A WADER IN DANGER Seeing this spoon-billed sandpiper in Balanga, Bataan, recently has given conservationists stronger arguments for the protection of Manila Bay—before none of it is left as a suitable feeding and migration stop for bird species of such importance and fragile state. —PHOTO BY ROB HUTCHINSON/CONTRIBUTOR
It’s a big deal for Philippine bird diversity! The world’s rarest and most endangered migratory shorebird has been spotted in the country for the first time ever.
The spoon-billed sandpiper is in big trouble. There are only about 490 mature individuals of this bird left in the world. It’s so endangered that it’s listed as critically endangered on the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
A group of bird watchers found something special at a mudflat in Balanga, Bataan, on March 7. They spotted a rare bird that got everyone excited, especially wildlife enthusiasts and conservationists.
Wildlife biologist Bob Natural was the first to see the elusive bird. He was really lucky because the first bird he saw while bird watching was this rare and critically endangered one. He watched it searching for food among some other birds called red-necked stints. He told Robert Hutchinson, who was there with him, “I think I saw a stint with a spoon-shaped bill. I’m serious, Rob.”
Suitable destination
“We noticed it was bigger than the other birds nearby and had a different way of feeding. But we had to wait a couple of minutes before it lifted its head and showed its unique spoon-shaped bill. That confirmed it for us. Rob said it was definitely a spoon-billed sandpiper. I really hope it comes back every year, and maybe we’ll even see more of them in the future,” Natural said.
Hutchinson said, “The spoon-billed sandpiper is one of the most wanted birds in the world for bird watchers. Whenever someone asked me which bird I’d love to see in the Philippines, I always said the spoon-billed sandpiper, but I never thought it would happen.”
The area’s habitat, with its coastal mudflats, is perfect for small migratory shorebirds to find food. That’s why rare birds like the spoon-billed sandpiper can be found there. There were also Chinese crested terns there, which is only the second time they’ve been seen in Manila Bay in over a hundred years.
Sighting’s significance
“In previous trips to Balanga, we’ve seen the endangered Nordmann’s greenshank and the endangered black-faced spoonbills. This shows how important wetland areas are for protecting rare and disappearing species,” said Hutchinson.
Now that the spoon-billed sandpiper has been spotted in the Philippines, the effort to save this unique bird is more important than ever. These birds breed in northeast Russia and travel 5,000 kilometers each year to spend winter in places like southern China, Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar, and Bangladesh. During their journey, they depend on important coastal wetlands in countries like China, Korea, Japan, and Russia.
Before it was seen in the Philippines, experts thought the spoon-billed sandpiper might only come to the country by chance. With only a few left and facing extinction in the next ten years, every sighting of the spoon-billed sandpiper is really important. Each time someone sees one, we learn more about where they breed, how they migrate, and where they spend the winter. Now that they’ve been seen in the Philippines, it shows how important the country is for global efforts to protect these birds. It also shows how vital Manila Bay is as a place for migratory waterbirds to find food, especially those that are important worldwide.
The Philippines has promised to protect animals that migrate as part of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species. This agreement is worldwide and helps make sure that animals, whether they live on land, in water, or in the air, can migrate safely. It’s all about making sure they and their homes are looked after properly.
Arne Jensen, who knows a lot about birds and works with Wetlands International, said, “In north Manila Bay, there’s one of only two places in the Philippines where the endangered Nordmann’s greenshank spends the winter. There are fewer than 1,000 of these birds left in the world.”
‘Last call’
He mentioned that for the second time in just three months, the near-extinct Chinese crested tern, with fewer than 100 individuals left, was seen there. No other coastal wetland in the Philippines has as many migrating waterbirds as Manila Bay.
“But even with that, how do we help these endangered birds? Less than 2 percent of the bay is protected for migrating wildlife, and the tidal flats where most of them feed are hardly protected at all. Less than 1,000 hectares—just a small piece of what used to be—are left. It’s the last chance for the extremely rare and special biodiversity in north Manila Bay. The birds need more than just talk; they need real action,” Jensen said.
Biodiversity, livelihood
Mike Lu, who is the president of the Wild Bird Club of the Philippines (WBCP), said, “This discovery in Balanga, Bataan, shows us something we already knew: the wetlands in this area are really important for birds that migrate, for keeping different kinds of animals and plants alive, and for helping people in the community make a living.”
He also mentioned that because of the good relationship between WBCP and Balanga, they’ve been able to support things like the Ibong Dayo Festival and Asian Waterbird Census. They’ve also helped create the Balanga Wetland Park. These efforts all aim to make people more aware of the importance of wetlands and to help protect them.
“Because wetlands are so important, let’s encourage people in the Philippines to work with us to protect these special places. By doing this, we can make sure we save our natural heritage and keep not only the newly found and rare species safe, but also all the different kinds of wildlife that live in these wetlands,” Lu said.
