http://www.floydpisonbermejo.com/

Nature Priority by Floyd P Bermejo, Santa Rosa (2026)

29/07/2026

Yesterday was World Nature Conservation Day..🏞🌿

Observed every July 28 to remind us of our shared responsibility to protect our natural resources, combat climate change, and preserve the rich biodiversity that sustains life on Earth..

Today, I'm sharing one of my favourite Philippine endemic birds, the Flame-templed Babbler (Dasycrotapha speciosa)..
Sadly, this beautiful little bird is now Endangered, primarily because of habitat loss caused by deforestation, illegal logging, and land conversion..🪵🏭🏗

Despite its striking colours and unique facial markings, the Flame-templed Babbler is surprisingly tiny.. 🐦
Swipe to the next photo to see the original, unedited image with a large leaf beside it for scale.. That comparison shows just how small it really is!
Its size, combined with its secretive and skittish behaviour, makes it one of the more challenging birds to find and photograph..📸

The Philippines is one of the world's biodiversity hotspots, yet we continue to lose the forests that sustain our unique wildlife..
I sincerely hope our government will strengthen the protection of our remaining natural forests, enforce environmental laws more effectively, and invest more in conservation and sustainable ecotourism.. These are investments that benefit not only wildlife, but also local communities and future generations..

As someone who loves aviation and technology, I also hope we carefully consider our national priorities..
I'd rather see greater investment in protecting our forests and biodiversity than spending billions on space rockets while the natural treasures that make our country truly unique continue to disappear..

Protecting nature is not an expense, but an investment in our future.. 🌏

The greatest legacy we can leave the next generation isn't a rocket in the sky, but thriving forests filled with the wildlife that has called them home for thousands of years.. 🌿🇵🇭

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25/07/2026

"Have You Ever Seen This Odd-Looking Bird?"
A Dream Bird That Took Me Six Years to Photograph..🥄🦢

The Black-faced Spoonbill (Platalea minor) has always been one of my dream birds..
With its unmistakable spoon-shaped bill and elegant white plumage, it's a species that every bird photographer hopes to encounter at least once..📸

They can be seen regularly in Batanes during migration, but with my work as an airline pilot, finding the right schedule to travel that far has never been easy..🛫

Then came late 2020, at the height of the pandemic..
A lone Black-faced Spoonbill appeared in Navotas, just about an hour from home!!!
I really wanted to go, but there were no vaccines yet..
We were flying almost every day, bringing stranded passengers home and transporting medical supplies.. Every flight carried the fear of bringing the virus back to my family, so going out just for birding felt like a risk I shouldn't take..
..Until my friends started posting very detailed photos of the bird! 😂

I finally convinced myself.. "It's outdoors anyway!" 😁
I even asked my friend about the size of the boat so I could estimate how far I'd be sitting from the boatman! 🤣
But just as I had made up my mind, the spoonbill had already continued its migration..😔

Then in 2025, history was made when around 100 Black-faced Spoonbills, the largest flock ever recorded in the Philippines, was discovered by my friend, Jonet..
Sadly, they were feeding in an area that had become inaccessible because of ongoing airport development, so once again, I missed my chance..

Fast forward to 2026..
My friends reported not just one, but hundreds of Black-faced Spoonbills feeding on the salt pans of Bulacan.. This had to be it!

On my day off, my friends and I met at a small fishing port and took a boat to the site..
As we arrived, we were welcomed by an incredible gathering of migratory shorebirds, including the spoonbills.. One even flew close to us, but we weren't ready yet, so I only managed a documentary shot..
Even though they stayed far away while feeding, I was simply grateful to finally see my dream bird in the wild..

A week later, I returned with friends..
This time, luck was on our side.. We quietly sat on a grassy bank as the spoonbills slowly fed closer and closer, completely ignoring our presence..
The only rule was simple: don't stand up..
The moment anyone did, the flock would take flight..

After years of waiting, missed opportunities, and near misses, I finally came home with the photographs I had dreamed of..

