Nankeen night heron spotted at a store in Santo Tomas, Davao del Norte

A Nankeen night heron, also known as a Rufous night heron, caught the attention of locals after it was spotted at a store in Santo Tomas, Davao del Norte, 

According to Kuya Kim Atienza's report on "24 Oras" Tuesday, the Nankeen night heron, known as lapay among the locals, was captured on video and uploaded online by Mylene Almorado. 

"Mas mahaba siya sa manok. 'Yung kulay niya, kulay brown na may pagka-green," said Mylene. "First time namin nakakita ng ganung ibon. Bihira lang po 'yun pumupunta sa lupa kasi madalas naman po siya sa dagat."

"Tinanong po namin 'yung may-ari kung alaga ba nila 'yun. Dumadalaw lang po 'yun. Tapos binibigyan nila ng pagkain. Hanggang ngayon po pinapakain nila. Napaamo nila 'yung ibon," she added. 

The Nankeen night heron (Nycticorax caledonicus) is a medium-sized bird that is found in Australia, New Guinea, New Caledonia, and the Philippines, among others. 

According to Jelaine Gan, assistant professor at the Institute of Biology, University of the Philippines Diliman, the Nankeen night heron is a "resident bird species." 

"Ito po ay isang resident bird species, meaning nakikita po natin 'tong ibon na 'to all year round sa Pilipinas. Naturally po ay nagdi-disperse sila para pumunta sa isang bagong lugar para maghanap ng kanilang sariling teritoryo, sariling tirahan at sariling mga pagkain," she explained. 

Aside from fish, this type of bird also eats crustaceans, small reptiles, and insects, added Kuya Kim. Nankeen night herons hunt not just at night, but also in the morning and at sunset. 

Per Gan, the behavior of the bird seen in the video is not common behavior among wild birds. 

"'Yung nakita natin sa video ay hindi karaniwang behavior ng isang natural na wild bird. Pero dito sa nakita natin ay komportable siyang lumapit dun sa tindahan. Malamang ay attracted ito doon sa pagkain sa tindahan at marahil rin dahil 'yung mga tao hindi nila sinasaktan itong mga ibon na ito," she explained. 

She also advised the public not to disturb or catch Nankeen night herons or other wild birds. 

"Kapag nakakita tayo ng mga lapay o ng mga wild birds, wag po natin sana silang galawin at hulihin. Bawal rin po natin silang saktan, kunin or alagaan under sa ating Wildlife Act," she reminded. 

—CDC, GMA News