Tangkoko Nature Reserve, North
Sulawesi - Indonesia
 |
| Mangrove boat trip for Great-billed Kingfisher |
More than 150 of Sulawesi’s 379
bird species have been recorded in Tangkoko,
including 47 Sulawesi endemic. You
should catch up with most of the park’s specialties in a 4 or 5-day visit. In addition
to endemic kingfishers and hornbills, Tangkoko boasts six endemic parrots, Green
and Sulawesi Hanging-parrots, Red-spotted and Golden-mantled racquettail, Blue-backed parrot, and an ornate lorikeet. The
cautious birder may also observe colorfully hooded and Blue-winged pitas and
Chestnut-backed thrushes in the open forest understorey. Although Tangkoko was
once famous for Kingfisher, their numbers have plummeted and better viewing is
found elsewhere. Other highlights include friendly groups of Sulawesi macaques,
shadowed by mixed flocks of Yellow-Billed Malkhoha, hair creasted drongos, and
spot-tailed goshawks, watching tarsiers (one of the world's smallest
primates)emerge from daytime roots in a fig tree is a highlight at the end of
any day.
The Tangkoko – Duasudara Nature
Reserve sits like the thumbnail on the tip of the peninsula. A 2+- hr drive from Manado, this
8,800-ha reserve is one of the most beautiful and accessible rain forests in
Indonesia and despite its modest size, offers opportunities for treks from the beach
forest through gently sloping low-land forest and on up to cloud forests that
cling to the edges of volcanic calderas. The reserve’s 3 volcanic peaks are
the 1,109-m Mt Tangkoko, the ash cone of Batu Angus (450 m), which resulted from an eruption in 1839, and the 1,351-m
twin peaks of Dua Sudara are almost bare of vegetation and have a new lava flow
that extends to the sea, where a collapsed lava tunnel has formed a 400-m long
cove with coral reefs and the only mangrove habitat in the reserve. the north coast is a series of crescent-shaped, sandy bays, separated by rocky headlands.
Key Species, Forty-seven Sulawesi endemics including Red-knobbed and Tarictic
Hornbills, Spot-tailed Goshawk, Hair-crested Drongo, Yellow-billed Malkoha,
Lilac checked Kingfisher, Green-backed Kingfisher, Reb-billed, and Sulawesi
Hanging-parrots, Yellow-breasted and Golden-mantled Racquet-tails, Blue-backed
Parrot and yellow and green Lorikeet. Birding by Sea you might see Brown and
Red-footed Boobies, Lesser Frigatebird, Sooty Tern, and several species of
swallow.
Hornbill Highlights, Forest birds are notoriously
difficult to see, their brilliant coloration
and iridescent hues can provide effective camouflage in the darkness of the
forest interior. The red-knobbed hornbill is an exception to the rule. It is
among the flashiest forest inhabitants and impossible to miss, especially as, with
an average
of 51 birds per sq km, Tangkoko
boasts the highest density of hornbills in the world. These gaudy birds, with
their enormous,anvil-shaped bills, often weigh more than 2 kg and emit raucous
barks as they soar above the canopy.
Red-knobbed Hornbill males have buff-colored heads and sport the prominent, red casque from which they
acquire their common name. Females have a glossy black head and neck and a
smaller, yellow casque. striking red chevrons decorate the base of the bill in
both sexes. According to locals, a new chevron is acquired each year, which
is why hornbills are called Burung Tahun, the year Bird. Red-knobbed
hornbills normally move about in mated pairs, but flocks as large as 100 birds
may be observed at fruiting fig trees. Sitting
below one of these gatherings is like being in the waiting room of an
international airport, the boisterous activity of feeding and squabbling over
choice fruits is punctuated by swooshing departures and arrivals.
If you visit between May and October you will be able to watch one of the
60 known Red-knobbed Hornbill nets. Every 2-3 hours, the male, his
electric-blue throat pouch stretched to capacity, delivers food to his
incarcerated female. Unlike other hornbills, the red-knobbed Hornbill of
Tangkoko does not use mud to make the nest door, the females have adapted to
sandy, volcanic soils and a lack of mud by using a natural cement composed of
digested figs and their own droppings. Sulawesi has other hornbills, the tarictic
hornbill is more of a challenge
to find. This neat black and the yellow bird is the smallest of the Asian
hornbills. Unlike its larger cousin, the tarictic has ab inconspicuous casque, a
less strident call, and is much more thinly distributed. It does, however, have a
more interesting family life,mid-canopy dwellers. Tarictic Hornbills live in
groups that defend territories. During the April-July breeding season, the
tarictic male relies on the help of his older sons to provide food for his mate
and new offspring.
A birdswatching in Sulawesi with Sultan
Birding Tours is a truly satisfying experience. It doesn’t matter if
you are a beginner or an expert: the variety and uniqueness of Sulawesi birds
you can observe on this Island is amazing. With unique species, there is plenty
to look for. Many species are endemic either to Sulawesi or Halmahera.
There are many reasons why this region is preferred by birders: it’s a small country with varied habitats and astounding biodiversity, with a strong infrastructure that supports visitors, so bird watchers can stay in a forest
lodge take a bird watching hikes with an experienced and knowledgeable local
guide, Think about it: there are more species in Sulawesi including
Tangkoko
Nature Reserve, Minahasa Highlands, Dumoga Bone National Park, Lore Lindu
National Park, Sangihe Islands. We can assist you by arranging a birdwatching package, where you’ll be able to stay surrounded by nature in
the local lodges, go on hikes or tours to national parks or reserves with
knowledgeable local guides, and get the chance to see and hear multiple species
of birds and other animals. We arrange all details so you can concentrate on
enjoying your holidays. Tangkoko Nature Reserve, North Sulawesi - Indonesia, Birdwatching Tangkoko, Birding Tangkoko, Birds of Tangkoko, Sulawesi Tangkoko Birdwatching by Sultan Birding
