Looking for White-winged ducks and Frogmouth in Way Kambas National Park
Famed as the easiest locality in Sumatra to find White-winged Duck and Storm’s Stork (both endangered and both very elusive), the 130,000-ha Way Kambas National Park is also an excellent place to see other lowland forest species. The availability of overnight accommodation at Way Kanan, a small forest clearing on the banks of the scenic Way Kambas river, 13 km inside the park, means that you are right on the spot to search at dawn and dusk for shy forest species such as pheasants and frogmouths.
Sadly, Way Kambas is not a place where the magnificence of pristine Sumatran rain forest can be experienced. The area was logged out prior to its annexation for conservation in 1972 and the trees are still stunted in appearance. Luckily the birds and an impressively large number of animals have survived, and many of the 300 birds species can be seen during a 3-4 day visit. The park accessibility-under 8 hrs by road and ferry from Jakarta and by road and ferry from Jakarta and 1,5 hrs from Bandar Lampung airport-adds to its popularity.
source Birding Indonesia. Periplus Publishing. Singapore