World Migratory Bird Day 2022 in Indonesia with HIMPUS

The World Migratory Bird Day 2022 celebration this October was organized by HIMPUS (Poultry Lovers Association) Veterinary Medicine students at Syiah Kuala University, Banda Aceh, Indonesia, implementing various awareness activities that focus on community awareness and approaches for children in Aceh, Indonesia.

HIMPUS aimed to raise awareness in the community from an early age, to love the environment for the sake of preserving migratory birds in the world. HIMPUS carried out this celebration with great enthusiasm to jointly protect the migratory bird population and their habitat, which can be seen from some of the activities carried out for children in schools. The children who sit in school are very interested in the new knowledge presented about migratory bird species that they may only know about at this time.

The celebration of World Migratory Bird Day 2022 in October began with a kindergarten coloring competition held at Bungong Seulepouk Early Childhood School in Banda Aceh on 1 October 2022. This competition aims to introduce migratory bird species with the fun of coloring for children.

Group photo with Coloring Competition Participants ©️ HIMPUS

Winners of the competition received trophies, certificates of appreciation and stationery equipment. The children who took part in this competition were very happy and learned about the migratory birds that were introduced.

The celebration of World Migratory Bird Day 2022 in October was followed by outreach to several schools by visiting one of the elementary and high schools in Aceh. This socialization activity was first carried out at the 57 syiah Kuala State Elementary School, on 3 October 2022. This socialization was an effort to introduce migratory birds and efforts to protect migratory birds in Aceh.

Group photo taken at 57 syiah Kuala State Elementary School ©️ HIMPUS

Speaking at 57 syiah Kuala State Elementary School ©️ HIMPUS

Furthermore, the school visit was held at the MAN 4 Banda Aceh high school on 14 October 2022.

School visit to MAN 4 Banda Aceh high school ©️ HIMPUS

Speaking at MAN 4 Banda Aceh high school ©️ HIMPUS

Other celebration activities carried out were distributing stickers around the campus and Banda Aceh City, targeting students and local communities in Aceh. This distribution is an approach for the general public to recognize and participate in the celebration of World Migratory Bird Day.

HIMPUS team handing out stickers ©️ HIMPUS

The highlight of the celebration of World Migratory Bird Day 2022 in October was the Seminar with the theme “Dim the lights for Birds of Night” and Birdwatching which will be held on 9 October 2022. The seminar took place in the Hall of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Syiah Kuala University. This seminar was presented by two speakers who are experienced in birds and conservation, namely: Dr. Agus Nurza, M.Si and Dr. Rosalia, M. Anim. Sc.,

Dr. Agus Nurza, M.Si. is a bird watcher in Aceh, Indonesia and the founder and chairman of the Aceh Birder bird organization. He introduced and at the same time shared his experience in migratory bird conservation and introduced migratory birds to the problem of light pollution on the journey of migratory birds.

The second speaker is Dr. Rosalia, M. Anim.Sc., who is a lecturer and alumni of The University of Queensland, Australia. She shared her experiences when carrying out migratory bird conservation activities in Australia. The experience is intended to raise public awareness to protect migratory birds which is a problem at this time.

The speakers focused on raising public awareness to try to protect migratory birds in Aceh with various experiences and introducing efforts that could be done by the community and young people in Aceh, Indonesia.

After the successful seminar, the next activity was Birdwatching and Monitoring the Habitat of Migratory Birds in Aceh, at Ulee Lheue Beach, Aceh. The activity took place in the afternoon and was guided by Dr. Agus Nurza, M.Si. During the activity, several migratory bird species were found on the beach, namely Far Eastern Curlew (Numenius madagascariencis) and Dunlins (Calidris aalpin).

Far Eastern Curlew spotted ©️ HIMPUS	Dunlins spotted during the Birdwatching and Monitoring activity ©️ HIMPUS
Participants Birdwatching ©️ HIMPUS	Participants Birdwatching with guidance from Dr. Agus Nurza, M.Si.

This birdwatching activity helped monitor the migratory bird habitat and introduced one of the migratory bird habitats in Aceh to participants.

Article by HIMPUS (Poultry Lovers Association).

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