Nusa Penida is a small island, just 30 minutes of to the south-east of Padangbai harbor. It can be reached by powered boat or traditional motorized yachts either from Sanur beach or Benoa harbor. What can visitors do in Nusa Penida? Diving, snorkeling, trekking, cycling and praying (as part of spiritual tours) are the most popular activities. What about other thing’s? Maybe bird watching is another, a new attraction offered there.
Friends of National Park Foundation (FNPF) led by Bayu Wirayudha, in collaboration with Begawan Giri Foundation have initiated captive breeding programs of the Bali Starling and other bird species in Nusa Penida. In Indonesia, the Bali Starling has been protected since 1931 in “Undang-Undang Perlindungan Binatang Liar” (Regulation concerning wildlife) 1931, and Regulation (Undang-Undang) No 5 in 1990 about conservation of bio-natural resources and it’s ecosystems. Internationally the Bali Starling has been registered in the Red Data Book from IUCN.
Udayana University, as well as the local community participates in conservation of the birds and their ecosystem in Nusa Penida. The program has been successful in involving participation of the locals in protecting bird species through local regulation called pararem or awig-awig. FNPF has also run a survey regarding the bird habitat in collaboration with Ecotourism Study Group of Biology Department, Faculty of Math and Natural Sciences of Udayana University, Bali. The plants nursery has prepared seedlings to be planted throughout the island.
After awarness programs and some preparations were made, on July 10th, 2006, 25 Bali Starling birds were released into the wild. The second release was on December 12th, 2006, and the third on April 28th, 2007. Since the first release, a total of 49 birds have been released. The presence of birds was monitored by the foundation. So far, at least 15 off-spring have been observed to enjoy their freedom in the wild. This is a huge success, considering the presence of natural populations of the Bali Starling in the wild was concidered to be less than 10 individuals recently.
A bird watching program has been set up for visitors who might be interested in bird watching and seeing bird conservation programs in Nusa Penida. This includes seeing the birds in captivity around Ped Village, and in the wild. More than 50 bird species have been identified in Nusa Penida, and the Yellow-Crested Cockatoo (Cacatua sulphurea) is another interesting species to see on this island.

News by International Bali Post

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