400 people join birdwatching in Senayan

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)