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Papua : a birder's paradiseThe vast and lush frontier forests of Papua are home to some of the most glorious birds on Earth. Anyone who watched the nearly mythical birds of paradise doing their intimate thing in the highly-acclaimed BBC nature documentary 'Attenborough in Paradise' is destined to long ever beyond to see the real stuff. But western New Guinea's diverse avifauna has so much more to offer than birds of paradise alone... Think huge, man-sized yet infuriatingly wary, flightless cassowaries. Retiring megapodes with fascinating incubation strategies, adeptly manipulating environmental heat sources. A New Guinea Eagle Harpyopsis novaeguineae delivering its remarkable and far-carrying advertising call towards dusk. Or crowned-pigeons abruptly breaking the relative silence when exploding in clapping wingbeats from alongside a creek at noon. Think of the profusion of parrots in all colors and sizes simply imaginable. Dazzling kingfishers, that include three single-island endemic paradise-kingfishers, and the widespread though rarely seen, aptly-named Shovel-billed Kookaburra Clytoceyx rex. Think mysterious nocturnal owlet-nightjars featuring cuddly, feline faces. Glorious jewel-babblers skulking on the forest floor as if most reluctant to reveal their colors. Think utterly astonishing bowerbirds... Very few places on Earth can rival with Papua's seemingly endless list of singularly unique feathered life forms. And with such a vast array of avian delights for grabs, it remains all the more puzzling that Papua is not simply knee-deep in birders, but in fact one of the least traveled outbacks of the globe.
Legendary birdlife of New Guinea, clockwise from upper left: male Superb Bird of Paradise Lophorina superba, Large Owlet-Nightjar Aegotheles insignis, the bower of Masked Bowerbird Sericulus aureus, and a pullus of Northern Cassowary Casuarius unappendiculatus. Birding in Papua, one of the last untamed places left on our planet, remains hard work however, even into the 21st century. The top bird watching areas usually can only be reached after arduous marches along what some have dubbed the steepest, most treacherous and muddiest trails in the southern hemisphere. The services of experienced local guides and porters, and a working knowledge of the Indonesian language to communicate effectively with them, are still absolute prerequisites in order to embark upon a journey into the heartlands of Papua. On top of that, the sheer elusiveness of Papua's birdlife is almost legendary, as anyone who has ever attempted to lure a Lesser Melampitta Melampitta lugubris into view, will readily testify. Perseverance, specialized birding skills and a profound knowledge of the local birdlife are all instrumental to successfully track down the many sought-after goodies. No wonder then perhaps that more than one poorly prepared birder already came home 'empty-handed' and that others have termed their experiences under prolonged adverse weather conditions 'a real nightmare'... Fortunately, Papua Expeditions now has made things a whole lot more straightforward and convenient for you. Through our extensive ornithological expertise and singular understanding of all major bird watching destinations in Papua, we are both confident and delighted to at long last bring this region's avian marvels within reach of any reasonably fit bird watching group with a sense for adventure. Whether you are a novice birder or an expert, whether you seek a highly focused twitching trip or a more relaxed bird watching holiday, Papua Expeditions caters to all abilities and interests. So be sure not to end up feeling 'like Wallace in Dorey' and let us take care of your birding in Papua! Related linksJust marvel at Tim Laman's wonderful still images of New Guinea birds of paradise (from www7.nationalgeographic.com), and wonder why Papua is not simply knee-deep in birders, but in fact one of the least traveled outbacks of the globe! Browse our check-list of the birds of Papua. |
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