Birders Flock to Sarangani Town as Thousands of Migratory Raptors Arrive
Against the blue sky above Barangay Rio del Pilar in Glan, Sarangani, thousands of raptors drifted southward last week, marking the peak of the autumn migration season that draws birdwatchers and conservationists to Sarangani’s coastal hills each year.
The annual spectacle is part of the East Asian–Australasian Flyway, one of the world’s major bird migration routes spanning 22 countries. It links breeding grounds in northern Asia, including Russia, Alaska, Japan, and Taiwan, to wintering areas in Southeast Asia, Indonesia, Australia, and New Zealand. Sarangani’s coastal hills provide crucial resting and feeding spots for these migratory raptors before they continue their journey south.
As of October 2, around 5,000 migratory raptors had been recorded by the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) at Raptor Hill in Glan. The Sarangani Provincial Information Office (PIO) noted that the raptors primarily originate from Japan and Taiwan, passing through Pagudpud in Ilocos Norte, parts of the Visayas, and Cape San Agustin in Davao Oriental before reaching Sarangani.
Since 2014, the Raptorwatch Network Philippines, Inc. has partnered with the Environmental Conservation and Protection Center to monitor raptors in Glan, recording species numbers, roosting sites, and migration schedules. This long-term data helped shape Municipal Ordinance No. 22-005, declaring September and October as Langyaw Langgam Festival months to celebrate the birds’ arrival and raise awareness of their ecological importance.
During this year’s festival, the Japanese Society for the Preservation of Birds donated binoculars and a spotting scope to PENRO to support field observations. As the raptors continue their journey to Indonesia, the skies above Raptor Hill highlight the enduring commitment of the community that has protected these migratory visitors for over a decade. (Guia A. Rebollido/MindaNews)
