A male King Bird-of-Paradise pauses briefly before continung his display pursuit of a nearby female. Photo: Robert at PBase
The words Papua New Guinea evoke a host of images: the splendor and uniqueness of the many species of bird of paradise, the mystery of the highlands where multitudes of clans lived in isolation from the outside world until the 1930s, the world’s last unknown… .
Until recently, travel in Papua New Guinea was thought to be solely for rugged explorers. This has changed as the country’s infrastructure has developed over the past decade. Comfortable lodges now exist in both the mountains and lowlands, affording superb birding opportunities as close as the lodge grounds.
The New Guinea region is one of the most significant areas of bird diversity on earth, with some 400 endemic species including such outstanding families as the birds of paradise, bowerbirds and paradise-kingfishers. This tour visits some of the less well known areas and provides a chance to see species and places that are not on the standard tour circuit that has developed over the past few years. The island has the world’s largest area of intact rainforest outside the Amazon basin and still has many remote, extreme and inaccessible sites. It is an exceptionally beautiful and wild country and this will undoubtedly add an extra element to our enjoyment of its wonderful birds.
This tour can be taken in conjunction with our tour Islands of Papua New Guinea: West New Britain and Manus Island.
Day 1: The tour begins this eveningin Port Moresby.
Day 2: After breakfast we’ll depart for Varirata National Park, where we’ll spend the day exploring the park’s savanna and rainforest areas. One of our prime objectives will be Raggiana Bird of Paradise and we hope to view males displaying at a lek. In addition, we’ll listen for the amazing growling call of Eastern Riflebird and may see our first manucodes, among the most primitive of the bird of paradise family. We’ll search for the enormous mounds of the shy and retiring Black-billed Brush-turkey and with luck even the birds themselves. Kingfishers are an outstanding feature here and the rare Brown-headed Paradise-Kingfisher will be a primary target bird while the noisy trilling Yellow-billed Kingfisher can sometimes be located in its haunts in the forest canopy. We’ll experience PNG’s incredible bird diversity throughout the day as we search for other gems including Forest Kingfisher, the tiny and elusive Mountain Red-headed Myzomela, the secretive and skulking Chestnut-backed Jewel-Babbler, the even more secretive Painted Quail-Thrush and the famous “poisonous bird,” the Hooded Pitohui. Night in Port Moresby.
Day 3: This morning we’ll visit Varirata National Park again to explore another section of the park. Here we’ll search for Hooded Pitta, White-faced Robin, Dwarf Whistler and the miniscule Buff-faced Pygmy-Parrot. There is also a chance for Pheasant Pigeon and other scarce birds as well as a Barred Owlet-Nightjar at its daytime roost in a hollow tree. In the afternoon we’ll visit the grounds of the Pacific Adventist University to look for Australasian Little Grebe, Pied Heron, Pacific Black Duck, Wandering and Spotted Whistling-Ducks, White-browed Crake, Buff-banded Rail, Papuan Frogmouth, Orange-fronted Fruit-Dove, Fawn-breasted Bowerbird, Singing Starling and Gray-headed Munia. Night in Port Moresby.
Days 4-7: On the morning of day 3 we’ll fly to the small town of Kiunga in the far west of the country on the great Fly River. The lowland forest in this area holds several rare and little-known species. The spectacular Flame Bowerbird is one of our prime targets and other rare residents include Long-billed Cuckoo, Large Fig Parrot and Obscure Honeyeater. Another attraction is the bird of paradise display area where fully plumed male Greater and Raggiana Birds of Paradise perform incandescent displays to attract the attention of nearby females. Here also is Magnificent Riflebird with its rather appropriate wolf-whistle call. We’ll take boat trips along the Fly and Elevala rivers where we should see large numbers of Collared Imperial Pigeons as well as several “keystone” species perhaps including the rare and remarkable Vulturine Parrot, the noisy and impressive Palm Cockatoo and the amazing Southern Crowned Pigeon. The area will provide good chances for Great-billed Heron, the rare endemic White-bellied Pitohui, both Common and Lesser Paradise-Kingfishers, Hook-billed Kingfisher, Hooded and Blue-breasted Pittas and both Twelve-wired and King Birds of Paradise. Nights at Kiunga.
