MALAGOS GARDEN’S Amazing bird show

DAVAO CITY (PNA) – The Philippines has often been cited as one of the prime centers of biodiversity in the world. Time and again, it has been singled out for its dazzling array of natural flora and fauna.

It is home to 576 species of birds. Some of these species may be found only in the Philippines and some parts of Southeast Asia. The country has the most diverse collection of birds in the world. It also has over a thousand species of vertebrates, half of which are endemic to the country.

A small garden, named Malagos Garden Resort in Davao City hosts a rich collection of rare indigenous Philippine flora and wide assortment of orchids. Several species of butterflies also thrive in its enclosed sanctuary. Within its area, a bird park has been built to shelter rescued and rehabilitated birds.

The Bird Park also serves as a center for breeding endangered local avian species. The significance of Malagos and its birds becomes obvious when one considers its status in the district: It serves as one of the watersheds of Davao City and it is also home to the Philippine Eagle Center.

The threatened extinction of some birds are primarily due to the loss of their natural habitats. As the country’s population grows, people spread and encroach on forests. Trees are cut down and forest are cleared to build houses and public private structures, feed the mills, and make way for farmlands and housing communities.

The loss of habitats for birds is often matched by the actual hunt for them for various uses including food.

Dr. Roberto "Bo" Puentespina, a wildlife veterinarian and allied advocate of bird conservation in the Philippines, said some bird species are hunted for sports, while others are hunted because they are considered pests to crops and domestic animals.

Dr. Bo also noted that when people encroach on forests, the birds inevitably lose their habitat to mankind and his way of life, which in turn affect man’s environment.

"Birds, you see, are major agents of seed dispersal. The birds which eat fruits such as the hornbills, spread indigestible fruit seeds in the process, dispersing them as they move around the forest."

This natural process, he said, "in turn ensures that the forest continues to renew itself, ensuring more habitats for the birds to grow.

A visit to the Malagos Garden can be an educational and entertaining treat. Some 200 trained birds, performing either individually or as a group, are sure to provide the audience with a unique experience as they educate and entertain them through various tricks.

Spectators will surely delight as they listen to some of the birds sing and watch some of them play basketball, ride a scooter. Go through hoops, dance, pick up trash, and interact with the audience.

"The number of birds I have adopted after rehabilitation has grown. From raptors (eagles, owls) to parrots to jungle fowls. General feeding and upkeep is remarkably expensive," Dr. Bo said.

Dr. Bo recalled having been impressed by a bird he had seen in one of his foreign trips. "I realized that a bird show was a real crowd drawer and an excellent conservation education project opportunity," he said.

After much planning, the first bird show, entitled "The Wonderful World of Birds" was presented in Malagos Garden Resort in Davao in April 2002. The show featured a cast of different birds, from African grey parrot which plays basketball to a white umbrella cockatoo which rides a scooter.

The success of the Davao bird shows eventually inspired Dr. Bo to extend the shows educational value to the children in other cities, starting with Metro Manila.

This coming October 19, the first Malagos Garden Amazing Bird Show will be premiered at the Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center, and will be mounted everyday except Mondays for three months.

It will be supported by the Department of Tourism and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano said the show will help promote ecotourism in the country as well as educate Filipinos on the need to conserve the widely diverse species of birds that inhabit the Philippines, their natural habitats, and the environment as a whole.

The bird show’s proceeds will be used for the center’s infrastructure and landscaping projects, underwrite the costs of sheltering the birds and beef up the fund for research on wildlife conservation and rehabilitation.

Durano said he hopes the bird show will provide enlightenment to a lot of people as regards the plight of the country’s environment and wildlife.

"A healthy environment and a thriving wildlife will ensure more tourism, more jobs, and more socio-economic freedom for most Filipinos."

The bird show is only one of the primary activities of the Bird Park based on Malagos Garden Resort. (PNA)