Birding in this nice and beautiful scenery of Javanese traditional village, Menoreh mountains provide you a chance to see many lowland birds. The hilly landscape (300–800 meters asl) covered with an agroforestry ecosystem proves to be a good habitat for birds. If you’re in Borobudur, then facing to the south you’ll see the shape of the Menoreh mountains like a figure who sleeps in the mountains. Local residents believe that the figure is Gunadharma, the architect of Borobudur.
Menoreh Mountains are located in the northwest end of Kulon Progo district of Yogyakarta province (borders Central Java province), part of the ridge line east of the zone “oblong domes/ridges”. Birding site in the village Jatimulyo, just about an hour’s drive west of Jogja city (32 km). Also an hour’s drive south of the famous Borobudur (36 km).
Down the street, the alley between the garden all day and can greet villagers were friendly. You might have a chance to see the beautiful Javan Kingfisher Halcyon cyanoventris, Javan Sunbird Aethopyga mystacalis, Streaky-breasted Spiderhunter Arachnothera affinis, Rubby-throated Bulbul Pycnonotus Dispar, Grey-cheeked Tit-Babbler Macronous flavicollis, Crescent-chested Babbler Stachyris melanothorax, Orange-bellied Flowerpecker Dicaeum trigonostigma, Common Goldenback Dinopium javanense, Oriental-dwarf Kingfisher Ceyx erithaca and more. The good and clean air in the village and the friendly villagers will satisfy your birding day.
Besides, many tourist attractions in Jatimulyo village such as waterfalls, hills, and caves can be combined with your birding holidays. After birding, an experience with a good local menu served by the villagers is a must. You can also taste the fine taste of shade-grown coffee produced by locals in the spirit of conservation.
Note:
– Villagers keep the animals there to make the rules a ban on hunting.
– Former coffee plantations in the Dutch colonial era are still managed by the residents; the coffee with the early varieties was planted in Java.
BEST TIME TO BIRDING: August – January
ACCESS AND ACCOMMODATION:
The best way for you to get to the location is to rent a car or motorbike because there is no public transportation to take you here. The trails can be a bit confusing so you may consider asking a local for assistance as a guide. Stay in the center of the city and drive very early in the morning.