New Guinea birding trip
Norman Erthal
I am glad to announce a trip to Irian Jaya or western New Guinea for the June 2019. The beginning date is June 6. We will have experienced local guides. The length of the trip will be determined by the wishes of the participants.
We can expect about 300 species of which 175 are endemics and many others only possible on nearby islands. Some regional endemic families are treeswifts, megapodes, treecreepers, and sitellas. Endemic families are berrypeckers, tit berrypeckers, and melampittas. Some interesting families include 21 Australasian Robins, 28 honeyeaters, 16 birds-of-paradise, 12 kingfishers, 23 pigeons, 28 lories and parrots, and 10 fairywrens.
New Guinea is unfortunately expensive. Lodging even at private houses is costly as the locals see it as a major income opportunity.
Please contact me directly for information about cost and any other questions.
Norm Erthal
Arvada, CO
The itinerary is:
June 3 or 4 leave home for Jakarta or Dempasar, Bali
June 6 Day 1 : Arrive in Sorong in northwest Jaya, then take a boat to Batanta on Waigeo Island, afternoon birding for Red BOP
June 7-8 Day 2-3 : Morning birding, hike for Wilson's BOP, afternoon birding in Salawati try to find Western Crowned Pigeon.
June 9 Day 4 : Morning birding for King BOP, afternoon boat back to Sorong.
June 10 Day 5 : Fly to Manokwari in the northwest area of New Guinea known as the Bird’s Neck, then drive to Arfak Mountains.
June 11-14 Day 6-9 : Full day birding in Arfak Mountains
June 12 Day 10 : Morning birding, drive back to town after lunch
June 13 Day 11 : Fly to Biak Island, afternoon birding
June 14 Day 12 : Full day birding
June 15 Day 13 : Fly to Jayapura in northeast Jaya
June 15-19 Day 13-17: Jayapura area – northern lowlands and Lake Sentani, Niombokrang
June 18 Fly to Wamena in west central Jaya or to Jakarta CJK or Dempasar, then home or continue to
June 21-26 Day 18-23: Lake Habema
June 27 Return to Jakarta or Dempasar and flight home