EXPLORE THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS
BIRD AND WILDLIFE
PHOTOGRAPHY EXPEDITIONS
BY BIRD FINDER PHILIPPINES – BIRDS IN FOCUS, INC.
WELCOME TO THE PHILIPPINES
The Philippines is considered a biodiverse country, home to abundant flora and fauna. With 735 species of birds, 354 species of reptiles, 235 species of mammals, and 116 species of amphibians, the Philippines truly has exceptional biodiversity.
Bird Finder Philippines actively supports conservation efforts and sustainable tourism practices to preserve these valuable ecosystems for future generations.
WHO WE ARE
Bird Finder Philippines, under Birds In Focus, Inc., specializes in exceptional birding and bird photography expeditions in the Philippines. We offer organized guided bird photography and birdwatching tours that focus on exploring and capturing the country’s diverse endemic bird species.
Our tours are designed to provide comfort, relaxation, and ample opportunities to observe and photograph stunning endemic birds in their natural habitat. With well-planned itineraries and limited group sizes, we ensure personalized attention and ample space for observation and photography.
OUR TOUR PACKAGE
Our regular birding tour will cover some of the most established birding sites in the islands of Luzon, Palawan, and Mindanao. Participants can also avail the Visayas extension tour where we will take you to the island of Negros to see some of the most elusive species of the Philippines. Additionally, customized and personalized birding tour packages are welcome.
Bird Finder Philippines have knowledgeable guides who are passionate birders and have extensive knowledge of local bird species, their behavior, and their habitats. They help guests recognize and understand each bird species’ characteristics and ecological significance.
TOUR ITINERARIES
Clockwise from top left: Northern Rufous Hornbill*, Green Racket-tail*, Philippine Duck**, Whiskered Pitta** and Northern Indigo-banded Kingfisher* (© Bird Finder Philippines by *Vinz Pascua and **Alain Pascua)
LUZON BIRDING TOUR
(7 DAYS + 2)
Itinerary:
Day 0: Manila (Inbound)
Day 1-2: Baguio City, Benguet
Day 3-4: Subic Bay Forest Reserve
Day 5: Candaba Swamp or Canarem Lake
Day 6: Southern Sierra Madre
Day 7: Angono Petroglyphs
Day 8: Manila (Outbound)
USD $1,999
Per Person, Group of 5
Additional $400 for single room occupancy
Clockwise from top left: Philippine Eagle*, Apo Myna*, Writhed Hornbill*, Mindanao Wattled Broadbill**, and South Philippine Dwarf-kingfisher** (© Bird Finder Philippines by *Alain Pascua and **Vinz Pascua)
MINDANAO BIRDING TOUR
(7 DAYS + 2)
Itinerary:
Day 0: Cagayan De Oro (Inbound)
Day 1-4: Mount Kitanglad
Day 5-6: Bislig Lowland Forest
Day 7: Mount Talomo & Philippine Eagle Center
Day 8: Davao (Outbound)
USD $2,299
Per Person, Group of 6
Additional $200 for single room occupancy
USD $2,999
Per Person, Group of 2
Additional $200 for single room occupancy
Clockwise from top left: Palawan Peacock-pheasant, Philippine Cockatoo, Falcated Wren-babbler, Palawan Hornbill, and Blue-headed Racket-tail (© Bird Finder Philippines by Vinz Pascua)
PALAWAN BIRDING TOUR
(5 DAYS + 2)
Itinerary:
Day 0: Puerto Princesa (Inbound)
Day 1: Badjao Seafront & Wildlife Rescue Center
Day 2-3: Irawan Watershed
Day 4: Bahile Lowland Forest
Day 5: Napsan Road
Day 6: Puerto Princesa (Outbound)
USD $2,499
Per Person, Group of 5
Additional $400 for single room occupancy
Clockwise from top left: Flame-templed Babbler*, Maroon-naped Sunbird**, Magnificent Sunbird**, Southern Indigo-banded Kingfisher**, and Black-belted Flowerpecker** (© Bird Finder Philippines by *Alain Pascua and **Vinz Pascua)
NEGROS BIRDING TOUR
(5 DAYS + 2)
Itinerary:
Day 0: Bacolod, Negros Occ. (Inbound)
Day 1: Gawahon Eco Park, Negros Occ.
