The existence of these little angels is reason

enough why study Agusan Marsh…..

Distribution of the Avifauna of
Agusan Marsh

Milagros P. Sucaldito and Olga M. Nuñeza

Department of Biological Sciences,

College of Science and Mathematics,
MSU-Iligan Institute of Technology, Tibanga, Iligan City
INTRODUCTION
AGUSAN MARSH, AGUSAN DEL SUR
¾ Designated as Site No. 1009th Wetlands
of International Importance to the Ramsar
list as a Wildlife Sanctuary.
AGUSAN MARSH
¾Serves as a wintering ground for
migratory water and wetland birds from
Southeast Asian region and other Western
countries during the winter season
AGUSAN MARSH
¾Important Birds Areas of Philippines
Bird Area Code PH085
Key Conservation Sites in the
Philippines
¾Endemic Birds Areas of the world
Area 154 : Mindanao and the
Eastern Visayas
BIRDS
Valuable indicators of global
patterns in biodiversity
conservation due to their high
sensitivity to environmental
changes
Ideal indicators to monitor
changes of ecosystem health
Significance of Birds
Ideal for use as biological indicator
since their presence or absence tends to
represent conditions pertaining to the
proper functioning of an ecosystem
Enormous value to humanity because
of their destruction of insect pests and
weed seeds.
Useful as scavengers
Game birds hunted for food and sport
Significance of Birds
Raptors or Birds of Prey
Play an important role as bioindicators of
habitat quality and pollution,
Important in maintaining an ecological
equilibrium
Good biological barometers of the
ecological system
Significance of Birds
Egrets
Serve as a biological indicators of
ecosystem health and habitat quality.

In marshes, absence of egrets may

reflect disturbances in the ecosystem,
such as pollution, contamination of
water, habitat loss, or human
disturbance
Diversity, endemism and conservation
status of Philippine birds

No. of No. of % No. of No. of

Species Endemic endemics Threatene Threatened
Species d Species Endemic
Species

Birds 576+ 195+ 34% 74 59

Reference: Perry S. Ong, Ph.D, 2002. “CURRENT STATUS AND PROSPECTS OF

PROTECTED AREAS IN THE LIGHT OF THE PHILIPPINE
BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION PRIORITIES” Proceedings of
IUCN/WCPA-EA-4 Taipei Conference March 18-23,2002,Taipei, Taiwan
Research studies on birds conducted in Agusan Marsh
No. of No. of Endemic Percent
Species Species endemism
Wetland Field Survey Team 102 16 15.69 %
(May 22 – 28, 1991)
Thorkild Michaelson 73 16 21.98 %
(May 23 – 28 , 1991)
Haribon Foundation 127 31 24.41 %
(February 1999)
Severo T. Sebastian Jr. and 95
Jason C. Ibañez
(December 2003–February 2004)
Attila Bankovics, Emil Boros, 99
Ferenc Kis & Monica Kiss

(December 18 – 27, 2006)

August 2005 – January 2006 ? ? ?
OBJECTIVE
Assessed the distribution of birds in
the four swampy forests of Agusan
Marsh, Agusan del Sur, Philippines
OBJECTIVES II:
Generated a list of species of birds
found in the swamp forest,
Monitored monthly the distribution of
bird fauna in order to determine the
migratory birds’ presence, number of
endemic, non-endemic, threatened bird
species, and percent endemism of the
avifauna,
Determined the socio-economic
importance, resource utilization, and
existing threats and conservation
status of the avifauna.
Categories of Birds
¾ Endemic – found only in a particular island/s, or
on several islands of the Philippines
and do not occur anywhere else
outside its geographical boundaries
¾ Resident – breed or are suspected of breeding
in the Philippines normally living there
throughout the year
¾ Migrant – breed outside the Philippines and
migrate to the country
Categories of Birds
¾ Threatened species - A species that is facing an
extremely high risk of extinction in the wild
in the immediate (Critically Endangered),
near (Endangered) or medium-term
(Vulnerable) future.
¾ Socio-economically important species – birds
that are important in some ways toward
the production of food or which possess
certain parts of the body that are being
used as articles of trade, or the birds that
are useful to man in some definite ways.
METHODOLOGY
The Study Area
 The Study Area

PEAT SWAMP FOREST SAGO FOREST

Sampling Site 4 Sampling Site 1

MIXED SWAMP FOREST TERMINALIA FOREST

Sampling Site 3 Agusan Marsh, Agusan del Sur Sampling Site 2
COLLECTION OF BIRD FAUNA
¾MIST NETTING - TOTAL 3,337 net days

