The Philippines is rich in avifauna (i.e. species of birds). There are about 400 resident bird species and almost 200 of them can be found only in the Philippines.
In the Philippines, Bohol is one of the favorite destinations of bird-watchers. The Rajah Sikatuna National Park is a good place to start bird watching. It is the widest remaining forest that can be found in Bohol. The Rajah Sikatuna National Park covers 29 barangays and is the main water source, being a watershed, of Bohol's rivers. The Rajah Sikatuna National Park is considered as a hot spot for principal biodiversity.
In Rajah Sikatuna National Park's headquarters, you can find a small hostel where a birders' logbook and a visitors' book is found. Reading them can be useful in bird watching. A Rajah Sikatuna National Park guide will be there to help you throughout your bird watching activity.
Rajah Sikatuna National Park has set out a number of trails where visitors can go bird watching. While following the trails, you will encounter various species of birds. Don't forget to bring birdcall tapes so that some birds that are naturally shy will emerge from their hiding places. With luck you may be able to see the rare bird species present in Rajah Sikatuna National Park.
Some of the bird species that are present in Rajah Sikatuna National Park are the following: Silvery kingfisher, Philippine Eagle Owl, Philippine frogmouth, Brush cuckoo, Black-faced coucal, Philippine nightjar, Philippine coucal, Large-billed crow, Pygmy swiftlet, Spangled drongo, Red-keeled flowerpecker, Metallic-winged sunbird, Pink-bellied imperial pigeon, White-bellied woodpecker, and many more.
Aside from birds, Rajah Sikatuna National Park also has a butterfly sanctuary. Monkeys thrive in the forest and are already used to seeing people everyday. These would often be kind and friendly to anyone who comes near. 26 bat species can be found in Rajah Sikatuna National Park within the caves that abound in limestone formations.
Regarding plants and trees, Rajah Sikatuna National Park has something to offer. You can find 16 verified species of Dipterocarps, 17 species of Apitong, and 90 new fern species. On top of the hills in Rajah Sikatuna National Park, you can have a great view of the well-known Chocolate Hills in Bohol.
To get there from Bilar, take a motorcycle taxi (habal-habal) to the Rajah Sikatuna National Park's accommodation area at Logarita. You can have an overnight stay at their hostel for P50 for a night. The park's caretaker will take care of food.
The Rajah Sikatuna National Park is a haven for nature lovers. Bird watching is the main attraction in the park. The nature trek in Rajah Sikatuna National Park will touch your soul.
Rajah Sikatuana Park is the most worst park i have seen in my life. When you arrive you are obliged to take a guide. After few minutes you arrive on a big place. you can see some monkeys. One house show the birds you can see inside the forest but you CAN'T GO!!! One way is writting "bird site", no birds. This trail is around 200m!!! Only 2 birds inside the cage "rescue center". After another trail "to view deck", but we can't go, is forbidden!!! You come back at the entrance after less one hour. The guide don't know and don't see anything... For that you are obliged to pay: 100 pesos for entrance fee and 100 pesos for the guide. I want to know: where is the money going and what is it for? Because only 2 trails, but these are not maintained, they are more worst like inside the jungle...