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birding...
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea is an incredibly diverse island both in terms of its culture and its avifauna. Lying just beyond the easterly remnants of the Asian continent and Wallace`s line it is in most respects very much Australasian. There are no Barbets, Woodpeckers or Trogons for example and likewise no primates. This isolation has allowed marsupials and many Australasian bird families to flourish. Particularly well represented groups include Pigeons, Parrots, Owlet Nightjars, Kingfishers, Australasian warblers and Fantails, Monarchs, Australasian Robins, Honeyeaters, and of course the Birds of Paradise for which this wonderful archipelago is justly famous. This geographic isolation, combined with the rugged mountainous interior has also led to an incredible diversification of people. For example over 700 languages are spoken, and nearly every valley seems to have its own culture and traditions, with some people not having had their first contact with westerners until the 1930`s. Thankfully this has also allowed much of Papua New Guinea`s natural habitat to remain, and there are still vast expanses of forest, alive with some of the most exciting birds on the planet. New Guinea has more than 400 endemic bird species (including offshore islands), although the relatively arbitrary international boundary that bisects the main landmass means that mainland Papua New Guinea supports a mere 25 or so true endemics. However these include some astonishingly beautiful species such as Fire-maned Bowerbird, Brown-headed Paradise Kingfisher, Ribbon-tailed Astrapia, and Raggiana, Emperor and Blue Birds of Paradise. A three or four week trip to the top sites in Papua New Guinea [listed below] could produce a total of around 300 species, but more intrepid birders with more time will find many other excellent sites just waiting to be discovered. |
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top sites |
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Kiunga
Kiunga is a lowland rainforest area in the west of the country near the Irian Jaya border, possible birds include, Southern Crowned Pigeon, Pesquet`s Parrot, Blue Jewel Babbler, Palm Cockatoo, Common Paradise Kingfisher, Flame Bowerbird, Twelve-wired, Greater, Raggiana and King Birds of Paradise.Tabubil
Tabubil is a site in the foothills of the Star Mountains which is good for Chestnut-backed Jewel Babbler, Carola`s Parotia and Magnificent Bird of Paradise.Tari/Mt. Hagen
Tari/Mt. Hagen are Highland sites from 1700 - 2900 metres above sea level. Many birds including Ribbon-tailed Astrapia, Black and Brown Sicklebills, Lawe`s Parotia, Blue, Crested, Superb and King of Saxony Birds of Paradise.Varirata National Park
Varirata National Park is near Port Moresby, highlights could include Dwarf Cassowary, Brown-headed Paradise Kingfisher, Eastern Riflebird and Wallace`s Fairy wren.contributor |
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Chris Lodge
Bird Artist
chrislodge@birdingart.com
http://www.birdingart.com
numbers |
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National Bird - Raggiana Bird of Paradise Paradisaea raggiana
numbers |
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The above is a figure for the whole of New Guinea (including the Bismarcks and Admiralty Islands), with 29 endemic to PNG alone and 42 in West Papua, whilst the Bismarcks/Admiralties have about 54, (and Bougainville another 4).
useful reading |
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Birds and Bird Lore of Bougainville and the North Solomons
Don Hadden, Dove 2002ISBN: 0959025758
Buy this book from NHBS.com
Birds of New Guinea
Bruce Beehler, Thane Pratt, Dale Zimmerman Princeton University Press - new edition due 2008ISBN: 9780691095639
Buy this book from NHBS.com
Birds of New Guinea and the Bismarck Archipelago. A Photographic Guide
By Brian J Coates William S Peckover, Dove 2001ISBN: 095902574X
Buy this book from NHBS.com
Papua New Guinea Birds in Colour
B Coates 32 pages, col photos, map. Robert Brown & AssociatesISBN: 090912728X
Buy this book from NHBS.com
The Birds of Papua New Guinea
THE BIRDS OF PAPUA NEW GUINEA Brian J Coates The major reference work for the region, covering the eastern half of the island of New Guinea, the Bismarck Archipelago, Admiralty Islands and Bourgainville Island in the North Solomons. Beautifully produced and ornithologically accurate, each of the two volumes gives details of identification, distribution, habitats, altitudinal range, relative abundance, status, behaviour, diet, voice, breeding and subspecies.ISBN: 567W 5519W
Buy this book from NHBS.com
useful information |
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Proact
Coordinator: none (why not apply?) see http://www.proact-campaigns.net/coordinators
Members: None yet!