The Black-faced Spoonbill is listed as Endangered, with only a few thousand individuals remaining in the wild.. Every migration season, birds like these depend on the remaining wetlands and mudflats of Manila Bay to rest and refuel before continuing their incredible journeys across Asia..

These mudflats are far more than empty stretches of mud.. They are life-saving feeding grounds for countless migratory birds.. Once they're reclaimed or destroyed, these travellers lose one of the vital stopovers that has sustained them for generations..

I hope we continue to protect what remains of Manila Bay's wetlands, because if we lose these habitats, we won't just lose a place... we'll lose the remarkable wildlife that depends on them..

Let's do our share to protect and save our remaining forests and wetlands..

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17/07/2026

"A Flight Worth Saving"

The Luzon Hornbill (Penelopides manillae) glides effortlessly through the forest canopy, carrying with it far more than its striking beauty..
As one of the Philippines' important seed dispersers, this endemic species helps regenerate our forests by spreading the seeds of countless native trees..
This female was carrying a fruit of a Fig tree..

Protecting the Luzon Hornbill means protecting the future of our forests..

Sadly, with more forests being cleared to make way for large-scale solar power projects, we risk losing more native species forever.. 🐦🦎🦅
It is deeply ironic that forests, among our greatest natural allies against climate change, are being sacrificed for projects promoted as environmentally friendly..😡

Renewable energy is essential, but it should never come at the cost of our remaining natural forests..🏞 There are already degraded lands, idle areas, and rooftops that can be used instead..🏜🏢

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) must uphold its mandate to protect our country's natural resources and biodiversity..
Development and conservation should go hand in hand, not at the expense of irreplaceable ecosystems..🌳🐦🐍🐆🌿

Every forest lost is a home destroyed..
Every species that disappears is another thread removed from the fabric of Philippine biodiversity..😔
Let us choose solutions that protect both our climate and the forests that sustain life.. 🌿🦅🦎🐦🐆🐍🌳

Let's do our share to protect and save our remaining forests and wetlands..

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16/07/2026

🐍My share for World Snake Day🐍

"Philippine Pit Viper (Trimeresurus flavomaculatus)"

World Snake Day is an annual global observance designed to raise awareness about the over 3,500 species of snakes, their critical role in ecosystems, and to dispel harmful myths that lead to human-snake conflicts..

Often feared but rarely understood, the Philippine Pit Viper is an endemic species found only in the Philippines..
Although venomous, it is not naturally aggressive and will usually avoid people..
Most bites occur only when the snake is accidentally stepped on, cornered, or deliberately handled..

These beautiful snakes play an important role in maintaining a healthy ecosystem..
By feeding on rodents and other small animals, they naturally control agricultural pests and help reduce the spread of rodent-borne diseases..
Their presence is a sign of a healthy forest, where abundant wildlife and an intact ecosystem continue to support native species..

Sadly, Philippine Pit Vipers face growing threats from habitat loss caused by deforestation, agriculture, mining, and human expansion..
Many are also killed out of fear or collected for the illegal wildlife trade..

The greatest threat to the Philippine Pit Viper isn't its venom.. It's US..😔

This World Snake Day, let's replace fear with understanding..
Instead of killing a snake, keep a safe distance and allow it to move away..
If one is found in a residential area, contact trained wildlife rescuers so it can be safely relocated..

Every species has a purpose, and snakes are among nature's most effective pest controllers..
Protecting them means protecting the balance of our forests..

Let's do our share to protect and save our remaining forests and wetlands..

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13/07/2026

Finding Color in a Black Bird 🖤🌺

One thing I've always wondered as a nature photographer is how to make an all-black bird look colorful in a photograph..
Then I realized... I can't!😂
It's black, and that's exactly how nature intended it! 😄

So instead of looking for colors on the bird, I started looking for colors around it..

For years, I kept hoping to photograph a Large-billed Crow (Corvus macrorhynchos) on a flowering native tree..
Most of the time, I'd only see them perched on buildings, electrical wires, lamp posts, and utility poles.. So I rarely even lifted my camera..

