• Highlight: Javan Myna, Blue-eared Kingfisher, Scarlet-headed Flowerpecker, Javan Sparrow (rare), some surprises during migratory season
• Easy to access: very easy
• On-site accommodation: no
• Track difficulty: easy
• Guide needed: no
• Good for: casual birder, beginner photographer
• Hotspot(s): East Section, Wisdom Park

Overview

Gadjah Mada University (Universitas Gadjah Mada or UGM, ꦈꦤꦶꦥ꦳ꦼꦱꦶꦠꦱ꧀ꦒꦗꦴꦩꦢ) is one of the most elite universities in Indonesia, as well as the largest one in Yogyakarta—both in terms of enrollment as well as the physical area of its campus. The campus covers 183.36 hectares of the urban area of Yogyakarta, which consists of dozens of administrative buildings interspaced by green spaces full of mature trees. As such, it has become one of the city’s most important retreats for wildlife, especially when combined with its immediate neighbours, Yogyakarta State University and Sanata Dharma University.

The name Gadjah Mada refers to the famous Mahapatih (same level as Prime Minister) of the Majapahit Kingdom, a large Hindu-Buddhist Kingdom believed to extend as wide as modern-day Indonesia. The name was used by the founder of Balai Perguruan Tinggi Gadjah Mada (Gadjah Mada High Education Office) in 1946, just a year after the independence of Indonesia. In 1949, the government of Indonesia decided to amalgamate this new educational institution with others that were formed in Yogyakarta between 1946 and 1949.

At first, all education activities were held inside the Yogyakarta Sultanate Palace, until the current complex was developed in 1951. This complex eventually grew larger into the birding spot that I know and love today, although the recent development of the new building has reduced the bird-able space quite a lot.

How to Bird

The campus is usually divided into two main areas, the western wing and the eastern wing, based on the main road that parted through the middle of it. I usually prefer to bird in the latter, as it has more public areas open for visitors (so bringing binoculars or big cameras feels less awkward) and a wider array of habitats.  The eastern wing is also divided into two eBird hotspots based on the different habitats: “Gadjah Mada University–East Section (Ghra Sabha, Rektorat, etc)” which features an arboretum and park between buildings, and “Gadjah Mada University–Wisdom Park (Lembah UGM)” which includes the wooded lake park and nearby sports fields.

When visiting both hotspots, I usually begin at the former, particularly around the arboretum/main administrative building since it is closer to the bus stop and main road. The arboretum features large trees that become active heronry, with the nests of Gray Heron and Black-crowned Night Heron covering the canopy. Sometimes, Purple herons hide between the crowd, which is rare in the western half of Java. Legend says that the Nankeen Night Heron also has its nest somewhere in there, yet they are still eluding my life list.

To the south of Arboretum is the main administrative building, with plenty of lawn which becomes the playground for White-headed Munia (which nests on the palm on the parking lot), Sooty-headed Bulbul, Zebra Dove and Javan Myna. The two large fig trees in front of the building can be a good spot for Pink-necked Green Pigeons when fruiting, while the Coppersmith Barbet (endemic race roseus with all red face) and Scarlet-headed Flowerpecker are always present all around. The northeastern corner of the building is where sometimes the rare Java Sparrow can be seen resting, along with the roof of the old Forestry Department Building to the east of the Arboretum. Sangkar White-eye used to be a common sight here, but it disappeared following the rampant hunting in the early 2010s.

Further to the south is Grha Sabha Permana (GSP), a utility hall that becomes the centrepiece of UGM itself. It features a large field that recently has been converted to an overflow parking lot, but when there are not many cars around it becomes a nice playground for Zebra Dove and Javan Myna. There is also a single Long-tailed Shrike that has become the star of the area—now a rare sight in the urban areas in Indonesia since their decline due to rampant songbird trade. This was where I spotted a Common Myna and a Great Myna making a nest together a few years ago—both are not native to Java; the former has started to become invasive while the latter is probably a recent escapee.

From here I usually walk further south to the road towards the mosque (Jalan Bhinneka Tunggal Ika) and follow it until the small roundabout (Taman Humaniora). This road has some flowering trees that can be good to pick up some stragglers to increase the length of your list such as Olive-backed Tailorbird, Olive-backed Sunbird, Common Iora, and Pacific Swallow. The mosque tower seems to be a good place for Peregrine in migratory season, but I have not seen them perching there since its renovation a few years ago.

From the roundabout, I usually turn left to Jalan Olahraga and go straight to the entrance of Wisdom Park, where I start a new checklist in eBird. The best part of this hotspot is the lake, also known by its former name Lembah UGM Lake, which features a wooded area compared to the rest of the campus (except the arboretum, of course). This can be accessed by walking down the road from the entrance and then turning left to the path before the baseball pitch, which leads to a café’s parking lot. From here just keep heading north and you will find a small bridge that leads to the path that encircles the lake.

The best part of this patch is a tiny island to the north-eastern side of the lake, which is the favourite fishing spot for the star of the lake: Blue-eared Kingfisher. There is also a family of White-breasted Waterhen that reside on the island and sometimes can be seen darting in and out of vegetation, as well as various small birds such as Yellow-vented Bulbul moving about on the vegetation. My favourite thing to do here is to sit down by the wooden platform near the island and wait for the high-pitch call of Blue-eared Kingfisher betraying their presence. Photographers however might want to get a more eye-level look by sitting down near the lake border, but please bring mosquito repellent if you plan to do this!