Baras Bird Sanctuary

Tens Of Thousands Of Egrets And Herons Roosting In A Stand Of Bamboo In The Middle Of A Town, Because One Family Would Not Cut It Down · Tacurong, Sultan Kudarat

IN THE MIDDLE OF TACURONG THERE IS A STAND OF BAMBOO AND TREES ON PRIVATE LAND, AND EVERY EVENING TENS OF THOUSANDS OF EGRETS AND HERONS COME BACK TO IT TO ROOST. They arrive in waves from the surrounding ricefields as the light goes, until the branches are white and the noise is enormous. THE SANCTUARY EXISTS FOR ONE REASON: THE FAMILY THAT OWNS THE LAND DECIDED NOT TO CUT THE TREES DOWN, and then decided to protect what had settled in them. It is not a national park, not a reserve and not a government project - it is somebody's property and somebody's decision. BE HONEST ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE: THE SMELL IS SUBSTANTIAL AND SO IS THE NOISE, the viewing is from platforms and paths at the edge, and the whole thing lasts about an hour around dusk. Come for that hour or do not come. Keep your voice down, leave the flash off and stay at the edge, because pushing further in would empty the trees - and remember you are a guest on somebody's property.

Baras, Tacurong City, Sultan Kudarat, Tacurong, Sultan Kudarat, Philippines

BARAS IS IN TACURONG, SULTAN KUDARAT, roughly an hour and a half from KORONADAL and two to three hours from GENERAL SANTOS, which has the nearest airport. THE SANCTUARY KEEPS DAYTIME HOURS WITH A MODEST ENTRANCE FEE and is ON PRIVATE LAND - visitors are guests and should behave accordingly. THE BIRDS RETURN AROUND DUSK, which is what to time a visit for; they leave again at first light. VIEWING IS FROM PLATFORMS AND PATHS AT THE EDGE OF THE ROOST and going further in is not permitted. THE SMELL AND THE NOISE ARE CONSIDERABLE. NO FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY and no loud voices. It is hot and flat; there is little shade on the approach. Check current travel advice for parts of central Mindanao before planning an overland route.

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