (than walking). The flexibility of stopping anywhere makes it easy to hop off and observe a bird right away, and since bicycles leave no emissions, they help protect their habitats.
I found this Chestnut Munia on a cable across our house
I created an
album of my life list (is a personal record that birdwatchers keep of every bird species they’ve seen and identified in their lifetime) on my FB page, in case you're interested :)
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