Bird-watching helps protect endangered birds

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.