Adopting a Planting System in the 5th Cycle of Mansur Heritage Rice
Drag
After the release of six young Bali Starlings in Banjar Bayad on 7 April 2022 as a flock, Begawan’s team conducted regular monitoring. Five released birds were seen around the rice fields near the initial release site and in the local community compounds. To update, six of these birds have actually been sighted in mid-May.
The team then moved six more young Bali Starlings, aged 5 to 8 months, from Begawan Breeding and Release Centre to the newly emptied habituation enclosure in Banjar Bayad. Four months from now, these birds will be released as a flock after reaching approximately one year of age and having become used to the location.
On 22 April 2022, Begawan’s veterinarian microchipped these six birds. According to the veterinarian, the microchip installation is for marking the birds. There are several types of marking for animals especially birds, such as metal rings around the birds’ legs, colour tags, and also markings so that they can be easily be distinguished physically. However, marking with a microchip is a safer method of identifying an animal, as it is implanted under the skin so it cannot be seen and must be read using a microchip reader.
Bali Starlings can be microchipped when they reach 8 months of age. If the bird is too young, microchipping can cause injury. The microchip installed in the bird can last throughout the bird’s life. (Ikhsan)