Day 2: NFEFI, Negros Occ.
Day 3: EDC Forest Reserve, Negros Or.
Day 4-5: Balinsasayao Twin Lakes, Negros Or.
Day 6: Dumaguete, Negros Or. (Outbound)
USD $1,599
Per Person, Group of 5
Additional $200 for single room occupancy
Inclusions
- Airport transfers to hotel and all land transportation on the tour.
- Domestic airfare
- All overnight accommodations in twin-sharing rooms.
- All meals, starting with dinner on the day of arrival and ending with lunch on the day of departure.
- All entrance fees and permits for birding sites.
- Services of the local guides and drivers.
- Complimentary bottled water for the entire duration of the tour.
Exclusions
- International airfare to and from the Philippines.
- Any additional nights of accommodation outside of the specified tour dates.
- Meals before dinner before the first day of the tour and after lunch on the following day of the tour.
- Tips for tour staff, including guides and drivers.
- Passport, visa, vaccination and insurance fees.
- Alcoholic beverage expenses and cash bills.
- Personal expenses such as laundry, phone calls and other personal items.
- Hospitalization and evacuation expenses, if necessary.
PROFILE OF BIRD FINDERS
Meet our Bird Finders who will be the Lead Guides for the Expedition
DJOP TABARANZA
Djop is a bird guide with Haring Ibon – Bird Finder. His fascination with wildlife started at a very early age joining his parents who are both biologists during their fieldwork. This led to a career as a wildlife biologist with over 20 years of fieldwork experience throughout the country.
As an avid wildlife photographer his bird and wildlife images have been featured in both scientific and popular media publications. He is one of the founding members of the Wild Bird Photographers of the Philippines.
BENJAMIN MAPUTI JR.
Ben was born and raised in Bukidnon on the slopes of Mt. Kitanglad. His closeness to nature lead him to conserve hectares of his family’s private land into the “Maputi Bird Preserve”. Ben is a philosopher, visionary and an ecotourism specialist which led to his engagement in various planning and development projects in the Mt. Kitanglad Range ASEAN Heritage Park.
He is a multi-adventure sports guide and photographer but his favorite is bird guiding and photography. He was blessed by the tribal elders of Bukidnon and given the title of Datu Taytayan which means Tribal Chief Guide.
LOEL LAMELA
Loel was exposed and grew up with photography due to his uncle who lived next door with a studio and dark room. He continued this passion alongside a professional career, winning photo contests and conducting photography workshops later on. He pursued and has been enjoying travel and wildlife photography after retiring as a marketing executive from Petron Corporation more than a decade ago.
He is a founding member of the Petron Camera Club, a member of FUNtastic Philippines, and an active member of the Wild Bird Photographers of the Philippines.
CHRISTIAN BENAVIDEZ
Christian is a professional photographer and videographer from the province of Rizal. He started covering events both photos, videos, and as drone operator for the Department of Education. His passion for birding began when he met members of the Wild Bird Photographers of the Philippines.
Since then, he has won two consecutive bird races: the 2022 WBPP Infanta-Real Quezon Bird Race and the 2023 Puerto Princesa Underground River International Bird Photography Race
LOVE PHILIPPINE BIRDS
Description of Artwork by Vinz Pascua
“Love Philippine Birds” is a digital artwork that showcases 32 endemic Philippine birds. These are rendered through the vibrant palette and iconographic style of the Department of Tourism’s “Love The Philippines” campaign. From the emblematic Philippine Eagle to the beautiful Palawan Peacock-pheasant, “Love Philippine Birds” was created with the objective of spreading public awareness of our Philippine avian treasures.
