Ethno-ornithology and local ecological knowledge of birds in the agroforestry landscapes of Kalibawang, Central Java, Indonesia
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Abstract. Nursami F, Ardelia F, Nuraini FL, Aliyazzahra F, Sholiqin M, Iskandar J, Iskandar B, Md Naim D, Setyawan AD. 2025. Ethno-ornithology and local ecological knowledge of birds in the agroforestry landscapes of Kalibawang, Central Java, Indonesia. Asian J Ethnobiol 8: 367-389. Ethno-ornithological knowledge in rural Java provides important insight into how birds are perceived, classified, utilized, and conserved within agroforestry landscapes. This study documents the structure, transmission, and ecological relevance of Local Ecological Knowledge (LEK) among 124 male respondents from four villages in Kalibawang, Central Java. Bird-related knowledge is transmitted predominantly through patrilineal and male-centered networks, reinforced by mentor–apprentice relationships within lomba kicau (songbird competition) culture. Respondents recognized 71 bird species organized into flexible folk categories based on vocalization, habitat association, perceived behavior, symbolic meaning, and management context. Songbirds (burung kicau) formed the most dominant and culturally salient category, reflecting the central role of acoustic perception in local cognition. Most recorded species (57.7%) were not directly utilized, indicating that bird exploitation is highly selective rather than pervasive. Active use was concentrated on cage birds and pet trade species, supported by specific capture techniques, particularly bird glue (getah/pulut) and netting. Cultural taboos and ethical norms contributed to a substantial proportion of non-captured species, especially forest-dependent and symbolically protected birds. LEK showed strong alignment with scientific knowledge regarding habitat use and conspicuous behavior, while partial mismatches in feeding guild perception were primarily driven by visibility and symbolic interpretation rather than ecological misunderstanding. Culturally salient species, including Copsychus saularis, Pycnonotus aurigaster, Zosterops spp., and Leptocoma spp., exhibited high Cultural Importance (CI) values and were closely associated with perceived ecological services such as insect control, pollination, and seed dispersal. Overall, LEK in Kalibawang constitutes a coherent socio-ecological system that integrates cultural values, ecological observation, and informal governance. Despite its gendered and cross-sectional scope, this knowledge system offers a culturally grounded foundation for community-based bird conservation in Javanese agroforestry landscapes.
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