Bird-watching helps protect endangered birds

By Bambang M.

YOGYAKARTA (JP): Many bird lovers express their affection for the animal the wrong way. They keep their birds inside beautiful cages and place them in spots where the owners can enjoy watching or guests can admire them, like ornaments.

Rare and endangered birds, such as the Bali starling (Leucopsar rothschildi), the Javan hawk-eagle (Spizaetus bartelsi) and the yellow-crested cockatoo (Cacatua sulphurea), are usually hot items among bird collectors who are willing to pay high prices for them. They choose to ignore the fact that their actions contribute to the further decline of the endangered birds' numbers in the wild.

As the country with the third largest tropical rainforest in the world, Indonesia is home to more than 1,500 kinds of birds, or 17 percent of the bird population worldwide. Of the 1,500 species, 381 of them are only found in Indonesia. The World Conservation Body, however, named 104 kinds of birds found in Indonesia as endangered and on the brink of extinction.

The collecting of rare and endangered birds, however, will not be so rampant if bird-watching -- an environmentally friendly way to enjoy birds' beauty in their natural habitats -- is popular here.

In many developed countries, bird-watching clubs are very popular. For example, the Royal Society for the Preservation of Birds in England, has more than a million members. In such countries, bird-watching is regarded as a popular eco-tourism activity.

"Here, only university students, lecturers and environmental activists do so," said Ignatius Pramana Yuda, one of the founders of the Yogyakarta Kutilang Bird-watching Club.

Established on Aug. 21, 1991, the club is now among the 12 prominent bird-watching clubs in Indonesia. The other clubs include the Bali Bird Club, Padang Biological Club and Birdlife International Indonesia Program.

The Kutilang club has conducted a number of research on birds, especially endangered ones, such as the Javan hawk eagle and the yellow-crested cockatoo in Masalembo Island, East Java. The club also introduces and familiarizes bird-watching to the society, including children, students and young professionals.

The name of the club, Kutilang, is taken from the local name for the thrush. "We chose it (the songbird's name) because its the first bird that warns the other animals when it senses danger, like when a person enters the forest," said the club's chairman Hartono. He added the name fits the club's purpose, which is to sound the alarm when there's a threat to the birds in their habitats.

Cages

The unpopularity of bird-watching in Indonesia, according to Ignatius, is because bird lovers prefer to watch birds inside cages.

"Enjoying birds in their natural habitats is more interesting than seeing them in a cage," he said.

During bird-watching, bird-watchers do not only enjoy the sounds of birds chirping, but also observe other interesting bird behavior, such as nesting and feeding.

"With bird-watching, its a great satisfaction when after searching long and hard, we get to see the bird we are looking for," Ignatius said.

Bird-watchers can observe birds with their naked eyes, although this means they have to get very close to the birds. But this is not easy since most birds like to perch on high trees and will fly away once they realize someone is approaching. Telescopes or binoculars come in handy as they enable bird- watchers to observe birds from a distance.

Bird-watching does not necessarily mean having to trek deep into forests or climb mountains. People can also observe birds that live, for example, near their homes, in rice fields, villages, or even in busy cities. But when bird-watching is done in the forests, its also good exercise as we have to walk quite a distance to reach the perfect spot.

When they find the birds, most bird-watchers will take notes of their observations and sometimes when they find a new species, they will draw or take its pictures.

"Bird-watchers, too, have contributed a lot toward the development of bird science or ornithology. That's why, a Dutch bird expert Bas Van Ballen said bird-watching is the most scientific sport...," said Hartono.

Those interested in bird-watching must be ready to spend some money to buy the necessary instruments and pay for transportation costs. "The cheapest telescope costs Rp 200,000," Hartono said. He added that guide books with color pictures of various birds were also expensive.

He assured, however, that the money spent for the activity was worth it since it contributes to the protection of the country's endangered birds.