The Asian Waterbird Census, known as AWC, is an annual voluntary activity held at the beginning of each month. The AWC activity was initiated by Wetlands International with the aim of conserving water birds and their habitat. The Yogyakarta Bird Watching Association or known as PPBJ collaborated with several nature and conservation organizations in Yogyakarta in bird watching to fulfill AWC data. The bird watching activity was carried out on 19 February 2023 from 08.00-11.00 a.m. at Balekambang, Yogyakarta International Airport (YIA).
This activity was attended by Matalabiogama, the UNY Bionic Bird Watching Group, Silvagama, Mapaperta Sarjana Taman Siswa Yogyakarta, and the UGM Wildlife Study Group. Matalabiogama was represented by 5 members namely Aufa Amila Nawafila, Khalisa Ridha Fadhila Zaini, Fadhila Nurjannah, Hanif Nashrudin, and Shaila Revita Zafira. Matalabigama members gathered at the Secretariat at 05.30 a.m. and left together from the Faculty of Biology UGM at 06.00 a.m. to Yogyakarta International Airport.
Matalabiogama members arrived at YIA at 08.00 a.m., and were given the task to observe bird species and record the number of bird species within the area. Bird watching is done with the help of binoculars and a camera. Identification of bird species is done by looking at the guidebook that has been provided or asking PPBJ members through the documentation that has been taken. After observing for 3 hours, around 11.00 a.m. all observers gathered to collect their observations.
From the observation result, there were 29 types of bird species consisting of Purple Heron, Gray Heron, Little Cormorant, Black-Crowned Night Heron, Lesser Whistling Duck, Cerulean Kingfisher, Cattle Egret, Little Egret, Intermediate Egret, Javan Pond Heron, Yellow Bittern, Javan Munia, White-Headed Munia, Scaly-Breasted Munia, Zitting Cisticola, Sunda Coucal, Javan Kingfisher, Spotted Dove, Australasian Grebe, White-Breasted Waterhen, Cave Swiftlet, White-Throated Kingfisher, Scarlet-Headed Flowerpecker, Common Moorhen, Eurasian Tree Sparrow, Barred Buttonquail, Striated Swallow, White-Browed Crake, and Blue-Tailed Bee-Eater. The most species found was the Black-Crowned Night Heron with a total of approximately 100 individuals. The collected data will be used to fulfill the AWC 2023 data. After data collections and documentation, these activities were closed at 12.00 a.m. With Matalabiogama’s participation in this AWC activity, it was hoped that they would be able to take part in similar activities or collaborate with other organizations in the context of animal identification and conservation.