Mixed Swamp Forest Sago Forest

826 net days 816 net days

Peat Swamp Forest Terminalia Forest

798 net days 897 net days
Mist Netting
Mist Netting in Sago and Terminalia Forest
Mist Netting in Mixed Swamp and Peat Swamp Forest
¾ TRANSECT WALK and DIRECT OBSERVATIONS
¾ Key Informant interviews with the local residents
to record socioeconomic importance, resource
utilization, and existing threats to the avifauna
¾ IDENTIFICATION AND PROCESSING OF BIRDS
Morphometric measurements
The collected birds were
identified using Kennedy, et al,
(2000), Robson (2000), Fisher
and Hicks (2000), Dickenson et.
al., (1991), and Du Pont (1971).
RESULTS
Data on birds recorded in Agusan Marsh
compared to the Philippine data.
AVIFAUNA PHILIPPINES AGUSAN MARSH

SPECIES 576+ 126 (22%)

ENDEMIC 195+ 31 (16%)

THREATENED 74 7(10%)
Migrants, endemic and non-endemic bird species
monitored monthly.
 Some of the non-endemic birds of Agusan Marsh

Halcyon smyrnensis Pitta erythrogaster Treron vernans Ixobrychus cinnamomeus

Pitta sordida Amaurornis phonicurus

Halcyon chloris Cyornis rufigastra

Gallirallus torquatos
Rhipidura javanica Cuculus fugax Chrysocolaptes lucidus

Lonchura leucogastra Lonchura mallaca Ixobrychus sinensis Rallina fasciata

Non-endemic birds of Agusan Marsh monitored monthly

Highest number
 Some of the migratory birds of Agusan Marsh

Gallinago megala Alcedo atthis Luscinea calliope Nycticorax nycticorax

Hirundo rustica Lanius cristatus Acrocephalus orientalis Accipiter gularis

Halcyon coromanda
Bubulcus ibis Egretta garzetta
Migratory birds of Agusan Marsh monitored monthly

Highest number
 Some of the endemic birds of Agusan Marsh

Alcedo argentata Batrachostomus septimus Centropus melanops Eurylaimus steeri

Centropus viridids Amaurornis olivaceus

Otus megalotis
Penelopides affinis

Hypsipetes philippinus Phapitreron leucotis

Loriculus philippensis Microhierax erythrogenys

Orthotomus nigriceps Macronous striaticeps Rhipidura superciliaris Bolbopsitacus lunulatus

Endemic birds of Agusan Marsh monitored monthly

Highest number

Lowest number
Total Number of Migrants, Endemics and Non-endemics
recorded in the four habitat types of Agusan Marsh.
Monthly variation of number of migratory, endemic and non-
endemic species in four habitat types of Agusan Marsh.

Least number of Highest

species
endemicity
richness

Highest number Highest

species number of
richness migrants
Noteworthy Observation:
Siberian Rubythroat (Luscinea calliope)
Socio-economic Importance, Resource Utilization by People in the
Area, Existing Threats and Conservation Status of the Avifauna
SPECIES NAME SOCIO-ECONOMIC EXISTING CONSERVATION STATUS OF LOCAL
IMPORTANCE THREATS STATUS (IUCN,2006) CONSERVATION

Ducula carola* Serve as food( Meat) Hunting Vulnerable

Bolbopsittacus lunulatus* Trading Pet-trading Least Concern Locally Threatened
Prioniturus discurus Trading Pet-trading Least Concern Locally Threatened
Loriculus philippensis Trading Pet-trading Least Concern Locally Threatened
Halcyon smyrnensis* Serve as food (Meat) Hunting Least Concern
Halcyon chloris* Serve as food (Meat) Hunting Least Concern
Halcyon coromanda* Serve as food (Meat) Hunting Least Concern
Mulleripicus fuliginusos* Insect control Hunting Least Concern
Chrysocolaptes lucidus* Insect control Hunting Least Concern
Ichthyophaga ichthyaetus Serve as food (Meat) Hunting Near Threatened
Haliaeetus leucogaster Serve as food (Meat) Hunting Least Concern
Spilornis cheela* Serve as food (Meat) Hunting Least Concern
Hieraaetus kienerii Serve as food (Meat) Hunting Least Concern
Spizaetus cirrhatus Serve as food (Meat) Hunting Least Concern
Gallus gallus Serve as food (Meat) Hunting Least Concern
Gallicrex cinerea* Serve as food (Meat) Hunting Least Concern
Gallirallus torquatus* Serve as food (Meat) Hunting Least Concern
Amaurornis phoenicurus* Serve as food (Meat) Hunting Least Concern
Amaurornis olivaceus* Serve as food (Meat) Hunting Least Concern
Porphyrio porphyrio* Serve as food / Fish bait Hunting Least Concern
Gallinula chloropus* Serve as food (Meat) Hunting Least Concern
Socio-economic Importance, Resource Utilization by People in the
Area, Existing Threats and Conservation Status of the Avifauna
SPECIES NAME SOCIO-ECONOMIC EXISTING CONSERVATION STATUS OF LOCAL
IMPORTANCE THREATS STATUS (IUCN, 2006) CONSERVATION

