Wild BirdERS of the Philippines...

[tina mallari]

Very important note: These 2 birds are not wild birds OF the Philippines but since they are escapees and have been on their own, free to fly where they want to go - they are WILD birds IN the Philippines.

Tonji, Sylvia and I were at their home making kwento as usual.
The eclectic parrot that Tonji saw suddenly became one of our topics and he mentioned na light was really bad in that area of our village. Then this BRIGHT idea came to mind... since it's raining and the sky isn't too bright, maybe we can try to take photos of the bird while using an umbrella ;D And so began the crazy adventure under the rain of the 3 "bird addicts" of alabang ;D

I was praying hard that nobody would recognize me coz here I was walking on the road wearing a hat, black rain boots, long pants, long sleeves and carrying a camera covered with a raincoat sleeve in my hand and then going into an empty lot with plenty of trees and talahib approaching two other people who had a tripod with them, a camera and an umbrella while trying to take pictures of this bird which is almost impossible to see if you're on the road since it's pretty far from that location (1st photo).



Then finally, the eclectic parrot decided to transfer to a better place ...



which had an umbrella cockatoo hanging around



complete gallery HERE

note: EXIF to follow

[ppaaoolloo]

Tina did you by chance protect your gear in at least garbage bags from the rain? We've been having rather funky weather of late. You finally caught the cockatoo I saw last month.

[Toto Gamboa]

Parrot Conversation



White Parrot: uy .. pareng maberde, bakit ka dito dumapo at para kang takot na takot?
Green Parrot: parent maputi, meron kaseng tatlong weirdo na ang kukulit. alam naman na nilang umuulan eh gusto akong kuhanan ng mugshot



White Parrot: ganun ba? nasan sila?
Green Parrot: ayun na o papalapit na, nakapayong pa
White Parrot: a sila ba ... kilala ko yan. yung naka hat, black rain boots, long pants, long sleeves and carrying a camera covered with a raincoat sleeve eh si birdnut csmallari yan. Ayan o kukunan tayo ng picture, tingin tayo and smile ....

;D

[tina mallari]

Paolo: I covered my camera with a raincoat sleeve that I cut off from the rest of the raincoat. All shots were hand held kasi I decided not to bring down my tripod for fear of it getting soaked in the rain.

Sila Sylvia were using an umbrella

Toto: That is soooooooooo FUNNY !!!!!

[Neon Rosell II]

Wow!! Nice captures of these escapes!! The green parrot is a male Eclectus, females are red in color...The Cockatoo and the eclectus both are something like P20k each maybe more at prevailing market price . I still like them in the cage or back in their native Indonesia.

[Bob Kaufman]

Fantastic captures of these two exotics, Tins! Sana you posted here the one of the Eclectus na nakadipa (wings spread).
Really, neither rain, nor sleet can stop a bird nut from taking a photo, no? ;D

[tina mallari]

Thank you Neon and Bob

Neon: just to make sure that people don't make a mistake of thinking na these are wild birds of the Philippines - I edited my post and put in the important note notice. These birds have been in the village for a long time and the "local" birds seem to have adjusted to having them around. While we were taking photos of them, 2 white collared kingfishers perched on the same tree and also a yellow vented bulbul or a brown shrike & a eurasian tree sparrow. Sayang nga coz I didn't take a picture with all of them in one tree.

Bob: I wanted to post that photo here but it didn't go well with my story - HehEhehEhehe

[Teddy Regpala]

Wild Birdnuts indeed.
Great story Tins.

If only the birds have cameras, they would have taken your pics too!

[Neon Rosell II]

Yeah!! I just went in your gallery and I agree with Bob, this photo was worth a front page space!! ;D

[Neon Rosell II]

Apr 23, 2009 20:21:46 GMT tina mallari said:

Thank you Neon and Bob

Neon: just to make sure that people don't make a mistake of thinking na these are wild birds of the Philippines - I edited my post and put in the important note notice. These birds have been in the village for a long time and the "local" birds seem to have adjusted to having them around. While we were taking photos of them, 2 white collared kingfishers perched on the same tree and also a yellow vented bulbul or a brown shrike & a eurasian tree sparrow. Sayang nga coz I didn't take a picture with all of them in one tree.

Yes, they are there a long time already and I guess just a few birds won't hurt. The birds you mention will live happily together as they thrive and occupy different levels of the ecosystem. Now whose part in the ecosystem would these exotics claim? Do you see the equivalent native species happily mingling with them? ;D I guess you won't, because the native species have been decimated a long time already for one reason or another. What I want to see are the blue naped and rocket-tails. If these species with similar needs as the locals can thrive, why not the local species if reintroduced there. Still subject to a long debated study but for now photographing anything that moves will help documentation and future actions.

I'm just thinking in the worst case scenario and try to explain my position.

[tina mallari]

I know what you're saying Neon - talagang talaga po kuya ;D

You wouldn't believe it but here in our village the rose ringed parakeets, blue naped parrot and the plum headed parakeet can be seen in one group happily terrorizing the other birds ;D OOooops happily eating the flowers of the "i don't know what you call it tree".

I've seen green racquet tails in the village too (male & female mating on a tree ) Yun nga lang that was way back in 2007 and haven't seen them again.

Anywayyyyy after saying all that - ako dinnnnn, would really rather see the native species here BUT I still get super thrilled in seeing the exotics that have escaped their cages ;D ;D

[Edu Lorenzo Jr]

kaya pala Idol ang tawag kay csmallari..

Ang gaganda ng kuha! Congrats po!

[mantarey]

Great set Idol Tins, not even the rains can dampen your enthusiasm, hard core talaga.

[Agerico M. De Villa]

Nuts truly!

[Mark Itol]

Nice captures, idol Tins. Wild birdnuts, indeed.

[Evanjohnn Mendoza]

Im not sure if you are guys are familiar with free flight, but for some Aviculturists and bird trainers, (only a select Few gifted), they raise their birds in free flight. Meaning they set their birds free and they are allowed to fly around freely but come back home when it starts to get dark.

(oh how I envy them)

Here's an example of Freeflighted birds:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtDkoa06b3w

[Tonji Ramos]

Tina so we don't seem too one dimensional you should mention that we stopped taking pictures because we were going to watch American Idol. Haha.

[Romy Ocon]

Lol.... fine captures in the rain, you folks are worthy birdnuts!

[tina mallari]

Thanks guys !!!

Pssssst Tonj, you are not supposed to tell people that we drop everything and head for home in a flash just to watch american idol !!! LOL - buking na tayong tatlo na american idol addicts din tayo

[Farmer Nestor]

Looks like we have our next "Supreme Birdnuts" in the making ;D ;D Voted!