Puerto Princesa, generally known as the rising birding capital of the Philippines, not too long ago celebrated its wealthy avian biodiversity by means of the Puerto Princesa Underground River sixth International Bird Photography Race.
The occasion, held from November 3-5 on the Princesa Garden Island Resort and Spa, was held as one of many predominant options of the town’s vibrant Subaraw Festival.
This 12 months’s race was a convincing success, stated Atty. Carlo Gomez, head of the City Environmental and Natural Resources Office (City ENRO). In only a single weekend, photographers documented over 160 hen species out of the 279 present in Palawan and the 593 within the Philippines, proving the thriving hen habitats in Puerto Princesa.
He stated that out of the 27 hen species endemic to Palawan, a formidable 23 had been captured by the lenses of collaborating photographers.
Gomez, founding father of the underground river hen race, praised the result, noting the challenges of photographing sure elusive species, such because the Palawan peacock pheasant and the Palawan striped babbler, which reside in distant or high-altitude areas.
He stated that the remaining endemic species had been past the bounds of the race which took place inside metropolis limits.
“Yung Palawan peacock pheasant kasi medyo malayo yung male sa Puerto Princesa Underground River (PPUR). Yung isa, yung Palawan striped babbler, mahirap makita sa Puerto Princesa City kasi nasa highest elevation siya matatagpuan, 1,200 ft above sea level,” Gomez stated.
Gomez talked about {that a} {photograph} taken throughout the race, doubtlessly exhibiting a white-throated rock thrush (Monticola gularis), has not but acquired official affirmation from a nationwide hen committee.
This hard-to-spot hen usually inhabits the rocky terrains of northern China and Russia, migrating to southern China and Southeast Asia within the winter.
Gomez emphasised that if the sighting is confirmed, it could signify one other nationwide report for Puerto Princesa.
The hen race had 25 groups competing with two to a few members every, the most important variety of photographers to hitch the occasion thus far.
The thought for the birding contest originated with Gomez in 2015, throughout his tenure on the Palawan Geographical Society (PGS). As an avid hen photographer, Gomez was eager on drawing consideration to Palawan’s native hen species by means of the occasion, aiming to contribute to broader conservation initiatives.
Preparing for this 12 months’s hen race was a course of that spanned over half a 12 months, a interval Gomez described as a bit unhappy and anxious. The group was deeply engaged in selling the occasion to draw extra contributors, duties which included creating an official web site and QR code tips.
Amidst these preparations, the birding neighborhood confronted a setback: earlier this 12 months, they mourned the lack of Winfred Paler, also referred to as Wins Paler in wild hen images circles. An expert conservation photographer, Paler had been a key determine within the PPUR hen race since its very starting.
“Wins Paler, as he’s fondly called by us, was a participant during the first bird race (…) He was a constant winner sa best Palawan endemic photo contest. Unfortunately, Wins died of cancer this year, during preparations noong March,” Gomez recalled.
“Wins helped the international bird photography race by helping us coordinate with local bird enthusiasts, domestic as well as international. He’s the one primarily inviting foreign participants in the bird race aside from putting up his team. He used to lead Team Nikon,” Gomez stated, referring to the earlier sponsor. The sponsor this 12 months was Sony Philippines.
The PPUR members, together with the City ENRO, PGS, and the Wild Bird Photographers of the Philippines (WBPP), to which Paler belonged, renamed and devoted a class within the hen images race because the Wins Paler Special Awards for Best Palawan Endemic Photos.
Floyd Bermejo from Team Fly High, who captured a photograph of a falcated wren babbler (Ptilocichla falcata), was the second runner-up on this class. The first runner-up was Francisco Fernandez Jr. from Team Wildest Shooter, who documented a stunning sunbird (Aethopyga shelleyi), regionally generally known as chiwit.
Delio Tolosa from Team Lingaw Lingaw Ra Birders, who photographed the Palawan flowerpecker (Prionochilus plateni), was awarded the champion of the Wins Paler Special Awards, receiving P10,000 and a present from Sony.
The finest hen motion picture accolade was given to Expedito Reyes of Team EX-Jr. for capturing two Oriental honeybuzzards (Pernis ptilorhynchus) in mid-flight with wings outstretched and legs akimbo. Gomez famous that this specific pair of birds was probably the most sought-after images topic throughout the race.
Team Real Tree Birders gained the most effective group uniform award, donning full camouflage gear from head to toe, full with matching sleeves for his or her digicam lenses.
Although held up by technical snags comparable to completely different picture information, the shortage of security photographs, and incorrect marked dates on the pictures, Gomez stated that the contributors nonetheless managed to gather excessive factors. Each documented hen has a corresponding level, with Palawan endemic birds, unintentional hen photographs, and uncommon migratory hen had been marked the best, price 10 factors. Philippine endemic birds had been price 5 factors and customary migratory birds with three factors because the lowest.
The champion for the group class who garnered a complete of 1,871 factors and gained P80,000 had been Team Bird Finder, composed of Don Geoff Tabaranza, Erickson Tabayag, and Christian Benavidez.
Tabaranza additionally gained Birdman of the Year by individually garnering 657 factors.
The PPUR birding race additionally launched new classes, together with Birdwoman of the Year, which was gained by Wang Fengyi of Team Happy Bird Finders with 279 factors, and the Lady Team class, claimed by Team Ibong Adarna, composed of Aimee Valencia, Caroline Silva, and Angelyn Yniguez.