Join us at http://www.proact-campaigns.net/team
clubs |
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New Guinea Harpy Eagle Project
http://www.peregrinefund.org/conserve_category.asp?category=New%20Guinea%20Harpy%20Eagle%20ProjectThe New Guinea Harpy Eagle Harpyopsis novaeguineae is the largest non-human predator within the tropical forests of Papua New Guinea. Despite its size the species is inconspicuous and rarely seen. Very little is known of the natural history, breeding biology, and habitat requirements of this shy raptor. The species is found throughout New Guinea where its habitat is under threat from mining, logging, and other factors. In particular the New Guinea Harpy Eagle is targeted by local hunters who seek the eagle`s intricately marked tail feathers for use in traditional ceremonies. The species is currently classified as being vulnerable to extinction...
Papua Bird Club
http://www.papuabirdclub.com/Papua Bird Club is the only organization located in West Papua (Irian Jaya, now Papua); Indonesia that offers customized tours for bird lovers as well as conservation activity for the purpose of conserving the Papuan birds and its nature in their original habitat. Papua offers some of the best birding in the world. Located on the western half of the island of New Guinea, the world`s second largest, Papua still has areas that are waiting to be explored. The province contains several endemic species of Birds of Paradise, Bowerbirds, Cassowaries, Cockatoos, Parrots, etc.The land is also rich in plant and other wildlife, such as the Tree Kangoroo, the giant Leatherback sea turtle, Dugong and the longest varanid species on the planet. West Papua regions also offers the best underwater marine life in the world, according to the recent CI marine survey around the Raja Ampat Island...
The Nature Conservatory Papua New Guinea Program
http://nature.org/wherewework/asiapacific/papuanewguinea/The Conservancy`s work in Papua New Guinea is driven by a strong belief in long-term community engagement and innovative approaches to conservation, including a nationally recognized marine education program, conservation covenants, community managed protected areas and a conservation trust fund...
reserves |
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Crater Mountain Wildlife Management Area
http://www.worldwildlife.org/bsp/bcn/learning/ar97/97_crater15.htmThe Crater Mountain Wildlife Management Area is the perfect destination for those wanting to experience magnificent rainforests while learning more about the traditional lifestyles of the people who call the rainforest home.
Mount Gahavisuka National Park
http://www.janeresture.com/png_sepik/...noted for the famed birds of paradise, Mt. Wilhelm (4,509) metres), the Asaro Mudmen village, Kainantu pottery, and Dualo Pass - one of the highest road access points in Papua New Guinea - are just a few of the select tours...
Wetlands of International Importance
http://www.ramsar.orgPapua New Guinea presently has 2 sites designated as Wetlands of International Importance, with a surface area of 594,924 hectares...
Wopkola Rainforest
http://www.geocities.com/skyfdn/wopkola.htmlWopkola Rainforest is a newly developed, strict conservation, and natural habitat location which KVEDO, Inc. aims to further develop it into a national conservation site in Papua New Guinea...
trip reports |
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Travelling Birder
http://www.travellingbirder.com
The Travellingbirder.com birding trip report search engine guides you to 7,000+ birding trip reports on the Internet. You can search for trip reports from a specific country and time of year. Not all these reports are in English. So, if you can’t find the trip report you want on this Fatbirder page… give them a try!
1998 [October] - Jan Vermeulin
http://www.birdtours.co.uk/tripreports/papua-new-guinea/png2/PAPUA1.htmPapua New Guinea does not tend to feature high on the list for places to go for most world birders, probably as a result of the high cost and of adverse reports regarding the security situation in the country...
1999 [September] - Phil Gregory
http://www.cassowary-house.com.au/pngtrip1.htmThis was our ninth tour to Papua New Guinea, home to some of the most spectacular and bizarre birds in the world. Finding birds in PNG can be a real challenge, with some of the most difficult birding on earth, but our group rose magnificently to the occasion and we recorded an outstanding selection, a new PNG trip record...
2000 [July] - David & John F. Cooper
http://www.birdtours.co.uk/tripreports/papua-new-guinea/png1/index.htm...Scott had kindly told Core that we would be back today and had arranged for Core to take us to see displaying Raggiana Bird of Paradise for a fee of 50K...
