Local Community Collaboration the Key in the Search to Save the Javan Blue-banded Kingfisher
With funding from the ASAP Species Conservation Grant and the Oriental Bird Club, Imam Taufiqurrahman from SwaraOwa led the project by designing and coordinating the surveys along the Sengkarang river system which stretched across Petungkriyono and Lebakabarang districts. Surveys were conducted across five main rivers, amounting to approximately 35km of transect distance, and were carried out by boat or foot. Divided into stretches of 1 km with 200 m fixed points, two observers were positioned at these fixed points and made observations for 1 hour-long periods. The entire operation required massive community effort, involving more than 50 villagers. However, ultimately the team had to rely on Imam and his colleague Kurnia Ahmadin to accurately identify the Javan Blue-banded Kingfisher when compared with other small kingfisher species known to occur in Petungkriyono.