Days 8-9: On the morning of day 7 we’ll fly to Mount Hagen and then drive into the mountainous Enga Province to Kumul Lodge. The local landowners have a strict wildlife protection policy and as a result many of the birds are incredibly tame and “balcony birding” is a real treat. On the lodge grounds we should see Brehm’s Tiger-Parrot, both Plum-faced and Papuan Lorikeets, White-winged Robin, Mountain Firetail, Red-collared Myzomela, Gray-streaked and Black-throated Honeyeaters and several birds of paradise including Brown Sicklebill, Stephanie’s and Ribbon-tailed Astrapias and if we are really fortunate, male Crested Bird of Paradise. With luck we should also see several more Kumul Lodge specialties, notably Rufous Woodcock, Chestnut Forest Rail, Mountain Owlet-Nightjar and Archbold’s Nightjar. Nights at Kumul Lodge.
Days 10-13: We’ll fly to Tari the morning of day 9 and transfer to Ambua Lodge, one of the major highlights of the trip with its incredible diversity of highland species and the fascinating Huli tribal culture. We’ll spend our time here birding from the road and exploring forest tracks as well as the lodge’s own interesting and extensive series of trails. Birding is hard work at times but the pleasures and rewards are immense and we’ll have an unforgettable stay at this beautifully sited, comfortable lodge overlooking the magnificent Tari Valley. We’ll also make trips down the valley for the lower-altitude species or up to the extensive grasslands around the Tari Gap for the higher-altitude forms.
Birds have always played a major role in the lives of the local PNG people and many of the more exotic feathers can be seen in their colorful headdresses and costumes. For those participants who want a greater cultural experience, optional excursions can be arranged at the lodge in lieu of some birding excursions.
Birds of paradise are the main stars at Ambua and we should enjoy great views of many species. In the Tari Gap area we should see Ribbon-tailed Astrapia and here we also have a second chance of seeing Crested Bird of Paradise. Lower down we’ll encounter the amazing King of Saxony Bird of Paradise as he advertises his presence from the treetops with weird spluttering calls like radio interference. Princess Stephanie’s Astrapia can also be seen in this area, and around the lodge we may encounter Loria’s Bird of Paradise and the extraordinary Short-tailed Paradigalla. Below the lodge we are likely to find Black Sicklebill and the rare and spectacular Blue Bird of Paradise. Lastly, Lawes’ Parotia and the noisy Superb Bird of Paradise can be found lower down the valley toward Tari town. These are just the birds of paradise”the supporting cast is also brilliant with such stars as the rare and elusive New Guinea Eagle, the little-known Meyer’s Goshawk, the recently split New Guinea Logrunner, the poisonous Blue-capped Ifrita and the delicate Orange-crowned Fairywren. Parrots are abundant too, including Papuan King Parrot, Papuan, Plum-faced, Goldie’s, Orange-billed and Yellow-billed Lorikeets, Painted, Brehm’s, Madarasz’s and Modest Tiger-Parrots and the endearing, miniature Red-breasted Pygmy-Parrot. Australasian robins are also well represented, and we have good chances for White-winged, Blue-gray, Ashy, Black-throated and Garnet Robins as well as the shy but vocal Lesser Ground-Robin. Other highlights may include Sclater’s, Regent, Black-headed and Brown-backed Whistlers, the noisy Belford’s and Yellow-browed Melidectes, the amazing skulking Lesser Melampitta, Long-tailed Shrike, Torrent-Lark and representatives of New Guinea’s two endemic families: Crested and Tit Berrypeckers and Spotted, Mid-mountain and Fan-tailed Berrypeckers. Nights at Ambua Lodge.
Day 14: After some final early morning birding around the lodge we’ll bid farewell to Ambua and fly down to Port Moresby. Depending on flight arrival time, we will offer an optional birding excursion to a nearby site and/or a visit to a local authentic artifact shop for some last minute souvenirs. Night in Port Moresby.
Day 15: This morning we’ll make a return visit to Varirata National Park to search for anything we’ve missed previously. The tour concludes after lunch at the hotel.
Updated: 05 December 2007
Prices
- 2008 price about $8,840
- Single Occupancy Supplement $760
Notes
This tour is limited to 14 participants with two leaders. Both leaders will accompany the tour irrespective of group size.
This tour is organized by our British company, Sunbird.