Birdwatching in Biak and Supiori Islands (Papua)

Biak and Supiori Islands

These two islands in Geelvink (Cenderawasih) By support 5 endemic species and another 3 shared only with neighbouring Numfor Island. This is reason enough to make the flight out from Jayapura or Sorong to Biak. The Indonesian Government is making efforts to develop tourism on the island. Biak itself is largely deforested; neighbouring Supiori is a nature reserve, although the terrain makes for quite difficult walking.

Key species

Yellow-bibbed Fruit-dove
www.bird-stamps.org

The endemics are Yellow-bibbed Fruit-dove, Biak Red Lory, Geelvink Pygmy Parrot, Biak Coucal,, Biak Paradise-kingfisher, Biak Monarch, Biak Flycatcher, Biak White-eye.

General Information

All but one of the endemics can be found in an area of mixed degraded and primary forest on the far eastern tip of Biak. Charter a vehicle in Biak town to take you east along the southern coast road via Mokmer and Bosnik to Warafri (take a turning on the left just before the Barito Pacific base camp), about an hour’s drive from Biak. Bird along the road or logging tracks.

In Supiori, the place to head for is the village of Korido on the southwest coast. Public boats leave from Biak town only erratically, so probably the best option is to hire a powered longboat for the trip. A bridge now connects Biak and Supiori. The section of road between Yemdoker and Korido is finished, but the section between Yemdoker and Sorendiveri is still under construction. You will need 2-3 days to stand a good chance of finding the endemics, and the 5-hr sea trip can be wet and is not totally safe. Expect to pay $75-100 for the 3-day charter. The police station in Korido will sort you out with basic accommodation. There is a steep trail into primary forest behind the village and trails running inland and paralled to the coast in both directions from Korido. A site for the intrepid only

taken from Birding Indonesia. Periplus Publishing. Singapore

Birdwatching in Batanta Island (Papua)

Batanta island

Located off the western tip of the vogelkop peninsula, this island is the only home of the-even by bird-of-paradise standards-extraordinary Wilson’s Bird-of-paradise. Guides will take you to a lek, and in a visit of two days you should see other memorable and rare species such as Red Bird-of-paradise, Pheasant Pigeon, Rufous-bellied Kookaburra, Papuan frogmouth, and Puff-backed Meliphaga. The overall species diversity is however, much lower than on the mainland.

Wilson's Bird-of-paradise
www.surfbirds.com

Getting there

At the jetty in Sorong, the regional capital of the Vogelkop Peninsula, served by daily flights from Ambon, Biak, Jayapura and Jakarta (via Ujung Pandang), find a boat to hire for the 3-day return trip to Batanta. Expect to pay around $300 for 3 days, including petrol. The crossing to Yenenes on Batanta takes 3-3.5 hrs, then it is a further 1.5 hrs east along the coast to Wai Lebed (a village of a dozen or so huts strung along the beach).

General information

In Wai Lebed, if you want to see Wilson’s Bird-of-paradise get local guide to go there. The trail runs runs along the shore to a small lodge that offers good accommodation. Here the forest meets the sea. The Red Birds-of-paradise are a few hundred metres inland in the lowland forest. The Wilson’s lek is a tough, 1.5 hr walk up to a ridge on the flank of Mt Batanta. You have to start at dawn.

taken from Birding Indonesia. Periplus Publishing. Singapore