Then one day, while driving along the Infanta Highway searching for the hornbills, we came across a magnificent Rarang tree (Erythrina subumbrans) in full bloom!🌳
To my delight, an entire murder of crows had gathered among its fiery blossoms!🌺

I immediately pulled over, reversed to a better vantage point, and finally captured the image I had envisioned for years!

Moments like this remind me why we should plant more flowering native trees..
They don't just beautify our landscapes, they provide food and shelter for our native wildlife..
Instead of filling our parks and roadsides with introduced trees like the African tulips or Fire Tree, imagine planting native flowering trees that truly belong here and help support Philippine biodiversity!🇵🇭

Sometimes, it's not the subject that needs to change..
You just have to wait for the perfect setting..

What do you think? I love the contrast between the glossy black crows and the vibrant blooms of the Rarang tree..🖤🌺

Let's plant more native trees!

10/07/2026

"Still Chasing the Ibong Adarna"

For years, the Philippine Trogon (Harpactes ardens) has been one of my most wanted forest birds..
Despite countless hours spent searching the forests, the closest I've come to my dream is this beautiful juvenile male, photographed in Infanta, Quezon..

I'm still hoping that one day I'll finally encounter a fully adult male in all its spectacular colors..
Dubbed the "Ibong Adarna" because its brilliant plumage evokes the legendary bird from the famous Filipino epic, the adult Philippine Trogon is truly one of the country's most breathtaking forest species..

The Philippine Trogon is the only trogon species found in the Philippines..
It occurs throughout much of the archipelago, except in Palawan and Batanes..
There are five recognized subspecies of the Philippine Trogon, and this individual belongs to the luzoniensis subspecies, which is found in Luzon, Marinduque, and Catanduanes..

The IUCN currently lists the Philippine Trogon as Least Concern, but its population is believed to be declining due to illegal logging, habitat loss, land conversion, and hunting.. 😭

Every encounter with this bird is also a reminder of what is at stake..
The forests of the Sierra Madre shelter not only the Philippine Trogon but also countless other endemic plants and animals found nowhere else on Earth..
As logging, habitat loss, and forest conversion continue to threaten these ancient forests, protecting the Sierra Madre has never been more important.. Saving these forests means ensuring that future generations will still have the chance to witness the beauty of our own "Ibong Adarna" in the wild..

Let's all do our part to protect and save our remaining forests and wetlands. Every forest we save is another chance for wildlife to thrive.

Until the day I finally photograph an adult male, this young trogon is more than enough to keep the dream alive..

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06/07/2026

"E lipat na lang natin ang Bulacan airport habang may panahon pa.. 😂"

The Philippines sits along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway, one of the world's most important migratory bird routes.. Every year, more than 50 million migratory birds pass through our country, traveling between their breeding grounds in Russia and Alaska and their wintering grounds across Southeast Asia and Australasia..

The mudflats of Manila Bay are one of their most important "refueling" stops..
Long before Metro Manila existed, these birds were already using these wetlands.. Their migration routes are hardwired, with many returning to the very same mudflats year after year..

Among them are globally threatened species such as the Critically Endangered Spoon-billed Sandpiper, the Endangered Far Eastern Curlew, and the Black-faced Spoonbill..
The photos I'll be sharing were all taken near the Bulacan airport construction site, showing just a small fraction of the thousands of birds that depend on these wetlands..🏝

If the Bulacan airport pushes through in the middle of this flyway, increased bird strikes during migration season are inevitable..
We cannot expect millions of birds to change a migration route that has existed for thousands of years..🦩

With the recent issue of a senator asking whether the wetlands can simply be transferred elsewhere, perhaps it's the government that should rethink its approach to development.. 🏗🏢
We cannot keep forcing nature to adjust to our plans.. Sometimes, it's our plans that need to adjust to nature..😉

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03/03/2026

This Wildlife Day feels extra special..

The newly released 50-peso polymer banknote featuring the elusive Visayan Leopard Cat carries more than monetary value — it carries a story..
And I’m deeply honored that my wildlife photograph was recognized in the official media release of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas..