Ardea purpurea* Serve as food (Meat) Trapping Least Concern

Egretta garzetta* Medicinal value (Down feathers) Trapping Least Concern

Ardeola speciosa* Medicinal value (Down feathers) Least Concern

Bubulcus ibis* Medicinal value (Down feathers) Trapping Least Concern

Ixobrychus sinensis* Medicinal value (Down feathers) Trapping Least Concern

Ixobrychus cinnamomeus* Medicinal value (Down feathers) Trapping Least Concern

Dendrocygna arcuata Serve as food (Meat) Trapping Least Concern

Anas luzonica Serve as food (Meat) Trapping Vulnerable

Treron vernans* Serve as food (Meat) Hunting Least Concern

Treron pompadoura* Serve as food (Meat) Hunting Least Concern

Phapitreron leucotis* Serve as food (Meat) Hunting Least Concern Locally Threatened

Chalcophaps indica Serve as food (Meat) Hunting Least Concern Locally Threatened

Phapitreron amethystina Serve as food (Meat) Hunting Least Concern Locally Threatened

Ptilinopus melanospila Serve as food (Meat) Hunting Least Concern

Columba vitiensis Serve as food (Meat) Hunting Least Concern

Macropygia phasianella Serve as food (Meat) Hunting Least Concern Locally Threatened

Streptopelia chinensis Serve as food (Meat) Hunting Least Concern

Geopelia striata* Serve as food (Meat) Hunting Least Concern

Ducula aenea Serve as food (Meat) Hunting Least Concern

Threatened Bird Species of Agusan Marsh

Alcedo argentata Eurylaimus steeri

Ducula carola Anas luzonica

 Some of the Locally Threatened
Bird Species in Agusan Marsh

Bolbopsittacus lunulatus Loriculus philippensis Chalcophaps indica

Phapitreronj leucotis Penelopidis affinis Treron vernans

Birds of Agusan Marsh
No. of Species not on
Species this study list
Thorkild Michaelson 73 21
(May 23 – 28 , 1991)
Haribon Foundation 127 35
(February 1999)
Attila Bankovics, Emil Boros, 99 23
Ferenc Kis & Monica Kiss
August 2005 – January 2006 126

A total of 183 Bird Species was recorded in

Agusan Marsh
THREATS to the Birds of Agusan Marsh
Slash and Burn (KAINGIN)
 THREATS to the Birds of Agusan Marsh
Conversion of forest land to Agricultural land

Cutting of Trees Electro-Fishing Hunting Pet-trading

THREATS to the Birds of Agusan Marsh

Increasing population and coming in of local people in the marsh

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION
¾ A total of 126 bird species were recorded in
Agusan Marsh:
¾31 migrants
¾26 endemics
¾69 non-endemics

¾ Agusan Marsh supports a considerable number of

endemic, threatened, and migratory bird species.
Conservation of the different habitats in the marsh
especially the habitat types with more number of
endemic and migratory species is very necessary
for the retention of the broadest avifaunal diversity.
Monthly variation of number of endemic species in four habitat
types of Agusan Marsh.

ST
F O RE
A L IA
MI N
T E R
Monthly variation of number of non-endemic species in four habitat
types of Agusan Marsh.

ERN
A T T
T P
IN C
D IST
N O
Monthly variation of number of migratory species in four habitat
types of Agusan Marsh.

ST
RE
F O
M P
W A
T S
EA
P
RECOMMENDATIONS I
¾ More extensive surveys covering more sampling
sites as this could lead to a higher number of
species.
¾ Establish regular monitoring program to fully
document and monitor migratory birds.
¾ Conduct Information, Education and
Communication (IEC) activities to enhance people’s
awareness on the need to conserve the rich
avifauna in the marsh.
RECOMMENDATIONS II
¾ Formulation of conservation and management plan
involving local people and other stakeholders as
this can lead to more sustainability in the
conservation of the marsh.
Birds of Agusan Marsh
¾ ATBC-ASIA (March 2007) – Tamilnadu, India
¾ WCSP (April 2007) – Ateneo de Davao, Davao City
¾ PSSN (May 2007) – Palawan State University,
Puerto Princesa, Palawan
¾ Agusan Marsh Scientific Conference (NOW)
¾ Universiti Brunei Darussalam – Brunei
Darussalam (June 2007)
¾ NAST – Hotel Manila, Manila (July 2007)
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
¾ Provincial Government of Agusan del Sur through
Governor Adolph Edward G. Plaza
¾ PENRO-LGU of Agusan del Sur
¾ VSO Volunteer Mr. Ferenc Kis
¾ DENR CARAGA, PAWD for the Gratuitous Permit
¾ PASU of Agusan Marsh and PAMB Executive Committee
¾ Mr. Lloyd Amigo of San Francisco – MENRO
¾ Jesus “Datu Cabanbanan” Prochina
¾ Wencislao “Datu Kandibuko” Reyas
¾ Indigenous people of Agusan Marsh
¾ MSU-Iligan Institute of Technology, Iligan City
¾ Prof. Blas Tabaranza
Daghang Salamat