Urban trees to attract wild birds in a tropical urban residential complex in Sentul, West Java, Indonesia

Abstract

In an urban residential complex, in addition to providing environmental services, trees also attract wild birds. The objective of this research was to identify trees planted in tropical urban residential areas that can attract wild birds. The research was conducted in Sentul City Residential Complex, Bogor, West Java, by observing wild birds that visit certain trees as part of their habitat components. Trees provide nectar, fruits, seeds, and insects as food for birds and nest materials. Trees also have important functions as birds' cover and nesting sites. There were 103 tree species, all basically supporting the life of 51 bird species found in the study area. Examples of nectar producer trees were Spathodea campanulata, Callistemon citrinus, Erythrina crista-galli; fruit producers were Muntingia calabura, Syzygium polyanthum, Ficus benjamina; seeds producers were Leucaena leucocephala, Paraserianthes falcataria. Many trees also attracted insects for bird food, including Acacia mangium, Samanea saman. Conifers and small twigs and leaf petioles/rachis of many legumes, for example, Delonix regia, Calliandra calothyrsus) can be used as nest materials. Careful selection of trees could attract many wild birds to increase the environmental quality of the residential areas.