Arfak lodge before renovated

Arfak mountains are one of the places that become a paradise for birds of paradise. located 1,800 m above sea level making it a place with very cold temperatures. The diversity of birds in arfak makes it mandatory to be included in the list of places that must be visited at least once in our lives. Trecking experiences that are second to none collaborate with the beauty and uniqueness of the birds in the Arfak mountains. with consistency and professionalism that has been held for many years, we provide tour packages to the Arfak mountains with accommodation and a high-standard team. Do not hesitate to contact us if you feel interested in the tour.

Glossy-mantled Manucode, Crincle-collared Manucode, Western Parotia, Black-billed Sicklebill, Vogelkop Superb Bird-of-paradise, Magnificent Riflebird, Long Tailed Paradigala, Black Sicklebill, Arfak Astrapia, Vogelkop Bowerbird, Masked Bowerbird, Green-backed Robin, Smoky Robin, Blue-grey Robin, Vogelkop Owlet-nightjars, Feline and Mountain Owlet-nightjars and many more.

Birding in Bogani Nani Wartabone Park by Sultan Birding Indonesia

Birding in Bogani Nani Wartabone Park

Summary:

A massive national park which has only partially been explored. Known sites include Tambun for Maleo and some nice lowland birding.

Key bird species:

Maleo; Spot-tailed Goshawk; Metallic Pigeon; Yellowish-breasted Racquet-tail; Golden-mantled Racquet-tail; Sulawesi Hanging-Parrot; Pygmy Hanging-Parrot; Bay Coucal; Ochre-bellied Boobook; Speckled Hawk-Owl; Purple-winged Roller; Sulawesi Hornbill; Knobbed Hornbill; Pale-blue Monarch; Rusty-backed Thrush; White-necked Myna; Finch-billed Myna

Birdwatching locations:

Bogani Nani Wartabone National Park (formerly known as Dumoga Bone National Park) is a huge area of forest spanning the border between North Sulawesi and Gorontalo provinces. Despite its size, the access is very poor to the central areas and most visiting birders just visit the margins on the park around the villages of Dolodua and Toraut. Here there are 2-3 sites where reasonable forest can be accessed quite easily, and it is also here that the famous Maleo nesting ground of Tambun lies.

Dolodua/Toraut
The most commonly visited forest areas of Bogani are in the vicinity of the villages of Dolodua and Toraut. From the village of Dolodua there are paths heading south that follow the river and which pass through some patches of nice forest. The forest is much more extensive on the western side of the river, as this lies within the national park proper. On the eastern side of the river forest patches are interspersed with open farmland. By following the river about 6-7 km south of Dolodua the trail reaches the still-active Maleo nesting ground at Matayangan. This is nesting ground is highly threatened by egg collecting, but still provides an opportunity to see Maleo if you are lucky (see section below on Maleo).

By following the road onwards from Dolodua it bends north and heads to the village of Toraut (or Taraut). A little bit further on from here the road reaches the edge of the forest and by crossing the river some nice condition forest can easily be accessed, Many small trails head into the forest heading north, and then begin to rise in altitude the further they are followed.

Birds in this area include many of the same lowland species present at Tangkoko, with perhaps a slightly better chance of seeing some species like Sulawesi Hornbill, Yellowish-breasted Racquet-tail, Purple-winged Roller, Bay Coucal and the owls.

Maleo nesting grounds
Maleo lay their eggs communally in pits dug in the ground in soil heated by either volcanic hot-springs or on beaches heated by the sun. Once laid the parents take no further part in the incubation of the eggs and after around 60 days the chicks hatch and dig their own way to the surface, to emerge fully-feathered and independent.

While being ecologically fascinating, this strategy makes the eggs extremely vulnerable to collecting, and despite the legally-protected status of Maleo in Indonesia such egg collecting continues. To combat this threat a number of Maleo nesting grounds are now guarded full-time, and the eggs are removed from where they are laid and relocated to natural hatcheries where they continue to be incubated by the volcanically heated soil, but where they are safe from the attention of egg collectors.

The best sites for viewing maleo in the Bogani area are all protected by the Wildlife Conservation Society – Indonesia Program, which pays for the full-time employment of a site warden and facilities at each. This includes Tambun, Muara Pusian, Hugayono (in the west of the park) and the beach nesting sites at Binerean and Lagamuru.

Tambun is the most commonly visited site, and one of the most convenient. On average around 2-3 pairs of Maleo visit Tambun a day, given a pretty reliable shot at seeing the birds. Adults descend from the hills to lay eggs at dawn and dusk, but can also often be seen loitering around the site in trees during the day. To see birds here report first to the warden on-site and he will show you to the best locations to see the birds. Several hides have been set up and if you are lucky you will get amazing views. It may also be possible to see newly hatched chicks being released from the safety of the hatcheries.

Another alternative site not far from Tambun is known as Muara Pusian. This site also has a warden, a watchtower and hides. The main nesting ground is on the opposite side of a river from the hides, which provides for unobstructed views if birds are present. Both Tambun and Muara Pusian are backed by forest and trails branch out into it. So once you have seen Maleo you can easilt spend a few hours birding around here, seeing many of the same species as listed above for Dolodua/Toraut. To get to Muara Pusian the easiest bet is to ask for directions at Tambun.

