 The Bali Starling is an exotic and unique
Balinese bird native to the island, but its future is uncertain. Ananta Wijaya describes
the plight of the Starling...
 Rare fauna lovers would recognise the
species of Bali Starling (Leocopsar rothschildi); a small bird that is famous for its soft
feathering and melodious warble.
Unfortunately, however, this species - which is considered to be
Bali’s mascot - is facing extinction.
A large area of Taman National Bali Barat, the National Park of West
Bali, has been set aside by the government as a reserve. This 19,002.89 ha. park, the only
National Park in Bali, stretches from the Jembrana Regency through to the border of the
Buleleng Regency. The future of the population of the Bali Starling will, later, be
determined in this place.
One of the National Park’s managers, Harun Hendarsah, has
explained the population problems in detail. “At this time, the total number of Bali
Starlings in the park’s region is only 37 birds, which includes 12 birds that have
just released from breeding.” The current number of Bali Starlings in the park’s
breeding program is 77.
The human and environmental threats
According to the chief of the park’s sub-section in Buleleng,
Wawan Suryawan, the main threat to the birds is human. Because bird lovers covet the bird,
theft and sale of the birds is a real problem. “There is an organised syndicate that
backs the thieves up,” Wawan says. He explains that in the looting operation, this
syndicate is equipped with modern weapons, and the security protection is inadequate for
the size of the area being protected.
The Bali Starling has traditionally inhabited unoccupied areas of
north-west Bali. Evidence reveals that for the first 50 years of this century the highest
density of Bali Starling population was concentrated in Trima Bay, while the lowest
density was in central Bali. The width of the forest has narrowed over time, and the
habitat occupied by the Bali Starling has become very dry.
The starling population disappeared from the southern area in the
1960s, and ten years later they could no longer be found in the north-eastern corner. An
inhabitant of the area surrounding the park, M. Jatim, shares his own personal
experiences. “In the early 1970s hundreds of Bali Starling passed from north to south
above my village in the morning, and in the evening they passed from south to north.”
Another ten years on, in the 1980s, the starling population was concentrated only in the
Prapat Agung Peninsula, at heights of less than 150 - 200 metres.
The movement patterns of the Bali Starling indicate that there is a
seasonal distribution pattern. During the breeding season, between November and April, the
whole population settles in Ekor Bay and Brumbun Bay. At this time the Starlings usually
stay in pairs and will remain separate from the rest of the group, and there will usually
be 8 to 12 in one group.
During the dry season, between April and October, the Bali Starling
usually disperses to the south and south-west. In this season, the Bali Starling community
commonly has difficulties in obtaining food, so they usually wander in a radius of 8 to 9
km from the region of Kelor Bay and Brumbun Bay. They return to their real habitat again
in the rainy season.
Bird Life Indonesia, in association with the Taman National Bali Barat, has done research
that shows that the birds can be classified into two habitat groups. The first of these is
the habitat for the breeding season, and the second, the habitat for the non-breeding
season.
Bird Life Indonesia, in association with the Taman National Bali Barat, has done research
that shows that the birds can be classified into two habitat groups. The first of these is
the habitat for the breeding season, and the second, the habitat for the non-breeding
season.
During the breeding season, the Bali Starling often occupies flammable
shrub and savanna at the height of 150 - 175 metres in the north-east area of Prapat Agung
Peninsula, Brumbun Bay. This habitat is dominated by pilang (Acacia leucophloea),
tembelekan (Lantana camara), and kirinyuh (Eupatorium inufolium), and is interspersed with
dense vegetation through a wet valley.
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