2001 [August] - Ian Burrows
http://www.sicklebill.com/This was the second Sicklebill Safaris Ltd. tour to Papua New Guinea. It was designed to find as many of the endemic species as possible, with special emphasis being placed on the birds of paradise and bowerbirds. Of the sites we visited, most were locally owned, according with Sicklebill Safaris` policy of supporting such minimum impact, sustainable tourism ventures where possible. This can only help to preserve and maintain these unique sites by providing the local people with a regular income from the intact forest as opposed to the habitat destruction caused by logging...
2002 [August] - Klaus Uhlenhut
http://www.kirrama.com.au/png%20trip.htmlOn our first afternoon together birdwatching started at the Pacific Adventist Collage, which is a sanctuary a few kilometers out of Port Moresby...
2002 [February] - Greg Roberts - Bougainville, Bismarck Islands, Manus Island
http://www.birdtours.co.uk/tripreports/papua-new-guinea/bismarck/islands-jan02.htmMainly a work trip with Angela Wylie, with some birding fitted in...
2002 [May] - Garry George
http://www.birdtours.co.uk/tripreports/papua-new-guinea/png4/png-may2002.htmOur three week time restriction forced us to focus on the traditional sites well covered by most tour groups and one new site recently opened in the Adelbert Mountains on the North Coast near Madang, all in PNG. More difficult ventures into Irian Jaya and the satellite islands around New Guinea would have to wait for future trips. Most of PNG is undeveloped mountainous or lowland forest. Australians, Christian missionaries and logging and mineral speculators have developed an effective, safe air system and most long distance travel is on small aircraft with unpredictable schedules as there are few roads. Mining and logging is hindered by this lack of roads – there was usually one main one - although that is changing...
2003 [July] Moira & Graeme Wallace
http://www.surfbirds.com/mb/trips/png-gw-1003.htmlOverall the trip was pretty successful as we saw 22 of the 24 target Birds of Paradise (Black Sicklebill heard only and Emperor BoP missed altogether) 19 of them males; 5 of the 6 possible Bowerbirds including scope views of the glowing Flame Bowerbird; 2 of the 3 Jewel-babblers; and we enjoyed wonderful views of Southern Crowned Pigeon, Sooty Owl and the very localised White-bellied Pitohui. We perhaps fared less well with some of the tougher species like Dwarf Cassowary, Painted Quailthrush, White-eared Catbird, Pheasant and Ground Pigeons but they were always going to be tricky. Overall we saw around 250 species, reliably hearing 10 others and it was a great pleasure to experience very different cultures and enjoy some of the most magnificent lowland and montane forest environments anywhere on the planet...
2004 [March] - Ron Hoff
http://www.birdtours.co.uk/tripreports/papua-new-guinea/png5/png-mar-04.htm...There’s a bower of the Fawn-breasted Bowerbird there that has been in use for several years. One of our highlights was a great look at the lovely Orange-fronted Fruit-Dove...
2005 [July] - Steve Bailey & Adam Riley
http://www.rockjumper.co.za/02_destination_b_reports_png_2005_july.htmRanking as the second-largest island in the world (after Greenland), New Guinea has more bird species than any other island. With roughly half of these bird species endemic to the island, New Guinea also has one of the highest rates of endemism in the world and has a total of endemic species that is unequaled by any other island. The fabulous birds-of-paradise almost all inhabit New Guinea. Together with very diverse assemblages of parrots, doves, kingfishers, and many bird families unique to the Australasian avifauna, these dazzling birds make New Guinea a major destination for the international birder. Add the vast intact forests and astounding human cultures and anyone should understand why birders are so excited to make their first visit to New Guinea...
2006 [August] - Ashley Banwell
http://worldbirders.com/Trip-report-Papua-New-Guinea-July-August-2006?r=1157134050The highlights of this 3 week to Papua New Guinea included Shovel-billed Kingfisher watched visiting its nest, 3 Papuan Whipbirds, Southern Crowned Pigeon, Marbled Frogmouth, Flame mantled Bowerbird, 13 species of Kingfishers and 24 species of Bird of Paradise including Greater Melampitta. A return trip is planned for next year. Please visit my PNG page on www.worldbirders.com for more details...
2006 [July] - David Shackelford
http://www.rockjumper.co.za/02_destination_b_reports_png_2006_july.htmBeams of sunlight filtered through the canopy foliage illuminating a labyrinth of red plumes arched into a veiling bouquet over the back and passionately quivering in extraordinary display. The intense golden feathers on the head were surpassed only by the glitter of emerald shimmering iridescent as the throat inflated to produce the raucous courtship call in bold excitement and exclamation. If ever a bird were to emulate a vision of beauty, the Raggiana Bird-of-paradise that was performing an intricate exhibition only a few meters above our heads would undoubtedly be the embodiment of such inspiration...
