New Guinea trip update
Norman Erthal
Hello all,
I have one or two spaces available for the trip to Irian Jaya or western New Guinea for the June 2019. The beginning date is June 6. The trip will be for 23 days for $8,300. We will have experienced local guides. This does not include airfare to New Guinea. We are a definite go.
This announcement is approved by the CFO board.
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. The best I can find in comparison for 17 days is over $13,000.
Cheers,
Norm
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
June 21-26 Day 18-23: Lake Habema
June 27 Return to Jakarta or Dempasar and flight home
Norm Erthal
Arvada CO