By Singgir Kartana

YOGYAKARTA (JP): From a distance, hundreds of birds flocking at the estuary of Progo river in Yogyakarta every afternoon forms a magnificent white streak across the blue sky.

With its sand dunes and freshwater fish, the river, which is located on the border of Bantul and Kulonprogo regency, provides lavish feeding grounds for the birds, while various plants growing there make it an ideal place for them to nest.

But it's an old story. Nowadays, a flock of birds is a rare sight on the estuary.

"The presence of bird hunters around the estuary has frightened the birds, forcing them to leave the area," said Wardana, resident of Trisik, a village close to the estuary.

Although their numbers are fewer than before, one can still find some of the endangered birds in the estuary, which is located about 35 kilometers south of Yogyakarta.

A 1999 observation by Yayasan Kutilang -- a foundation working to monitor the bird population -- showed there were 32 bird species belonging to 10 families, including heron, wild duck, seagull and some migratory birds.

About a year ago, a Trisik resident came across a white crested dove wearing a bracelet on one of its legs with "Australia" written on it.

Some of the most popular residents are large crested sea doves (Sternabergii) with a colony numbering some 400 inhabitants.

Other birds found in large numbers were a small local variety of wild duck (Dendrocygna javanica) with some 200 reported.

The presence of the birds has continued to attract visitors to the estuary.

However, before the issuance of Yogyakarta Governor Instruction No. 10/1998, which banned bird-hunting on the estuary and its surrounding vicinity, most local residents were not aware that the area was an important habitat for various species of birds.

Decrease

According to local residents, the continued decrease in population of a local wild duck has been the most obvious. The duck had been a regular visitor and was easily spotted, due to their large numbers, but now, only a few of them remain.

Illegal bird hunters not only come from Kulonprogo regency itself, but also Yogyakarta and its surrounding areas.

"Wild duck is a favorite target as its meat has a delicious taste and if it is sold in the form of stuffed birds, the price can reach Rp 100,000 each.

According to bird observer and lecturer at Atma Jaya University School of Biology in Yogyakarta, Pramana Yudha, the decreasing population of estuarine birds can not only be blamed on bird hunters, but also environmental damage caused by man-made pollution and noise, particularly because the estuary is located close to a tourist site, Trisik beach.

He said that not all the birds found on the Progo estuary simply came to prey on fish, rest and nest. Some of them only came to feed before flying off to another place to nest.

A local species of egret and ibis, for example, only visit the estuary to find food before nesting in other places.