Some bird species on W. Mindanao mountain endangered
By Rudy A. Fernandez
The Philippine Star 09/20/2004

LOS BAÑOS, Laguna — Some bird species on Mt. Malindang in Western Mindanao are now endangered. Others are either vulnerable or threatened.

Under the 1980 International Union for the Conservation of Nature Red Data Book Guide, flora and fauna species fall under three categories — immediately endangered (Category A), potentially threatened and vulnerable (Category B), and rare (Category C).

A study by the Central Mindanao University (CMU) in Musuan, Bukidnon, and the Los Baños-based Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), found 90 bird species belonging to 14 orders and 36 families on Mt. Malindang, the highest mountain in the Zamboanga Peninsula.

The Malindang range is part of a national park, whose boundaries define the important bird areas. Several threatened and restricted birds have reportedly been found on the still lush mountain.

Of the 90 bird species found on Mt. Malindang, 39 are endemic to the Philippines, 25 of them peculiar only to Mindanao.

The CMU and SEARCA researchers presented their findings to a panel of evaluators, which included representatives of the Los Baños-based Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD).

As reported by PCARRD’s Dr. Leila America, the endangered bird species among those endemic to Mindanao are the giant scops owl (Mimizuki gumeyi) and the silvery kingfisher (Alcedo argenata).

There are three vulnerable species, namely the Mindanao scops owl (Otus mirus), blue-capped kingfisher (Actenoide hombroni) and McGregor’s cuckoo-shrike (Coracina mcgregori).

Four species are found near-threatened, namely the mountain shrike (Lanius validirostris), Apo sunbird (Aethopyga boltoni), olive-capped flowerpecke (Dicaeum nigrilore), and the black and cinnamon fantail (Rhipidura nigrocinna—momea).

The rest of the bird species are of "stable conservation status," the researchers said.

They said it is still too early to come up with conclusive findings on the avifaunal status of Mt. Malindang. But they warned that threats to the birds’ habitat would endanger their survival.