North Sumatra has a typical Flora and fauna such as Nias Parrot. From types of Parrot, Nias Parrot is a unique one. This parrot can repeat human words that it heard.
In Indonesia, one of district in North Sumatra Province that rich with Nias Parrot endemic is Nias Island. Parrot Nias can duplicate sounds and words that it heard, not just human voice. Because of it intelligence, this bird becomes one of North Sumatra Icon, and becomes one of most wanted bird. This bird is prone to a poaching activity.
Beo Nias is under protected by state law, based on decision letters that has been issued by Ministry of Farming Nu 421/Kpts/Um/8/1970. Nias Parrot has bigger size than any other type of parrot. Common people will not be able to see the difference between Nias Parrot and other type of parrot. But it will be different for Parrot lovers. Nias Parrot is bigger and tougher.
Nias Parrot, Gracula Robusta has some typical characteristic such as; short hair in its head area. There is a yellow line of ear lobe (looks like chicken comb) that fused behind its head.
On the other head side of the Nias Parrot, there is also a pair of yellow pial. The iris of Nias Parrot is dark brown. Its beak is large and sharp with an orange yellow color. On the body, covered with dark black hair, but on the tip of the wings feathers are white. In the second part of its legs are yellow with four toes. Three of its fingers are facing forward and the other finger facing backwards.
Nias Parrot has Latin; name Gracula religiosa robusta or Gracula robusta, live in groups or in pairs. It can only be found in Nias Island or its surrounding areas; such as Pig Island, Simo Island, Tuangku Island and Bangkaru Island. Usually the Nias Parrot, in a group, makes their nests in the high tree trunks that stand upright by hollowing them. Nias Parrot loves to live in open space.
Foods which are preferred by Nias Parrot are; fruits, grains, and also insects. For breeding, Nias Parrot, has a spawning season, between December to May. Rotted trees or tall tree trunks that still stand upright will be chosen by the females as comfortable place. Nias Parrot females will spawn for 2 to 3 eggs, and they will incubate the light blue eggs with brown or purple spots, about 26-37 mm size for about three weeks.
Namun sayang karena keunikannya, burung Beo Nias yang cantik ini terancam populasinya di dunia. Banyaknya pemburu yang menginginkan burung ini berdampak pada berkurangnya jumlah dari burung yang didaftar sebagai Least Concern dalam IUCN Redlist dan CITES Apendiks II ini.
But unfortunately because of its uniqueness, this beautiful Nias Parrot population is being threatened. The large number of hunters, who hunt down this bird, already reduced its number. Nias Parrot now is in IUCN Redlist and CITES Appendix II.
This article has been published and taken from www.jurnalasia.com