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20 Rice Today  April-June 2013

 T o the untrained eye, theresearch farm at theInternational Rice ResearchInstitute (IRRI) in the

Philippines may look like nothingmore than a verdant sea of rice

plants. But, through the eyes of birdenthusiasts and the lens of birdphotographers, it is a habitat for manyspectacular bird species.

In Feathers in the elds: The birds of IRRI  , bird photographers Tirso Paris, Jr. and Segfredo Serrano exhibit a bevy of bird species (see centerfold)they have captured via their camerasover the years, representing a portionof their portfolios of what Dr. Parisdescribed as their “addiction.”

“Bird photography is a passion,”Dr. Paris said. “You need to be a lile bit crazy to go into it. It takes a lot ofmoney, time, and patience to capture beautiful images of birds. But it isvery addictive.”

Bird photography also requiresspecial skills that go beyond being very ecient with a camera,according to Dr. Serrano.

“You need to be a good birdwatcher and know the habits andforms of birds so that you can easilyidentify the species on the run,”he said. “And, you have to have agenuine aection for your subject. Ifyou don’t have a genuine aectionfor our avian friends as part of our

environment and their role in ourenvironment, it will be very dicultto have the required patience todocument your subject.”

The rewards of their patienceand eorts are stunning photographs

that reveal the avian world behindthe green curtain of rice that will nodoubt surprise many.

“The fascinating featheredcreatures featured in this exhibition,some native to the area while othersuse IRRI as a  stopover  site on theirmigration, provide a glimpse of birds that are rarely seen by mostpeople—even those who work in theelds every day,” said Paul Hilario,curator of the Riceworld Museum

by Alaric Francis Santiaguel

Migrant snipe

A human-eye view of birds

Feathers in the felds showcases the many bird species that frequent IRRI’s research farm withcompelling images, videos, and sounds to create an engaging educational exhibit

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21Rice Today  April-June 2013

and Learning Center where theexhibit will be on display throughSeptember 2013. “These birds arealert to movements and sounds,and are quick to hide or use naturalcamouage.”

Many might assume that bird photography is best done in

undisturbed areas but agriculturalareas can double as bird sanctuaries.Although farms cannot replacenatural wetlands, ooded rice eldsact as an articial wetland and canprovide some resources for birds,according to Mr. Richard Smedley, anIRRI scholar who studies birds in theexperimental elds (see Don’t scareaway the birds! on pages 24 to 25).

Keeping a healthy rice ecosystemis a target for IRRI on its researchstation. For example, IRRI uses

integrated pest management(IPM), which reduced pesticideuse by 96% between 1993 and 2008,and encourages richer natural biodiversity. “Although we don’thave direct evidence on the impactof the reduced pesticide use, it iscertainly a contributor to the richer bird life in and around the farm,”said Dr. K.L. Heong, an IPM expertat IRRI.

Most farmers may not be as

happy, though, to see thriving birdcommunities ocking to their elds because they are widely regarded aspests. “They are seen in associationwith rice and they’re presumed toeat rice, but that assumption maynot always be correct,” local birdenthusiast Paul Bourdin explains. Thediet of the lesser coucal, bee-eater,swallows, pacic skylarks, and pied bushchat consists almost entirely ofinsects, he explained.

To help people beer understand

that not all birds are pests, Feathersin the elds: The birds of IRRI willinclude descriptions provided byMr. Bourdin about each species ondisplay at the exhibit, includingtheir scientic, English, and Filipinonames; diet; and habits. Read thesedescriptions online at IRRI.org/ricetoday.

 Mr. Santiaguel is a writer at IRRI.

Feathers in the felds: The birds o IRRI A photo exhibit

May through September 2013 Asia Room

Te Riceworld MuseumIRRI, Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines

Little egret