The Philippines is home to 725 different bird species, with 258 of them being endemic to the country. Among the 258 endemic birds, 32 were selected to be drawn and featured in “Love Philippine Birds”. All biogeographic regions of the country are represented by these featured birds.
Bird watchers and bird photographers from all around the world travel to the Philippines to catch a glimpse of our avian treasures. While we have a vast collection of birds, most of them remain unknown to the public, many of them endangered. What better way to promote avian tourism, wildlife conservation, and greater public awareness of our birds than to showcase them in this modern and iconic art style.
Featured Endemic Birds:
First Row: Mindoro Bleeding-heart, North Philippine Dwarf-kingfisher, Magnificent Sunbird, Southern Rufous Hornbill, Whiskered Pitta, Flame-templed Babbler, Flame-breasted Fruit-dove
Second Row: Falcated Wren-babbler, Red-headed Flameback, Rufous Paradise-flycatcher, Philippine Eagle, Rufous-headed Hornbill, Philippine Trogon, Palawan Flycatcher
Third Row: Yellow-breasted Fruit-dove, Philippine Hanging-parrot, Philippine Leafbird, Green Racket-tail, Blue-naped Parrot, Blue-headed Racket-tail, Blue-capped Kingfisher
Fourth Row: Northern Indigo-banded Kingfisher, Azure-breasted Pitta, Celestial Monarch, Palawan Peacock-pheasant, Apo Myna, Sulu Hornbill, Visayan Wattled Broadbill
Birds in the LOVE graphic that are not represented in the tiles, from left to right:
Isabela Oriole (O), Philippine Cockatoo (V), Amethyst Brown-dove (E), Philippine Eagle-owl (E)
RECOMMENDATIONS
CLIMATE AND CLOTHING
The Philippines boasts a tropical climate, characterized by warmth and high humidity, often accompanied by varying intensities of rainfall. To make the most of your trip, consider the following clothing and accessories:
- A lightweight waterproof jacket, poncho, or umbrella
- Long-sleeved birding shirts in earthy tones (avoid military camouflage)
- Hiking pants for comfort and flexibility
- Waterproof hiking boots or high-cut shoes
- A brimmed hat to shield from the sun
- Sunglasses to protect your eyes
- Sunblock and insect repellent to stay comfortable outdoors.
PHOTOGRAPHY GEAR
Elevate your photographic journey in the Philippines by selecting the right gear for every occasion. Here’s what you should bring:
- A digital camera, whether it's a DSLR or mirrorless
- A fast fixed or telephoto lens, with 300mm or longer for ideal shots
- A wide-angle lens, in the range of 16-35mm for versatile captures
- A sturdy tripod for stable shots
- An extra camera body for backup
- Additional batteries and memory cards to keep shooting
- Rain covers for your photography equipment
- A weatherproof backpack to protect and transport your gear safely.
Birding Mindanao in 12 days
by Alain Pascua
Inspired by stories of fellow bird photographers who have birded and photographed birds around the world in countries such as Columbia, Costa Rica, Thailand, and Vietnam, a group of Filipino bird photographers have banded together to develop and offer bird photography tours in the Philippines for foreign bird photographers and birders.
Most foreign bird photographers that have birded in the Philippines almost always complain of the difficulty of photographing birds in the country because, on top of the challenges in getting to the sites, which usually involve hiking for hours on rugged terrain, the birds are also very shy, a behavior they have developed because of hunting. Birds in other countries are more friendly, and many establishments have set up bird feeding stations and bird hides to capture quality frames.
To validate once again the status of birding sites and the degree of difficulty in photographing Philippine endemic birds, four members of Haring Ibon and Bird Finder Philippines – Alain Pascua, Djop Tabaranza, Ben Maputi, and Vinz Pascua – embarked on a 12-day bird photography tour around Mindanao.
