400 people join birdwatching in Senayan<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): On Sunday morning, at 5.30 a.m., while thousands
\nor maybe millions of others were still sleeping, some 400 people
\ngathered at the Krida Loka jogging track at Gelora Bung Karno
\nsports center in Senayan, Central Jakarta.<\/p>\n
No, they were not going to join a marathon or any other
\nsports. They came here to do birdwatching. No kidding.<\/p>\n
Jeni from Bogor-based Birdlife International Indonesia said
\nthat there were 25 bird species which could be found in Krida
\nLoka jogging track such as jalak (Acridotheres tristis), kepodang
\n(Oriolus chinensis) and betet (Psittacula alexandri).<\/p>\n
\"We wanted to popularize the birdwatching activities. We
\nusually do it in Bogor,\" she told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
The area, she said, had good potential as a habitat for birds
\nas there were still high trees.<\/p>\n
\"We want to make this place a bird conservation area,\" Jeni
\nadded.<\/p>\n
The activity on Sunday started with a walk along the jogging
\ntrack. The committee had placed pictures of birds all over the
\npark.<\/p>\n
The participants, mostly families with children, were given
\ncards of birds' characteristics and they then had to find the
\npictures.<\/p>\n
If the two matched, they received a prize, that is a bird
\nposter.<\/p>\n
The participants seemed to be very enthusiastic. One father
\nwas even more enthusiastic than his daughter in matching
\npictures.<\/p>\n
The committee placed binoculars at several spots in the park.
\nThey were certainly useful, because most of the birds preferred
\nto stay at the top of the trees. But the participants were
\nnonetheless enthusiastic.<\/p>\n
Litany, a third grader, said that she woke up at 3 p.m. and
\nleft her house an hour later with her father especially to join
\nthe birdwatching.<\/p>\n
Several games were also held, like a walking competition,
\npuzzle and coloring competitions.<\/p>\n
State Minister for the Environment Sonny Keraf was also seen
\namong the participants. According to Sonny, his office planned to
\ndevelop the park into a city forest.<\/p>\n
\"It serves not only as a bird conservation area, it also
\nfunctions as a recreational and educational area. We're
\ndiscussing it with non-governmental organizations and the complex
\nmanagement,\" he said.<\/p>\n
According to Jeni, the committee wants to make the
\nbirdwatching a regular activity.<\/p>\n
\"But for now, we can only hold such an event once every six
\nmonths. But hopefully after today's event, people will come on
\ntheir own. Besides, such an activity is not expensive. All one
\nneeds is binoculars,\" she said.<\/p>\n
A survey showed that in 1946, the capital was home to 256 bird
\nspecies.<\/p>\n
Not surprisingly, a survey conducted in 1997 by Symbioses Bird
\nClub showed that only 105 species remained.<\/p>\n
Besides Senayan, there are 10 other patches of green in the
\ncity which are a habitat for several bird species, according to
\nBogor-based Birdlife International Indonesia.<\/p>\n
They are National Monument (Monas) park, Manggala
\nWanabhakti building compound and Kemayoran city forest, all in
\nCentral Jakarta; the Halim golf course and Taman Mini Indonesia
\nIndah (TMII) in East Jakarta; the Ragunan Zoo in South Jakarta;
\nthe city forest at the University of Indonesia in Depok; and the
\nconservation parks in Muara Angke, Rambut Island and Bokor
\nIsland, all in North Jakarta. (hdn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/400-people-join-birdwatching-in-senayan-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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