Minasawa Island Game Refuge and Bird Sanctuary

- Minasawa Island, Patnanongan Quezon -

The island is just off the town of Patnanongan Quezon with coordinates 14°45'09"N, 122°09'34"E. The 4.5-hectare island was established as a sanctuary by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to protect and help propagate the population of endemic and migratory birds that seek shelter in the area. Under Republic Act No. 7586 the island was proclaimed as Minasawa Island Game Refuge and Bird Sanctuary.

Minasawa Island is known to be the roosting area of Common Island Bats, Pied Imperial Pigeon and Black Naped Orioles. It is also home to the flightless bird Tabon Scrubfowl which lays eggs from March to June, a single egg is laid daily until a final clutch size of ten is reached.

The island is also frequented by Southeast Asian migratory birds such as the Malaysian Plover, Eastern Reef Egret, Cattle Egret, Striated Heron, White Bellied Sea Eagle, White Throat Kingfisher, Large Billed Crow, and Greater Crested Tern.

Marine turtles breed and lay eggs during the months of August to October in the island.

Sad to note is that the island is subject to degradation issues  due to rampant and unregulated visits of locals wherein they make noise, dump trashes, hunt bats and birds, collect Tabon and Marine Turtle eggs, and cut down hardwood trees and harvest other forest products. (New Conservation Areas in the Philippines Project)