Art and science come together in time for Philippine National Arts Month this February.
A new poster created by members of the Haribon Foundation showcases 15 of the Philippines’ critically endangered bird species, combining art and conservation. Two of the most threatened hornbills in the world are also featured in the poster, as well as the National Bird of the Philippines: the Philippine Eagle.
These are birds on the brink of extinction. By featuring them and showing people where they live, we hope we can bring conservation closer to home,” shared David Quimpo, one of the biologists who consulted the illustrators for the campaign.
Entitled “Birds on the Brink,” the artwork is a collaboration between scientists and artists, where scientific accuracy and artistic talent were combined in an effort to help spread awareness. Haribon’s Membership Officer Tina De Villa has been working with what Haribon coins “citizen scientists,” people who help plant trees, clean up beaches, and in this case, create art.
Art plays an important role in conservation by communicating the urgency of environmental issues in ways words alone often cannot. It’s a powerful tool that establishes emotional connections with people, inspiring them to take action and engage in a cause,” said De Villa.
One of the birds featured is the Rufous-headed hornbill or dulungan, a species Quimpo is most familiar with. He has spent weeks in the forests of Panay observing this critically endangered species. It is one of the three most threatened hornbills in the world, two of them are only found in the Philippines. The other hornbill can only be found in Sulu and only an estimated 50 individual Sulu hornbills are left in the wild.
The term “Critically Endangered” is a category reliant on scientific data, compiled by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The categories range from “Least Concern” to “Extinct,” and play a vital role in informing conservation strategies and prioritizing actions for at-risk species. Critically Endangered is the category that comes before Extinct, hence, “Birds on the Brink.”
The poster serves as a visual representation of this critical information, raising awareness about the precarious situation of these birds and the importance of the phrase, “you cannot save what you do not know.”
I was already familiar with some of the birds, and I’ve even seen a few in person. But my greatest takeaway from this project was gaining a deeper understanding of how Haribon works to protect these species,” shared Kathleen Baraan, one of the illustrators who worked on the bird art.
“We want to build on the previous projects by HARIBON,” adds De Villa. “…The Philippine Eagle Project, Species of Hope, which focuses on conserving species like the Negros bleeding-heart and the Rufous-headed Hornbill… Through this campaign, HARIBON can continue carrying out these important conservation efforts while also increasing awareness of lesser-known species.”
Haribon’s Philippine Eagle Project is one of its oldest, while Species of Hope continues to work with communities from Panay to Negros. These projects tackle various challenges from lack of awareness, getting communities involved, to finding and studying species in the wild including those featured in the artwork.
Sometimes, it’s also difficult for researchers to identify sites for research due to limited information about species’ range,” shared Quimpo. He also added that some species tend to get more attention than others. “…Charismatic species are mostly prioritized by the government.”
Charismatic species typically have physical features that make them attractive to the general public. The Philippine eagle is one of them, being one of the largest eagles in the world known for its mane-like crest of feathers on its head. The bleeding-heart pigeons on the poster are also often portrayed in campaigns because of striking red patches on their breasts. All 5 species of bleeding-heart pigeons in the world can only be found in the Philippines.
However, there are other species not as striking or well-known that are affected by habitat loss or climate change.
The streaked reed-warbler may not be as majestic as the Philippine eagle, but it too is critically endangered. What makes it special is that it is a migratory species believed to breed in north-eastern China, and spends winters in the south as far as Taiwan and Candaba swamp in the Philippines. Both its breeding and wintering grounds have deteriorated due to habitat loss.
There are also challenges in creating art for science alone. Baraan shared some of the challenges in developing illustrations for “Birds on the Brink.”
“…One was analyzing reference photos – especially when they weren’t based on real-life images, such as illustrations from books. Another was ensuring the accuracy of the illustrations, which required approval from the birders. Since they had seen these birds in the wild, they were the only ones who could confirm whether my depictions were accurate.”
De Villa adds, “We wanted to make sure that the artists had accurate references to create truthful representations of the birds… In addition, the membership team’s challenge also lay in creating communication materials that not only provided accurate information but also conveyed the urgency of the campaign.”
A limited edition print of “Birds on the Brink” is available for those who become Lifetime Members of the Haribon Foundation. Funds raised from Haribon Membership go to campaigns led by members to raise awareness and continue conservation work for these birds and the habitats we share with them.
Quimpo shares, “Sometimes, people do not see the connection of species conservation to their lives.” The artists and scientists behind the poster hope that art like “Birds on the Brink” will help show that connection.
The artists behind the poster are Kathleen Baraan and Joshua Dejaño who created the bird illustrations. It is set against a map layout of the archipelago designed by Albert Balbutin Jr. Data provided by Haribon biologists David Quimpo and Keanu Sitjar, with membership coordination led by Haribon Membership Officer Tina De Villa.
Comments
