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PH012
Buguey wetlands
Location Philippines, Region II
Central coordinates 121o 50.00' East  18o 17.00' North
IBA criteria A1, A4i
Area 14,400 ha
Altitude
Year of IBA assessment 2001

Haribon Foundation



Ornithological information Buguey Wetlands are an important staging and wintering area for migratory waterfowl, notably ducks and shorebirds. Some 3,000 5,000 ducks have been recorded in November, mostly Tree-ducks Dendrocygna sp and the threatened Philippine Duck. Up to 3,000 other waterfowl have been observed, and more than 1,000 shorebirds are regularly recorded there during AWC counts.

Site description Buguey Wetlands are on the north coast of Luzon, east of the mouth of the Cagayan River, and cover c.80% of Buguey Municipality. They are a complex of coastal lagoons, freshwater marshes, brackish and saline marshes, mangrove swamps and intertidal mudflats, with some fish ponds and shrimp ponds and a very large area of rice paddies. The wetland is an important area for rice and fisheries production.

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species Season Period Population estimate Quality of estimate IBA Criteria IUCN Category
Philippine Duck Anas luzonica -  2001  present [units unknown]  -  A1, A4i  Vulnerable 
Schrenck's Bittern Ixobrychus eurhythmus winter  2001  present [units unknown]  -  A4i  Least Concern 
Great Egret Casmerodius albus unknown  2001  present [units unknown]  -  A4i  Least Concern 
Intermediate Egret Mesophoyx intermedia unknown  2001  present [units unknown]  -  A4i  Least Concern 
Philippine Hawk-eagle Nisaetus philippensis -  2001  present [units unknown]  -  A1  Vulnerable 
Little Tern Sterna albifrons unknown  2001  present [units unknown]  -  A4i  Least Concern 

Habitats

IUCN habitat Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Wetlands (inland)   major
Artificial landscapes (terrestrial)   major

Management considerations The Buguey Wetlands are threatened by further conversion of mangroves and marsh to other uses. The extent of the mangroves has been greatly reduced by the creation of shrimp and fishponds, and this destruction continues. Waterfowl hunting, although illegal, is widespread, and there is extensive use of pesticides by the rice farmers. Ducks and egrets frequently feed in the rice paddies, and there have been incidents of birds dying from poisoning.

Protection status Not officially protected.

References References: Custodio (1996); Davies et al. (1990); Scott (1989).

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Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Buguey wetlands. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 20/05/2013

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