Exploring Local Wisdom Through Sounds of Wild Bird: Cultural Heritage and Conservation Ethics in Indonesian Tropical Rainforests

The interaction between humans and birds plays an important role in shaping the sustainability of tropical rainforest ecosystems, particularly through bird vocalizations that function as bioacoustic indicators of ecological conditions while simultaneously embedding socio-cultural meanings within local communities. This study aims to (1) classify types and categories of bird sounds as perceived by rural communities, and (2) assess the role of bird vocalizations as cultural symbols supporting community-based conservation practices. The study was conducted across six islands and eight villages in North Maluku, Eastern Indonesia, using a qualitative approach based on semi-structured interviews and community workshops. A total of 435 respondents, all of whom were farmers residing along forest margins, participated in the study. The results documented 51 bird species belonging to 26 families, whose vocalizations were interpreted and classified by local communities into three acoustic categories: 21 species with loud calls (41.18%), 12 species with melodious calls (23.53%), and 18 species with sad calls (35.29%). Melodious vocalizations were commonly associated with values of beauty, calmness, and social harmony, whereas loud calls were predominantly interpreted as warnings, signals of alertness, or indicators of environmental change. These findings demonstrate that bird sounds serve not merely as ecological cues, but as culturally embedded symbols that guide daily activities, moral values, and conservation ethics within rural communities. By documenting the cultural significance of bird vocalizations across a clearly defined geographic context, this study provides an empirical basis for culturally informed conservation strategies aimed at protecting bird species subject to high levels of cultural use and ecological pressure.