2006 [July] - Mark Van Beirs
http://www.birdquest.co.uk/tripreports.cfm?trip=498Eleven years after our last tour to Irian Jaya (as West Papua was called then) we finally returned to this totally forgotten and virtually unknown corner of the world with its rich array of highly-prized and much-wanted birds. West Papua is probably Birdquest’s hardest tour through a combination of lots of rather basic camping, quite a few hard and long hikes on slippery, muddy steep trails, hot and sticky weather with lots of rain, many incredibly shy and skulking birds making for really challenging birding and irregular airline schedules which may result in long and frustrating delays...
2006 [June] - David Shackelford
http://www.rockjumper.co.za/02_destination_b_reports_png_2006_june.htmPapua New Guinea is rightfully regarded as one of the wildest yet most amazing and inspirational destinations on earth. The world's highest island, New Guinea is still almost completely carpeted by tropical rainforest spreading across imposing jagged mountains and extremely rugged territory...
local guides |
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AA Birding & Travel
http://aabirding.com/PAPUA NEW GUINEA is part of the Papuan Sub-region of Australasia, and in itself has three distrinct avifaunas, Mainland PNG, Bismarck Islands, and Northern Solomons (Bougainville)...
Birding Pal
http://birdingpal.org/Papuanewguinea.htmLocal birders willing to show visiting birders their area...
Country Tours
http://www.countrytours.com.pg:80/Birding in Papua New Guinea is superb. From the islands to the Highlands, covered with moss rainforest, from the coastline. Into the lowlands to the highest peak in the interior of Papua New Guinea hold some 700 species of birds including 38 of the worlds 43 species of the spectacular Birds of Paradise, New Guinea eagles, and gorier pigeons...
Eagle-eye Tours
http://www.eagle-eye.com/Locations/PapuaNewGuinea.htmlAn incredible tour! Astonishing diversity in excellent, modern lodges. We visit Ambua, among the world`s finest lodges, Tabubil and Kiunga, with a trip to Varirata N.P. The list of possibilities seems endless: 12 or more species of Birds-of-Paradise, diverse kingfishers, pigeons, parrots, cassowaries, New Guinea Harpy Eagle, bowerbirds, as well as bizarre mammals, butterflies, flowering plants and a host of other wildlife...
Ecotourism Melanesia
http://www.em.com.pg/PNG/PNGecotours/EM05%20KIUNGA%20BIRDWATCHING%20TOUR.htmThe Upper Fly River area is a birdwatchers paradise. Surprisingly, the highway running either direction out of Kiunga town has some of the best birding opportunities. Here, and up the Fly and Elevara Rivers you will meet a fantastic array of birds including the Palm Cockatoo, Lesser Black Coucal, White-spotted Munia, Yellow-eyed Metallic starling, Rufous Babbler, many species of Bird of Paradise, Common Paradise-Kingfisher, Hooded Monarch, New Guinea Bronzewing, Red-bellied Pitta, Southern Crowned Pigeon, Blyth`s Hornbill, Great Fig-Parrot, Flightless Rail, Pesquet`s Parrots, Chestnut-breasted Cuckoo, Dwarf Koel, Flame Bowerbird, and a selection of Honeyeaters...
Fieldguides
http://www.fieldguides.com/png.htmBirds-of-paradise and bowerbirds are the crowning jewels of one of most remarkable bird faunas, set against a fascinating cultural backdrop far removed from our own. Survey tour focusing on forest specialties in diverse and scenic regions...
Kirrama Wildlife Tours
http://www.kirrama.com.au/newgui.htmlNew Guinea is the world`s second largest island (after Greenland). This magnificent island, with its backbone of high mountains, is a land of diverse habitats ranging from tropical beaches and vast forests to alpine grassland. It is home to one of the finest arrays of unique plants and animals known to man. The birds of paradise are its best known and undoubtedly its most outstanding group of animals...
Milne Bay Birdwatching Cruises
http://www.marlin1charters.com.au/birdwatching.htmlPapua New Guinea has over 700 species of birds of which 269 are found in the Milne Bay Provence...
Papua Expeditions
http://www.bird-watching-papua-adventure-travel.com/birding.htmlThink 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...
