Monday, March 27, 2017

Tropical Birding Tour in Sorong Forest

Large Fig parrot
Sorong regency is an important gate for tourists who want to go to Raja Ampat. But this city is also an important hub for visitors who are interested in birdwatching. There is a huge forest area relatively near Sorong city approximately 1.5 hour ride to the east. It is a lowland rainforest. Hundreds of species of birds live in the tropical rainforest including Cassowary, Lesser Birds of Paradise, Rufous-bellied Kookaburra, Pinon Imperial Pigeon, Yellow-billed Kingfisher, Lowland Peltop, Pink-spotted Fruit Dove, Magnificen Riflebird, Moustached Tree Swift and a lot more.

Western Crowned Pigeon in Klasow Valley of Sorong regency
Guided Birding
I have organized birding tours to this forest for more than 3 years and I see that the number of visitors is increasing every year. Birdwatchers can enjoy birding for 3 to 4 days exploring the bio-diversity of the forest. Guided birding tours to this lowland forest of Sorong can be done for visitors who plan to watch tropical birds and other animals such as butterflies, wallaby (a kind of kangaroo but has got smaller body), deer, snake, and wild pigs.

Paradise Birds
Magnificent Riflebird
Magnificent Riflebird (Ptilinoris magnificus)
Lesser Birds of Paradise (Paradisaea minor) is the vocal point of birding in this valley. But there are also other species that can be watched including King Bird of Paradise, Magnificent Riflebird and Twelve-wired Birds of Paradise. There are Common Paradise Kingfisher and Red-breasted Paradise Kingfisher too. To watch these birds, we need to wake up early in the mornings or late in the afternoons.
Birding in the rainforest of West Papua
Lesser Birds of Paradise

The Great Eggfly Butterfly
ButterfliesThere are a lot of species of butterflies from the small ones such as Meadow Argus butterflies to the bigger ones such as Ornitopthera priamus and Blue Mountain Swallowtail (Papilio ulysses) and New Guinea clipper. Visitors can watch them easily by having tea or coffee from the verandah of the garden house or walking around the clearing area of the jungle village.

Klasow valley in Sorong regency of West Papua
Watching Wallaby
I mention about wallaby. To watch this little kangaroo, we need to do night walk. The easiest way is to walk along the path that connects the jungle village of Klabolo stream and the main road.

What you need to bring
In general, most birdwatchers know what they need to bring. Here are some of the equipment that visitors need:
  • Binoculars - usually roof prism with magnification 10 x 42 mm.
  • Spotting scope with a good tripod (if you have)
  • Reference book Birds of New Guinea, written by Thane K. Pratt, Bruce Beehler, and friends
  • Flashlight/ head torch
  • Laser Pointer
How to get there:
Fly from your country to Jakarta (the capital of Indonesia)
There are regular daily flights served by such airlines as Garuda, Xpress Air, Sriwijaya Air, Nam Air between Sorong and Jakarta.
When you have arrived in Sorong city, I could meet you at the airport or at the hotel where you stay and organize your birding trip to Klasow valley.

Booking:
For customized itinerary and cost, please, contact me (Charles Roring) by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by sending whatsapp message to my number: +6281332245180.

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