During the 3rd Central Luzon Sustainable Tourism Summit, participants registered for a short birding tour through the pristine rainforests of Subic Bay.

This brief and quick afternoon tour, led by Djop Tabaranza, Christian Benvidez, and Vinz Pascua, recorded 17 species in under an hour, covering a distance of less than a kilometer. Assisting them across our trup are our official optical partner, Optisan Optics, with the incredible Spotting Scope PL ED 15-60X80.

A couple of our highlights include numerous Oriental Dollarbirds, Philippine Falconets, White-bellied Woodpeckers, and Luzon Flamebacks. Our top species include the Blue-naped Parrot and the Green Imperial Pigeon, which we saw flying by in flocks across the trails, with individuals perched on nearby trees.

Despite the short time limit, the tour was a success, with numerous species observed in good light, allowing our first-time birding participants to garner 17 lifers in just an hour!

Short trips like these are a testament to the potential of birding as a facet of sustainable tourism in a site as rich as Subic Bay. We would like to thank the SBMA Tourism Office and the Department of Tourism - Region 3 for once again giving us the opportunity to showcase the wonderful natural world of Subic Bay to our fellow Filipinos!