400 people join birdwatching in Senayan
JAKARTA (JP): On Sunday morning, at 5.30 a.m., while thousands or maybe millions of others were still sleeping, some 400 people gathered at the Krida Loka jogging track at Gelora Bung Karno sports center in Senayan, Central Jakarta.
No, they were not going to join a marathon or any other sports. They came here to do birdwatching. No kidding.
Jeni from Bogor-based Birdlife International Indonesia said that there were 25 bird species which could be found in Krida Loka jogging track such as jalak (Acridotheres tristis), kepodang (Oriolus chinensis) and betet (Psittacula alexandri).
"We wanted to popularize the birdwatching activities. We usually do it in Bogor," she told The Jakarta Post.
The area, she said, had good potential as a habitat for birds as there were still high trees.
"We want to make this place a bird conservation area," Jeni added.
The activity on Sunday started with a walk along the jogging track. The committee had placed pictures of birds all over the park.
The participants, mostly families with children, were given cards of birds' characteristics and they then had to find the pictures.
If the two matched, they received a prize, that is a bird poster.
The participants seemed to be very enthusiastic. One father was even more enthusiastic than his daughter in matching pictures.
The committee placed binoculars at several spots in the park. They were certainly useful, because most of the birds preferred to stay at the top of the trees. But the participants were nonetheless enthusiastic.
Litany, a third grader, said that she woke up at 3 p.m. and left her house an hour later with her father especially to join the birdwatching.
Several games were also held, like a walking competition, puzzle and coloring competitions.
State Minister for the Environment Sonny Keraf was also seen among the participants. According to Sonny, his office planned to develop the park into a city forest.
"It serves not only as a bird conservation area, it also functions as a recreational and educational area. We're discussing it with non-governmental organizations and the complex management," he said.
According to Jeni, the committee wants to make the birdwatching a regular activity.
"But for now, we can only hold such an event once every six months. But hopefully after today's event, people will come on their own. Besides, such an activity is not expensive. All one needs is binoculars," she said.
A survey showed that in 1946, the capital was home to 256 bird species.
Not surprisingly, a survey conducted in 1997 by Symbioses Bird Club showed that only 105 species remained.
Besides Senayan, there are 10 other patches of green in the city which are a habitat for several bird species, according to Bogor-based Birdlife International Indonesia.
They are National Monument (Monas) park, Manggala Wanabhakti building compound and Kemayoran city forest, all in Central Jakarta; the Halim golf course and Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (TMII) in East Jakarta; the Ragunan Zoo in South Jakarta; the city forest at the University of Indonesia in Depok; and the conservation parks in Muara Angke, Rambut Island and Bokor Island, all in North Jakarta. (hdn)