Birdwatching is an activity that young and old would enjoy. The youngest of our birdwatching delegation at Candaba was two.

Planning to go birdwatching? Here are some basic tips for first-time birdwatchers from the Wild Bird Club of the Philippines:

1. Wear clothes in colors that blend with the environment, such as green, dark brown, and gray. Don’t wear anything bright or you’ll stand out and scare the birds away.
2. Apply some sunscreen. Birdwatching usually goes on for hours so you want to make sure you’re protected. Wear light, long-sleeved clothes. Bring a hat as well.
3. Bring a notebook and a pen so you can take some notes on the species you’ll see and their description.
4. Go with seasoned birdwatchers who can share their knowledge with you. The Wildbird Club of the Philippines welcomes first-timers and nonmembers to some of its birdwatching trips.
5. Pack some snacks and some water in case you get hungry. Leave out the cracklings as you might scare the birds away.
6. Put on some insect repellant. Some birdwatching sites are swamplands, which might be infested with mosquitoes, so you need to protect yourself from being bitten.
7. Bring a field guide to help you identify the birds. Enthusiasts at the Wildbird Club of the Philippines are never without a laminated printout of the Robert Kennedy guide to birds.
8. Bring binoculars to help you see the birds up close.
9. By all means, bring a digital camera with you, but try to put out the flash when you shoot so you don’t frighten the birds away.
10. Don’t make any abrupt movement. Talk in hushed voices.

For outdoor and sports gear, the Recreational Outdoor Exchange at Bonifacio High Street offers a wide range of brands at all price points. The store also organizes birdwatching trips with the Wild Bird Club.

Photo credit: Shyla Reyes