Indonesian Vet Saves Endangered Bali Starlings
Nearly Extinct Indigenous Bird Species Rescued by Conservation Body
The Bali Starling (Leucopsar Rothschildi) would have been extinct without captive breeding programs conducted in several countries, but especially in Indonesia. Only a handful of the birds existed in the rapidly decreasing habitat around Bali, too few to be breeding successfully.
However, increasing habitat destruction, resulting from the Balinese’ loss of traditional farming methods and the effect of mining and plantations on the native forest, was the main cause of the birds’ endangered listing.
So it was vital to find a safe home for the few successfully captive-bred birds to enable them to thrive and breed. The birds had been bred by The Begawan Foundation in its Bali Starling Captive Breeding and Release Programme.
Island a Safe Haven for Threatened Birds
In 2004 Dr Bayu Wirayudha and his organisation, Friends of National Parks Foundation (FNPF) set up the Bird Sanctuary on on the limestone island of Nusa Penida, South-east of Bali. The sanctuary was designed to rehabilitate captive bred starlings and release them into the wild.
The island resembled the natural habitat of the Bali Starling and the also endangered Lesser Sulphur-crested Cockatoo (Cacatua sulphurea parvula).The Begawan Foundation decided to send all its Bali Starlings from Begawan Giri Estate to Nusa Penida as this was seen as the ideal safe release site.
Dr Bayu negotiated with different groups of indigenous landowners on the island to take responsibility for protecting the birds and their habitats. The 35 villages in Nusa Penida have now established traditional regulations known as ‘awig-awig’ for protecting the birds and the forests.
This traditional regulation by the different landowner groups is a major factor in the success of the work of the Nusa Penida Bird Sanctuary,
Birds Taught how to Survive on Nusa Penida
“Nusa Penida is a limestone island with very little topsoil. The villagers have terraced it and there is only a small amount of forest,” said Australian bird specialist vet, Dr Ross Perry, who visited Nusa Penida to observe Dr Bayu’s work.
“Dr Bayu has helped the villagers to start reforesting the land, but the topsoil is very thin. In the dry season there is very little surface water, so when the birds were first relocated to Nusa Penida, he actually taught them how to drink dew off the leaves before the sun dried it up,” Dr Perry said.
Dr Perry’s group were able to see firsthand the rehabilitation process the captive birds are given to acclimatise them to living in the wild, and the monitoring of the released birds, which are tagged and microchipped before release.
All the birds must learn the ability to survive in the wild before they are released. Kept in a 3m high cage, they are trained to identify and eat the natural food they will need to find in the wild and they also learn the social behaviour required to be part of a flock.
Once released, each bird is monitored daily to ensure that it can adapt to the natural environment, can find natural food, is able to identify and avoid predators, and is able to reproduce.
Endangered Birds Thriving on Nusa Penida
So far, the FNPF has released 63 birds on the island, and only five have died, all from natural causes. The birds have produced least 40 offspring, all bred in the wild, which have reached maturity and will be breeding.
Other birds rehabilitated at the Nusa Penida Bird Sanctuary include the Javan Sparrow, the Hornbill and the Lesser Crested Sulphur Cockatoo, all bird species threatened by diminishing habitat and the illegal trade in exotic birds.
Reforestation Protects Orangutans at Risk
Dr Bayu and FNPF are also working to protect Indonesia’s orangutans, threatened by drastic habitat destruction, by working with local communities. Read more in Creating New Homes for Orangutans in Borneo.
The Endangered Bali Starling
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Starlings in Rehab Cage, Nusa Penida
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Closeup of Bali Starlings in Cage
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