Birdwatching in Candaba: a practical guide

The Candaba wetlands are a complex of freshwater ponds, swamps and marshes on the East Asian-Australasian Flyway. They are also a working landscape: much of the land is privately owned farmland and fishponds.

When to go

• November to February, when migratory birds are present.
• Early morning, around 5am to 7am, or late afternoon.
• Avoid September and October, when the sanctuary area is usually flooded.

Before you set out

• Ask the municipal government for a meeting point and permission to enter, and whether a local guide is available. In February 2018, fourteen locals completed a birdwatching-guide course run by the Society for the Conservation of Philippine Wetlands and the Department of Tourism.
• Confirm fees, route conditions, toilets and shade.

What to bring

Binoculars or a scope, hiking shoes, water, sun protection, a notebook and a bag for your rubbish.

How to behave

Keep voices low, do not chase birds for photographs and stay off farm plots. Remember that sightings change: a 2015 report described ponds being turned into rice fields. A good visit is about patient watching, not a species count.

See Birdwatching in the Candaba Swamp.