UPDATE - Interesting finds in BK Valley

[Ramon Quisumbing]

Yesterday morning (March 3), I went up to the nest. As I quietly approached the nest, I saw the head of the mother sitting in the nest -- and it was not a White-Breasted Waterhen but a Plain Bush-Hen. I was not able to photograph the mother, since she left right away. I photographed the same 3 eggs which have not yet hatched. Five hours later, as we were going back down the mountain, we saw that the mother was back in the nest.



I will check the nest again next weekend.

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A local farmer sent word that he had found a nest with 3 eggs of a "Tikling" while preparing a field for planting, and that he stopped working in the area so as to not disturb it. This is a good result of our efforts to educate the locals on bird conservation (as well as our reward/ compensation scheme).

So, last Feb. 25, I immediately went up to the nest, which was beside the ATV trail at 3,000 feet above sea level. My caretaker saw a White-Breasted Waterhen walking near the nest as he approached. I am surprised to find a Waterhen up the mountain where there is no body of water nearby. The nest is located in a clump of long grasses and is about 2-1/2 feet off the ground. It is crudely made of long grass.





I will monitor and record the developments at the nest on a weekly basis.

Yesterday afternoon, we could hear Brush Cuckoos calling in front of my house. I captured this Brush Cuckoo sitting in the dark understorey. Note the gnat drinking its eye fluid.


Canon 1D Mark IV camera, Canon 800 mm lens, Canon 1.4x TC, tripod with half-gimbal. F/8, ISO-800, 1/125 sec.

[mantarey]

Great result of your protection and conservation efforts Ramon, it's obviously working. Big congrats.

Fantastic details on the Cuckoo and great exposure control too.

[Ramon Quisumbing]

Thanks, Rey. On the Brush Cuckoo, I had a lot of trouble shooting from the bright sunshine into the dark understorey. Of the 15-20 shots, only this one photo came out with good details. Luckily, the Brush Cuckoo hardly moves.

[Mark Itol]

It's great to hear that the people in your area have become more aware about birds. Your efforts are starting to pay off.

A very nice shot of the Brush Cuckoo, too.

[Lydia Robledo]

I remember Chris and Jason telling me that they used to eat the bird eggs raw when they find them in the fields. They would even climb a tree if they see a nest. Awareness is the first step in conservation! Good, good!

[Ramon Quisumbing]

Thanks, Mark and Lyd.

[Bob Kaufman]

Great shot of the Brush Cuckoo! Interesting observation on the gnat.

[Ramon Quisumbing]

Thanks, Bob.

[Neon Rosell II]

Good to hear that the mind set of the locals are changing for the good, Ramon. Great find and hopefully the bird doesn't abandon the nest. Looks like its going to lay another egg or two as we normally see 4-6 eggs in a clutch for this type of birds.

Great take on the Brush Cuckoo!

[Ramon Quisumbing]

Thanks, Neon. More eggs would be better.

[Ely Teehankee]

It is nice to see that you were able to get a clear shot of the Brush Cuckoo in spite of the difficult condition. Your set up is certainly paying off. Your incentive bonus for the people of BK is beginning to bear fruit. The sighting of these eggs and the anticipated hatching will certainly be interesting to follow. I hope you will be able to take pictures when they become hatchlings. Well done Ramon & Mabuhay.

[Tirso Paris]

Nice pic of the Brush Cuckoo! I also notice the gnat below the eye.

[Ramon Quisumbing]

Thanks, Ely and Tirso.

[Juan Manuel C. Del Prado]

It must have been the P1000 incentive that a BKV farmer lost for eating an egg of an owl (?), and the mother owl never going back to its nest on the ground. Quite an expensive egg!!

[Juan Manuel C. Del Prado]

On March 3, 2012, as Dion Pulan and I were at the view deck of Ramon at BK Valley, we heard, almost above us, chirping of 2-3 White-eyes, according to Dion. I tried to look for it with binoculars, but, being camouflaged in the foliage, couldn't locate the nest.