Date: May 25, 2003
Weather: Overcast, rain, strong winds
by Mads Bajarias

Months ago I pitched a story idea to a magazine about birds in Mount Makiling. However I'm in a rut and couldn't get a fresh, interesting-enough angle. Hoping to rid of the writer's block I went to Makiling just when the big storm was beginning to hit. The jeepneys to forestry were slow to fill so I decided to walk from "crossing" to forestry instead. Winds tore at my puny umbrella and the campus looked deserted. By 7:00 am I was at the entrance to the Botanic Garden. There was no one so I let myself in. The entire town must still be curled up in bed and I was asking myself "What am I doing here!"

After a few hours in the Botanic Garden I walked a bit of the way up until the Flat Rocks marker and turned left in an unmarked trail where I saw a nest. It was a loose arrangement of twigs, rather flimsy-looking. There was a single egg in it. Pigeon's? I was afraid the egg would fall any moment. In my mind's eye, I saw the tree swaying in the typhoon, the egg rolling this way and that in the nest, stopping just before the edge, millimeters from disaster.

Anyway, here's what I saw:
1. Guiabero (2) -- On the left-hand trail opposite Flat Rocks.
2. Red-crested Malkoha (6) -- Calling "chuk---chuk---chuk."
3. Scale-feathered Malkoha (1) -- Heard calling: "kissss mi!---kissss mi!"
4. Lesser Coucal (1)
5. Philippine Pygmy Woodpecker (1) -- Heard only. Makes a loud noise for so small a creature.
6. Philipine Bulbul -- Still conspicuous as ever and always in pairs.
7. Balicassiao (5-10) -- Three were aggressive near the stream down the Botanic Garden.

They made their loud noises and swooped over my head until I was out of their territory. This is first time I have been "attacked" by birds. Were they guarding a nest? Why three?

Found the behavior interesting.
8. Blue-headed Fantail(1) -- "tsip-tsip-tsip-tsip."
9. Red-keeled Flowerpecker(1) -- This species is always in the large tree outside the gate.