Looking for nature life in the city? This small mangrove forest in North Jakarta might become the tourism destination for this coming weekend. In Muara Angke Nature Reserve (SMMA), Penjaringan, North Jakarta, visitors can hear the bird singing and also do birdwatching.

Birdwatching becomes the attraction of this reserve area. SMMA is the smallest nature reserve, yet BirdLife International appointed this place as the most important area for bird life in Java Island.

The sound of chirping birds welcomes visitors. At least 90 kinds of birds, 28 of them are water birds, 63 are forest birds, and 17 are protected birds, live in this reserve. Among others are Purple Heron, Striated Heron, Grey Heron, White-browed Crake, Sooty-headed Bulbul and Yellow-vented Bulbul.

The endemic birds such as Sunda Coucal also live in the area. This black bird, which only lives in Java, is protected as it is endangered animal. Only certain places become the habitat of the bird, including SMMA.

Birdwatching can be enjoyed while walking in 800-meter board walk. In this wooden bridge, the visitors can devour the entire reserve area, the trees, ranging animals, and open marsh.

Several trees, nipah palm, grey mangrove, sonneratia, Terminalia catappa, line the edge of the land. The sonneratia fruits sometimes fall into the bridge.

The more the visitors get inside the area, the more the sound of the bird is heard. Other animals also become the inhabitant of this area. They are monitor lizards, python, cobra, insects, frogs, ranging fish, and also long-tailed macaque, a primate native to Southeast Asia.

The monkeys living in the reserve usually eat the falling sonneratia fruits. This green, small, and fragrant fruit is a delicious food for the monkeys.

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