Manila: Metro Manila's wetlands and coastal habitats remain ecologically significant, as the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-National Capital Region (DENR-NCR) shows rising migratory bird activity and strong biodiversity indicators across key sites. In a Facebook post on Tuesday, DENR-NCR said its Conservation and Development Division (CDD) recorded over 3,800 individual birds from multiple species across seven locations in the capital region.

According to Philippines News Agency, included in the bird monitoring is the Las Pi±as-Para±aque Wetland Park (LPPWP), Tanza Marine Tree Park (TMTP) in Navotas, the Baywalk Dolomite Beach and Baseco in Manila, Barangay Malanday and Tagalag in Valenzuela, the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) Complex, and the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). The LPPWP recorded the highest number of individual birds, while TMTP posted the highest species diversity, with 36 species logged, according to DENR-NCR.

The report highlighted the presence of 564 Whiskered Terns and 458 Siberian/Tibetan Sandplovers, underscoring the site's critical importance as a stopover point along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway. CDD personnel, alongside City Environment and Natural Resources Offices, the Metropolitan Environmental Office, and the Airport Ground Operations and Safety Division of the Manila International Airport Authority, conducted the monitoring.

DENR-NCR earlier stated that migratory birds from regions such as Siberia, China, Korea, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand prefer the wetland areas in Luzon for nesting, feeding, and breeding while escaping the cold season from their country of origin. Officials noted that these sightings reaffirm that even in a highly urbanized region, wetlands, mangroves, estuaries, and coastal zones continue to serve as essential sanctuaries for both resident and migratory bird species.

The agency further emphasized the need to protect these areas from degradation, reclamation pressures, and pollution due to the increasing presence of migratory birds. Continuous monitoring of the population and movements of wildlife species serves as the foundation for developing evidence-based policies and program interventions for biodiversity conservation and sustainable urban development amidst rapid urbanization.