Sultan Birding Tours, we are specialist for birdwatching and bird photography trip in Sulawesi, Halmahera and West Papua.

email us : sultanbirdingtours@gmail.com

Birding in Lore Lindu National Park, Central Sulawesi by Sultan Birding Indonesia

Birding in Lore Lindu National Park

Summary:

Huge national park in central Sulawesi and the best site for easily accessed montane endemics.

Key bird species:

Small Sparrowhawk; Bare-faced Rail; Metallic Pigeon; Ornate Lorikeet; Yellow-and-green Lorikeet; Ochre-bellied Hawk-Owl; Cinnabar Hawk-Owl; Speckled Hawk-Owl; Diabolical Nightjar; Scaly Kingfisher; Purple-bearded Bee-eater; Cerulean Cuckoo-shrike; Pygmy Cuckoo-shrike; Chestnut-backed Bush-Warbler; Blue-fronted Flycatcher; Sulawesi Blue-Flycatcher; Geomalia; Sulawesi Thrush; Great Shortwing; Olive-flanked Whistler; Maroon-backed Whistler; Malia; White-backed Woodswallow; Sulawesi Myna; Fiery-browed Myna; Mountain Serin

Birdwatching locations:

While the National Park of Lore Lindu is massive, the best birdwatching is concentrated is a pretty small area around the villages of Wuasa/Sedoa, Lake Tambing and the famous Anaso Track. Here you can find all of the high montane specialities of Sulawesi, including Great Shortwing, Geomalia and Sulawesi Thrush, plus much more.

Roadside birding around Lake Tambing

Driving from Palu, the road rises and rises until it reaches its highest point at around 1,700m. A few kilometres before the highest point lies a small lake known as Lake Tambing (Danau Tambing or sometimes Danau Kalimpaa), and a few hundred meters further back towards Palu lies the start of the Anaso Track. The birdwatching in this area is fantastic.

Working along the road, or around Lake Tambing should get you Ornate and Yellow-and-green Lorikeet (often in the big trees around the lake), Cerulean Cuckoo-shrike, Maroon-backed Whistler; Malia, Blue-fronted Flycatcher and many more of the more common Sulawesi endemics. This area, in particular between the lake and the Anaso turn off, is also among the most reliable for Sulawesi Thrush. Look for them from the roadside as they move about in the mid-storey, and be prepared to dive into the vegetation yourself to get a better look! Scaly Kingfisher has also been seen in this area. At night the road- and lakeside forest holds all three of mainland Sulawesi’s ninox owls: Ochre-bellied, Cinnabar and Speckled, plus the ever-present Sulawesi Scops-Owl. You could easily spend a day or two just in this area.

The Anaso Track

Moving onto the Anaso track, the lower sections are good for many of the same species as around Lake Tambing, plus your chance of seeing things like Pygmy Cuckoo-shrike, Maroon-backed Whistler and Purple-bearded Bee-eater increases. The bee-eater nests on many of the exposed earth banks along the lower half of the track, so if they are there, you will see them. Chestnut-backed Bush-Warblers also line the lower sections of the track.

The Anaso track continues on upwards, with the habitat changing slowly as you rise. At around 2,000 m (3-4 km?) the track emerges into a few small flat clearings. It is here that people often see day-roosting Satanic Nightjars. Crashing around the clearing may flush one, but far better to move around slowly and try and spot one (or a pair) on the ground without disturbing them. The nightjars can also be seen hawking around this area at dawn and dusk if you don’t catch up with a day-roosting one.

From about 2,100 m the roadside forest becomes lower and more mossy. Between here and the top the track passes through several dense patches like this and these are the spots to look out for a couple of Lore Lindu’s most sought after specialities: Geomalia and Great Shortwing. For the Geomalia there is no real alternative than either walking slowly along the trail hoping to see one, or staking out a section and hoping one passes. Trying to get a view of one in the forest itself is extremely difficult. For the shortwing the same approach can work, or a tape of their call will help considerably! This area also holds both of the Sulawesi endemic honeyeaters; Dark-eared and Greater Streaked.

At about 2,300 m the Anaso track reaches its peak. It then drops slightly to a wide clearing, before continuing to the right as a less distinct footpath. The area of the clearing makes for good birding, with a good chance of Mountain Serin (the orange-coloured Sulawesi version) and the high altitude Olive-flanked Whistler. Continuing along the footpath (which descends at first) brings you back into habitat good for Great Shortwing after a few hundred meters.

In all the Anaso track is around 10km long. At times it is passable by 4×4 jeep, but this depends entirely on the state of minor (and major) landslides and improvised bridges. If you can’t drive it at the time of your visit, don’t despair, just start walking! (you’ll see more birds that way anyway). The Anaso track is definitely good for a couple of days of birding, or longer if you want to be sure of getting the goodies.

Road to Wuasa/Sedoa

Driving from Palu, the road drops down soon after Lake Tambing towards the villages of Sedoa and Wuasa at around 1,200 m. The roadside forest in this area is pretty degraded, but the birding along it is excellent nevertheless. Species commonly seen in this area include Fiery-browed Myna, Sulawesi Blue-Flycatcher, Malia and Cerulean Cuckoo-shrike.

for those of you who plan the birding trip to Sulawesi kindly please contact us:

email: sultanbirdingtours@gmail.com