Thieves ruffle expensive feathers

YOGYAKARTA (JP): Burglars robbed a house on Jl. Prawirotaman here on Thursday stealing, among other things, a cucakrawa bird (pycnonotus zeylanicus) believed to be worth Rp 20 million (US$2,105.3).

The owner, Mawardi, was visiting his neighbors when the crime took place, Antara reported.

"I only left for less than half an hour," he said, adding that the house was empty because his maids had all left for their home towns for the holidays.

Besides the cucakrawa, which Mawardi said once won first prize at the national championships, the burglars stole eight other birds and jewelry worth Rp 15 million ($1,579). (hdn)