Breeding bulbuls can be a ticklish business
Breeding bulbuls can be a ticklish business
JAKARTA (JP): When it comes to the ways of the birds and the
bees, feathered creatures have their own distinct ways of coming
together. And then there is cucak rawa, the yellow-crowned
bulbul.
They fight, love and often kill, too, in the mating game.
Which is not to say that they are dangerous creatures,
according to Ismu Sutanto Suwelo, a Bandung breeder of the bulbul
who owns 71 pairs.
"They are just extremely picky about whom they want to mate
with," he said.
To get them to mate, he cages the more aggressive bird -- it
can be either the male or female -- in a specially designed bird
pen. He closely follows particular guidelines on the bird's diet,
clean water for drinking and bathing and a quiet environment.
"Eventually both will stop bickering and hating each other...
you'll know this once they start cooing. That's the time when you
set their marriage bed."
Slice a coconut into half, drain it of its fluid, dry and
place pine leaves on it and their favorite venue for mating is
ready. Nevertheless, despite the comfortable "bed", good diet,
healthy and quiet conditions, one of the mates could still end up
being pecked to death.
All of this and more about the bulbul breeding industry,
designs and setting of the bird pens and its expensive diets were
the topics at a recent workshop at the Bird Park of Taman Mini
Indonesia Indah in East Jakarta.
The workshop, organized by the Indonesian Birds Association
and the Bird Park, was attended by breeders from at least 13
provinces.
Like other singing birds such as the perkutut (turtle doves),
the bulbul is a popular pet here.
The bulbul (Pycnonotos zeylanicus) is native to Sumatra, Nias,
Kalimantan and West Java. Its feathers are gray, brown and olive
green, sometimes combined with yellow, white or black. These
colors define their brows, ears and throats.
Its lifespan is four to five years. The bird, usually
measuring less than 30 cms long with a tail of about two
centimeters long, requires considerable attention if chosen for
breeding or as a pet.
Ismu said he feeds one bird 20 crickets, some dog food, a
couple of bananas, earthworms and vitamins dissolved in water
each day.
"Avoid feeding the birds kroto (red ant eggs) sold in bird
shops because they are mostly sprayed with vinegar to keep them
fresh and the bird could suffer from diarrhea after eating that."
According to bird breeders present at the workshop, the going
price for a bulbul with a pleasant voice ranges from Rp 300,000
to Rp 750,000. Birds which have an exceptional voice and warble
away frequently can even fetch a price up to Rp 5 million,
according to Oman Rochman, another Bandung breeder.
Birds lovers hold regular singing contests for the breed -- a
title means a higher selling price.
Oman said that people normally bought the birds either for its
voice or to breed.
Prospective buyers should be careful when choosing their bird,
he said.
Bulbuls sold in the market are easily influenced by the noises
around them, including those on the streets. This altered their
natural voices.
"Do not buy the bird unless you hear it singing for you...
otherwise they could very well be as dumb as a mute. These birds
are known as 'empty cassettes'," he said. (ylt)