Hijo Resort’s Forest Tour showcases Natural Aviary and Wildlife Refuge

If there is one reason why I kept coming back to Hijo Plantation Resort in Tagum City is because of the diversity of its flora and fauna being maintained as an added attraction and option tour site to its visitors and tourists. This 760-hectare area is a thriving ecotourism destination in region XI with a mix of practically everything that an ecosystem has like beachfront, underwater environment, mangrove park, banana and coconut plantation, ancestral houses, lagoon and a forest reservation which is obviously my favourite part of the resort.

My 4^th and latest visit to Hijo was June 30 this year, an affirmative reply to an invitation by good friend and colleague in the Big Year group Jong. We have been birding here occasionally and the latest session was another good experience. Jong always deserves a gratitude for being a very generous and warm host, serving a good breakfast after every birding. This visit also saw familiar names in Davao birding like John Paul, Alden, Pete and newcomer Michael.

Pete’s report had us settled to 35 species of resident and endemic birds in the Philippines. The Hooded Pitta was tame this time unlike the previous sessions where we could hardly take pictures. The Rufuos-crowned Bee-eaters were nowhere in site, perhaps shifting to other locations. The brown-tit Babblers were as usual very responsive, joining us in flock after just about one or two calls made by Pete. Guiaberos were also a welcoming site in the coconut farm together with Barred Rails and some loud calls of Philippine Magpie Robins, Collared Kingfisher and White-breasted Water Hen. Jong added a short stretch of the forest trail before reaching the canopy walk site where we spotted Purple-throated Sunbirds.

Rufous-crowned Bee-eater

Brown-tit Babbler

Collared Kingfisher

Hooded Pitta

Purple-throated Sunbird

Guaibero

Philippine Magpie Robin

White-eared Brown Dove

And then the sudden appearance of the elusive Amethyst Brown Dove stucked us all in awe after just hearing its gigantic calls all over the forest. In a distant location the Amethyst Brown Dove stayed long enough probably because of a breakfast treat it had of a yellow plant as its buffet area. While everybody enjoyed a trek through the hanging bridge I saw a male Pink-necked Green Pigeon perched in a bald tree branch opposite the forest stream.

Amethyst Brown Dove

Pink-necked Green Pigeon

The 60-hectare forest in Hijo, with its huge endemic trees and other plants flourishing like the popular Anahaw and variety of trees like Tangili and Dao among others, also serves as dwelling place of the Philippine Long-tailed Macaque and Philippine Warty Pig. So strange for these species to be serving as receptionist every time a visitor goes around taking the forest tour. The interdependence among wildlife in Hijo Resort is impressive, building an educational dwelling for guests who are inclined of learning ecological value.

Philippine Warty Pig

Philippine Long-tailed Macaque

Rattan

It was definitely a good session with the Big Year group. This series of birding for us has been keeping us close to nature, as well as giving us more time to bond. Thank you Jong for the nice accommodation.