The SCPW, with the support of East Asian-Australasian Flyway Partnership (EAAFP), celebrated the World Migratory Bird Day and Urban October by holding an event entitled “Click It, Sketch It: An Adventure with Migratory Birds” at the Las Pinas Paranaque Wetland Park on Saturday, 12 October 2019. The celebration was in line with this year’s theme for World Migratory Bird Day (Protect Birds: Be the Solution to Plastic Pollution) and the EAAFP theme for 2019-2020 (Flyways – Connecting People and Migratory Waterbirds).
The said event aimed at increasing the awareness of nature photographers and graphic artists on the importance of migratory birds and wetlands and how they can help protect them; establishing a cadre of photographers and graphic artists who can advocate for migratory bird protection and wetland conservation through using images as a medium; enhancing the skills of nature photographers in capturing images of wildlife and nature that can be used as tools in advocating protection for migratory birds and wetland conservation; and instilling conservation in the minds of young children, and the impacts of plastic pollution to migratory birds. The participants for this activity came from sectors with the potential to translate these images to communication materials that can help promote protection of these migratory birds as well as wetland conservation. In achieving these, the learning event employed approaches and methods including seminar, hands-on training on wildlife photography, interaction with local birding guides, arts and storytelling with the children in the community.
The event was attended by DOT-NCR Regional Director Woodrow C. Maquiling Jr., DENR-NCR Conservation and Development Chief Aida E. Esguerra, LPPCHEA Protected Area Superintendent (PASu) Carlito Castañeda, DENR-BMB Wildlife Section Chief Anson Tagtag, Forester Chito Macapagal (SM Foundation), Paul Puthenpurikal (SURE, Inc.), Mike Lu (Wild Bird Club of the Philippines), Maridel Teves (Federation of Philippine Photographers Foundation, Inc), Engr. Frankie Arellano (Maynilad Water Services Inc.), and representatives from One Meralco Foundation.
About four dozen participants joined in listening to talks regarding wetlands, migratory birds, plastic pollution, photography, and the urban environment. During this half day seminar, Ms. Amy Lecciones, Executive Director of SCPW, Inc, presented a Lecture on Plastic Pollution and Migratory Birds. She also included the notable issues of LPPCHEA on its conservation and wise use. Other lectures included topics on LPPCHEA discussed by Kerk Zairus Calvara from DENR NCR, Sharing of Tips on Birding by Mike Lu of WBCP, and lecture and demo about Wildlife and Nature Photography by Maridel Teves of FPPF. The participants later joined the sketching and bird watching activity during the wetland walk.
Meanwhile, a special storytelling session for the kids read by Ms. Aisa Amy L. Hermeno, about the journey of Elias and his kite and two of nature’s great allies: a migratory bird and a mangrove tree, captivated the children. The children learned about mangrove, migratory birds, and plastic pollution. The youngest participant was aged 6.
Click It, Sketch it partners included:
- East Asian-Australian Flyway Partnership (EAAFP)
- Department of Environment and Natural Resources National Capital Region (DENR-NCR)
- Department of Environment and Natural Resources Biodiversity Management Bureau (DENR-BMB)
- Department of Tourism National Capital Region (DOT-NCR)
- Federation of Philippine Photographers Foundation, Inc. (FPPF)
- One Meralco Foundation (OMF)
- Maynilad Water Services Inc. (MWSI)
- Wild Bird Club of the Philippines (WBCP)
