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Arfak MountainsThe northeastern region of the Bird’s Head or Vogelkop Peninsula is made up of an isolated yet massive, more or less continuous mountain chain. The name ‘Tamrau’ applies to the western portion, bisected by the grassy Kebar Valley, heartland of the indigenous Karoon people. The Tamrau Mountains have been very scantily surveyed for any purpose till this day. In contrast, the easternmost sector, known as the Arfak Mountains — ‘Arfak’ meaning little more than ‘interior’ in the language of the coastal Biak people — is since Dutch colonial times one of the most frequently explored and best known regions of western New Guinea. As a consequence of this factor, and because they support all presently described Vogelkop endemics as well as provide straightforward access to largely untouched foothill, hill and montane forests that support a wonderfully diverse avifauna, the rugged Arfak Mountains are bound to become Papua’s premier birding destination. In the northeastern watershed these mountains rise steeply from the sea — little or no coastal plain being present here — to reach a high point on Mount Humeibo (2,820 m), which, when viewed from the provincial capital and gateway Manokwari — the ‘Dorey’ of former days — is nearly hidden by Mount Tumyobou (2,480 m). Hatam, Meyah and Sougb tribal people, who speak mutually unintelligible languages, all call the Arfaks home, and ultimately are the guardians of the future of these mountains’ exquisite yet increasingly threatened birdlife.
Four typical inhabitants of Arfak hill forests, clockwise from upper right: Rusty Whistler Pachycephala hyperythra, Magnificent Bird of Paradise Cicinnurus magnificus, gorgeous Chestnut-backed Jewel-Babbler Ptilorrhoa castanonotus, and Black-chinned Robin Poecilodryas brachyura. The Bird’s Head region, which for our purpose comprises the actual Bird’s Head Peninsula plus the Bomberai and Wandammen peninsulas as far east as the ‘Zoogeographer’s Gap’, harbors 10 endemic bird species, all of which occur in the Arfak area. Among these are the Vogelkop Bowerbird Amblyornis inornatus with its awesome, elaborately decorated bowers, the beautiful and little-known Arfak Astrapia Astrapia nigra, the rare Long-tailed Paradigalla Paradigalla carunculata, easily overlooked when not vocalizing, and the violently enrapturing Western Parotia Parotia sefilata. In addition, the Bird’s Head boasts 21 species with a restricted range, 15 of which can be seen in the Arfaks. In total, more than 320 bird species have so far been recorded from the Arfak region.
The Arfaks are an excellent place to get to grips with a good selection of New Guinea's splendid montane avifauna, clockwise from left: Mountain Owlet-Nightjar Aegotheles albertisi, Cinnamon-browed Melidectes Melidectes ochromelas, Spotted Jewel-Babbler Ptilorrhoa leucosticta, and Rufous-sided Honeyeater Ptiloprora erythropleura. Vogelkop endemic birds (10 species)White-striped Forest-Rail Rallina leucospila Restricted-range species (15 species)Red-billed Talegalla Talegalla cuvieri Widespread goodiesDwarf Cassowary Casuarius bennetti Related linksRead on about our short birding break to the Arfak Mountains. Read on about our prolonged birding expeditions visiting the Arfak Mountains. Browse our check-list of the birds of Papua. |
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