Census-Counting Waterbird in Jakarta’s Coast by Students
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Date:
30 Apr 2020 -
Author:
KEHATI
DATE: 3 February 2018
AUTHOR: KEHATI
The youth who are members of a group of birdwatchers and nature lovers from various universities in Jakarta do the inventory of waterbirds in the Angke Protected Forest area of Kapuk, North Jakarta. The counting or census is in commemoration of the 2018 Asian Waterbird Census (AWC), on Saturday (01/13). The Asian Waterbird Census in Jakarta was held in collaboration with the Jakarta Birdwatcher Society and the KEHATI Foundation Biodiversity Warriors.
The KEHATI Foundation’s Education & Outreach Staff, Ahmad Baihaqi, revealed that the aim of the activity was to collect annual information about the waterbird population in the wetlands. The existence of waterbirds in an area can also be used as an indication that the environment is still good.
“From the observations that began at 07.00 WIB until 11.00 WIB, as many as 11 species of water birds were successfully recorded, including striated heron (Butorides striatus), grey heron (Ardea cinerea), black cormorants (Phalacrocorax sulcirostris), Indian darter (Anhinga melanogaster) and several other types of water birds” said Abay, Ahmad Baihaqi’s nickname, who is also a student of Biology Master Program, Postgraduate School, National University, Jakarta.
AWC participants in Jakarta this year were young people who care about the environment, including the KEHATI Foundation Biodiversity Warriors, BScC Indonesia, Indonesia Wildlife Photography, and other environmental activist groups. In addition, participants from study groups from various universities were also present, including the Ardea Biological Bird Club (BBC), Faculty of Biology, National University, KPB Nycticorax, Jakarta State University, Nectarinia KPB, Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University Jakarta, Comata Wildlife Study Group (KSHL) University of Indonesia, Fauna Conservation Union (UKF) Bogor Agricultural University, and Sapta Pala SMA 7 Jakarta.
Jakarta Birdwatcher Society Coordinator, Ady Kristanto, revealed that the AWC or waterbird count globally is an annual program. This year, AWC starts from January 6-21. However, in Indonesia the calculation and data collection can be carried out throughout the month of January, the results of which are recorded in a form sheet and the results will be reported simultaneously from various parts of the world through the International Waterbird Census agency. This activity is also a media campaign to the public on the importance of maintaining wetland areas for human life or other living things.
Census counting of waterbird globally is also carried out simultaneously in various countries in Africa, Europe and America under the umbrella of the International Waterbird Census (IWC). While in Indonesia, the AWC activities themselves are coordinated through the Wetlands International – Indonesia Program.