Sicklebill Safaris
http://cassowary-house.com.au/tourguide.htmSicklebill Safaris was founded with the aim of taking small groups of visitors to New Guinea to experience the wonderful country and its astonishingly varied culture, and to see as many of the 400 endemic species as possible. We aim to support locally owned, minimum impact, sustainable tourism ventures using local guides as much as possible and helping to provide an alternative income source to logging...
Ventbird
http://www.ventbird.com/tours/australia_pacific/#papua_new_guineaOn my last VENT tour, I found four species of birds that would be new for my great friend, David Bishop, whose ornithological explorations in this fascinating country are famous...
World Birders
http://worldbirders.comTo be announced...
places to stay |
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Ambua Lodge
http://babs.com.au/ambua/Exclusive eco-lodge in Southern Highlands of Papua New Guinea. Outstanding opportunities to observe tropical birdlife...
Bird of Paradise Hotel - Goroka
http://travel.yahoo.com/p-hotel-384793-action-describe-flag_hotel_bird_of_paradise_hotel-iThe untouched beauty of the Eastern Highlands Province is the setting for the Bird of Paradise Hotel where luxury, style and impeccable service await you. The hotel`s central location in Goroka provides easy access to every modern facility, yet only a short drive away is the timeless village of the Asaro Mudmen.
Hotel Directory
http://www.metrotravelguide.com/links/Papua_New_Guinea/_/_/In all main centres there are hotels or guest houses to suit every budget. In the more remote areas, accommodation might be in a village guest house or a luxurious mountain lodge, built in traditional style using bush materials. Some of PNG`s older hotels, like the Malolo Lodge in Madang date from the colonial days and are delightfully tropical.
Wilderness Lodges of PNG
http://www.pngtours.com/lodges.htmlAn inspired mixture of local architecture, spectacular views and modest luxury off the beaten track. Located at 7000 feet (2100 meters) in the PNG Southern Highlands, homeland of the Huli clan with their human hair wigs adorned with colorful flowers...
other links |
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Birds in Papua New Guinea
http://nationalzoo.si.edu/ConservationAndScience/TropicalEcosystems/BirdsPNG/default.cfmTropical ecosystems...
Birdwatching in Papua New Guinea
http://babybirdcalendar.com/newguinea.htmlThe mysterious island of New Guinea is co-inhabited by Indonesia and the independentnation of Papua New Guinea. This is the land of birds of paradise, Pesquest`s Parrot, Eclectus Parrots, fruit doves, fig parrots, mynahs, hornbills, cockatoos, honeyeaters, cassowaries, and lories galore...
Kiunga
http://www.surfbirds.com/mb/Trip%20Reports/kiunga.htmlKiunga is a small river port sited on the upper reaches of the Fly River in the remote Western Province of Papua New Guinea. It is surrounded by vast tracts of swamp forest and lowland rain forest, and one thing that has become clear over recent years is just how good the area is; a sort of lowland equivalent of Ambua for species diversity. When we first started going there in 1991, there were 7 really special birds that we were particularly looking for: Southern Crowned Pigeon (one of the world`s most incredible species); Flame Bowerbird, New Guinea Flightless Rail, Large Fig-Parrot, Little Paradise-Kingfisher, White-bellied Pitohui and Yellow-eyed Starling.
Papua New Guinea Birds
http://www.geocities.com/bluegumtrees/pngbirds.htmlNew Guinea birds with their brilliant colour, surpass those of any other country. Beautiful Birds of Paradise (the country`s emblem); and wonderful dances of the flag-birds and others. There are 650 species, within 75 families.
Papua New Guinea Program - The Nature Conservancy
http://nature.org/wherewework/asiapacific/papuanewguinea/The Conservancy`s work in Papua New Guinea is driven by a strong belief in long-term community engagement and innovative approaches to conservation, including a nationally recognized marine education program, conservation covenants, community managed protected areas and a conservation trust fund...
Status of biodiversity in Papua New Guinea
http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/9468/papua_ng.htmPapua New Guinea probably harbours more than five percent of the world`s biodiversity within some of the world`s most biologically diverse ecosystems. Many of these organisms are endemic; that is, they are found only in Papua New Guinea or on the island of New Guinea...
Victoria Crowned Pigeon Goura victoria
http://www.ncbg.org.pg/ncbg_goura01.htmlCrowned pigeons are larger than all other pigeons. They are mainly distributed throughout New Guinea. These particular pigeons receive their name from the lacy feathers on their heads. They rank among some of the prettiest and brightest pigeons. Usually it they are hunted for plumage...
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