New Owl Species: Camiguin Hawk-Owl, Cebu Hawk-Owl Discovered In Philippines

Two new species of owls have been discovered in the Philippines. At the top left is the Cebu Hawk-owl and at the bottom right is the Camiguin Hawk-owl.

Two new owl species have been identified in the Philippines, and researchers say the birds' songs led them to the discovery.

"More than 15 years ago, we realized that new subspecies of Ninox hawk-owls existed in the Philippines," zoologist Pam Rasmussen, of Michigan State University (MSU), said in a statement. "But it wasn't until last year that we obtained enough recordings that we could confirm that they were not just subspecies, but two new species of owls."

In fact, the researchers found that the Philippine hawk-owl (Ninox philippensis) consists of seven allopatric species, or those that emerge as a consequence of individuals being isolated geographically, or temporally. They also identified one subspecies.

Two of the species had never been described nor officially named, until now. One of the newly identified owl species, now called the Camiguin hawk-owl, lives only on the small island of Camiguin Sur and has a very different voice and set of physical features than other owls in the region, the researchers said. It has blue-gray eyes and sings a long solo song at night that builds in intensity with a low growling tone. Pairs of Camiguin hawk-owls, meanwhile, sing short barking duets that kick off with a growl.

The researchers, who reported their findings in Forktail, the Journal of Asian Ornithology, also identified the Cebu hawk-owl after studying its structure and vocalizations.

"The owls don't learn their songs, which are genetically programmed in their DNA and are used to attract mates or defend their territory; so if they're very different, they must be new species," Rasmussen explained in a statement from MSU. "When we first heard the songs of both owls, we were amazed because they were so distinctly different that we realized they were new species."

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Ailed Century Trees in Carcar-Naga will undergo Surgery

Century Old Acacia trees in Carcar Cebu- Naga Highway [photo credit from kaymalilong.com]

If earth-balling is too costly, maybe "tree surgery" can be used to save eight century-old acacia trees in Naga city identified as "defective" among a series of 130 trees lining both sides of the road.

This option is being studied, said Eddie Llamedo, spokesman of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) 7.

"In tree surgery and treatment, cavities from branches and trunk will be scraped off and its immediate surrounding ground cemented when necessary," he said.

Compared to earth balling which can cost up to P1 million per tree,  tree surgery would only   cost about  P10,000, he said.

The DENR 7 will also conduct "ground verification" to check the complaint of a Cebu citizens group that  a second heritage tree, not just one,  was cut down near CEMEX in Naga City where  road widening  is underway.

"We have not yet received a copy of the letter of the Movement for a Livable Cebu. Nevertheless, we will send the Community Environment and Natural Resources (Cenro) Cebu City office to make ground verification of their claim that another tree was cut,"  Llamedo told Cebu Daily News.

Since Monday and Tuesday are non-working holidays, Cenro officials will do this on Wednesday (August 22, 2012).

The inspection team to be led by Cenro Cebu City chief Felimon Embalzado, Jr. will check if the tree is among nine century-old acacia trees certified to be hazardous and defective in a May 2012 inventory by the DENR. One such tree was confirmed cut without a permit from the environment department last July 13, 2012.

DENR  Regional Executive Director  Isabelo Montejo earlier  ordered  a status quo and  reassessment of  trees, which include narra, neem  and fruit-bearing species,  that would be affected by expansion work of the Naga – Carcar highway.

"Results of the reassessment conducted last August 4 – 10 will be available next week after  Montejo reviews it," Llamedo said.

 An application to cut the trees from the Department of Public Works and Highways is pending with the office of the Environment Secretary in Manila.

The old trees along the South Cebu road were planted by the public works department in 1915 on orders of then Cebu governor Dionisio Jakosalem.

Inquirer 

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