The Visayan Leopard Cat is one of the Philippines’ most secretive wild felines, moving silently through forests under the cover of darkness..
Seeing it printed on our currency is a powerful statement: our wildlife matters.. Our biodiversity matters..

As a wildlife photographer, moments like this remind me why I do what I do — the early mornings, long waits, muddy trails, and quiet patience..
Photography has always been my way of advocating for species that cannot speak for themselves..

Thanks also to my friends from Talarak Foundation for giving me a little more time — almost at closing hours — to photograph Kyle, the rescued Visayan Leopard Cat.. That extra window of opportunity made all the difference..

From forest encounters to polymer banknotes, this journey proves that images can transcend frames — they can become symbols..

On this Wildlife Day, may we:
• Protect our endemic species
• Support conservation initiatives
• Value the wild spaces that still remain

Because every species featured on our currency deserves a future in the wild — not just a place in history..

Happy Wildlife Day. 🌏🐆

https://www.bsp.gov.ph/SitePages/MediaAndResearch/MediaDisp.aspx?ItemId=7830&MType=MediaReleases

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13/02/2026

A Voice Behind the Leaves — Rufous Hornbill on Love Hornbill Day

Partially hidden within dense foliage, a Rufous Hornbill (Buceros hydrocorax) watches quietly from the forest canopy.. a fleeting encounter that speaks volumes about the fragile state of its home..

We traveled to Infanta, Quezon, hoping to photograph these magnificent hornbills after seeing fellow photographers capture them feeding openly on fruiting trees..
But upon arrival, the forest told a different story.. Ongoing tree cutting activities have disturbed their habitat, and many of the fruit-bearing trees they depend on have already been cut down..
The birds, now wary and elusive, remain concealed behind think foliage..
Some of these forests are being cleared to make way for a windmill project, an initiative intended to provide environmentally friendly energy..
Yet this moment reminds us of a difficult reality: true sustainability must also safeguard the wildlife and ecosystems that already exist..

This Love Hornbill Day, this image serves as both a celebration of the Philippine endemic Rufous Hornbill and a call to protect the forests that sustain its life — before its voice fades completely into silence..

Love Hornbill Day is celebrated annually on February 13th, the day before Valentine's Day, to honor the monogamous, life-long, and dedicated nature of hornbills. Established in 1997/2004 by the Hornbill Research Foundation in Thailand, this day focuses on raising awareness for the conservation of these "forest engineers," many species of which are threatened by habitat loss and poaching.(wikipedia)

📷🍃

05/02/2026

"Green" Energy Should Not Come at the Cost of Our Last Forests..

It is painful to see old-growth trees in the Sierra Madre fall to make way for a windmill project branded as “green” energy, revealing a contradiction that cannot be ignored..

I took these photos just last month, and I was honestly surprised.. I thought the LGU had already put a stop to the tree-pruning and cutting permits—but seeing this, it’s clear the destruction continues..😡😭

Take a closer look—those numbered trunks are the very trees we shared last year, already marked and placed on death row..😭🪵
And DENR allowed this to happen..😡

The Sierra Madre is the last and largest forest backbone of Luzon.. Our natural shield against typhoons, floods, and biodiversity loss..
Destroying centuries-old trees and critical wildlife habitat in the name of renewable energy is deeply ironic and unacceptable..

Clean energy should protect nature, not erase it..
Sustainability does not mean choosing carbon reduction while sacrificing forests that cannot be replaced within our lifetime..
If green energy projects result in deforestation, habitat destruction, and displacement of wildlife, then we must ask:
Who is this energy truly green for?

True environmental responsibility means careful site selection, transparency, and respect for ecosystems especially irreplaceable ones like the Sierra Madre..

We cannot save the planet by destroying the very systems that keep it alive..🌳🌲🌴🌿

Nature Priority by Floyd P Bermejo

29/07/2026

25/07/2026

17/07/2026

16/07/2026

13/07/2026

10/07/2026

06/07/2026

03/03/2026

13/02/2026

05/02/2026

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