Birdwatching and Painting a Bird in UP Diliman Campus with Fellow Homeschoolers

Today is “Araw ng Kagitingan” or National Heroes’ Day, an official holiday in the Philippines to commemorate all the heroes who helped build this country from the ground up throughout history. During my son’s online class, his classmates mentioned that they missed attending my art classes. It’s been a while since I hosted one, so I decided to message the group chat for our homeschooling community and invite them to visit the UP Diliman campus with me to watch the birds and paint one of my favorite birds, the yellow-vented bulbul. Three families confirmed that they were going, and that made me happy.

As I approached our rendezvous point, the campus greeted me with a symphony of blossoms. Towering Nara trees and vibrant April/Golden Shower blooms beckoned, casting a spell of tranquility over the bustling morning. Despite the urgency of my tardiness (a personal shortcoming, I admit), I couldn’t resist capturing the ephemeral beauty with my camera.

Upon reaching our designated spot, I found only two families in attendance. Yet, I harbored no disappointment; after all, coaxing oneself out of bed at the ungodly hour of 6 AM is no small feat. Blame it on the scorching days that have beset us lately, rendering early morning escapades a more palatable option for all.

Moreover, as my thesis advisor—a devout birding aficionado—once imparted, the birds on our campus are most active between the hours of 5 AM to 8 AM. Thus, our modest gathering found solace in the knowledge that our timing aligned with the rhythms of nature, despite the sparse attendance. The photo collage below shows some of the trees I have just mentioned and the homeschooling kids who joined me today.

I felt a surge of joy as a handful of majestic birds graced us with their presence today. Among them, the striking black-vented oriole, known affectionately as the mango bird, flaunted its vibrant plumage alongside the elegant Philippine pied fantail and the dainty maya, also called munia. The glimmering sunbird added a touch of brilliance to the scene, while the colasisi and the stoic black crow completed our avian ensemble.

Yet, our feathered companions didn’t just parade before our eyes; some remained elusive, their presence known only through their melodic calls echoing through the foliage.

Before delving into our birdwatching adventure, I felt compelled to issue a disclaimer: I am by no means a bird expert. My knowledge is rooted in the memories of my first birdwatching escapade, guided by a knowledgeable friend who patiently acquainted me with the avian denizens of our campus. I also brought a single book about Philippine birds as a guide. So, with humility and excitement, we embarked on our birding journey, ready to embrace the wonders of nature with open hearts and eager eyes. Since none of the attendees had professional binoculars, I lent them my two pairs so they could look at the birds even from afar. But, as you will see in the videos below, the birds graced us with close-ups!! I also made a collage of images of the birds I got from Canva and from Google to share which birds we saw during our birding.

Did you see the black-naped oreole and Philippine pied fantails in the video above? Majestic, aren’t they? It was good luck that we got to see them up close; it almost felt like the universe did conspire to make it happen for the kids. I’m beyond grateful to these wonderful creatures; the kids were able to appreciate what the campus could offer to homeschoolers like them.

Following our birdwatching adventure, we gathered beneath the protective canopy of the covered walkway just outside the Math building to immortalize the beauty of the yellow-vented bulbul birds we had marveled at earlier.

With brushes in hand and enthusiasm in our hearts, we embarked on a swift sketching and watercolor painting session, tailored specifically for the eager young minds accompanying us. I’ve long held the belief that capturing the essence of a bird through art enhances one’s memory of its intricate details and captivating presence.

In addition to nurturing their artistic talents, I seized the opportunity to impart a brief lesson on the importance of tree planting—a practice close to my heart, nurtured during my tenure as a geologist in the government. As we dipped our brushes into vibrant hues, I shared insights into the profound impact of tree planting on our environment, hoping to sow the seeds of stewardship and conservation in the fertile minds before me. For a brief amount of time, I felt like an environment steward sharing how we could help preserve the beauty of Mother Earth right before us. What could be a better way to celebrate National Heroes’ Day, right? Here are more snapshots of our painting session and the outputs. I’m so proud of these kids!

To culminate our delightful day, we gathered for a group photo, proudly displaying our paintings as mementos of our shared experience. As the shutter clicked, capturing smiles and memories alike, a heartwarming surprise awaited me.

One of the children approached, bearing an envelope adorned with a heartfelt message. Inside, a sweet birthday greeting awaited me, a thoughtful gesture that warmed my heart. The envelope held Starbucks gift checks, a token of appreciation that brought an extra layer of joy to my recent birthday celebration (the details of which shall remain a mystery, of course!).

With fond farewells exchanged, we parted ways, my own children, eager for sustenance after a day of guiding our two families through the wonders of nature. As hunger pangs and thirst beckoned, we embarked on a leisurely stroll toward the nearest Starbucks—a well-deserved treat for my boys, whose assistance and companionship had enriched our day in more ways than one.

Thank you once again for reading this far.

xoxo