Papua New Guinea
The island of New Guinea is north of Australia, south of Asia, and harbours some of the most amazing birds in the world. Most of the members of the Bird of Paradise family occur in New Guinea and this is the main reason why this exciting, tropical island makes it onto the list. The Birds of Paradise (or BOPs) are a group of sparrow to crow-sized birds that have incredibly colourful and exotic plumage. The variety of feathery, exaggerated plumes, bright colours, and generally odd appearances of BOPs are such that the first Europeans who laid eyes on them thought they must have come from heaven. The amazing looking birds were given the name of ‘Birds of Paradise’ and have been aptly termed as such ever since.
A few BOP species also occur in Australia, but the majority are found on New Guinea. Although the lack of roads makes much of the island inaccessible to birdwatchers, there are tours that visit choice lodges and fantastic tropical forests where BOPs can be seen. These birding tours of course also search for many of the other 700 plus species found in New Guinea. Over 300 species are found nowhere else and include such incredible birds as the Crowned Pigeons (imagine a turkey-sized, powder blue pigeon with a finely feathered crest), a host of gorgeous fruit doves, striking bowerbirds, exquisite kingfishers, amazing raptors and beautiful parrots.
New Guinea has so many bird species partly because of different habitats found at different elevations. Savannah habitats near Port Moresby have a unique set of bird species that are typically looked for on the grounds of the Pacific Adventist University. To access lowland rainforest, birders need to head to the Fly River area near the border with Irian Jaya, Indonesia. Boat trips along the Fly River and hikes into the rainforest can yield species such as Southern Crowned Pigeon, Little Paradise Kingfisher and Flame Bowerbird. BOPs are also looked for and include the Twelve-wired Bird of Paradise (named after the bizarre, wire-like feathers it has for a tail).
Middle elevation cloud forests are experienced by visiting the Ambua Lodge. There are several BOPs that frequent the mossy tropical forests near the lodge, including gorgeous Blue Bird of Paradise, Superb Bird of Paradise, Sicklebills and Astrapia species. The Astrapias have incredibly long tails that flutter behind them when they take flight, the sicklebills have odd, curved beaks, and Superb Bird of Paradise has amazing, colourful plumage. The Blue Bird of Paradise has, as one might expect, incredible blue plumage, but its display is far more amazing. Like most of the BOPs, the males of this species carry out incredible displays to attract females. If you can imagine a bird that hangs upside down and shakes its blue feathers while flapping its wings and calling, you get a basic idea of what the Blue Bird of Paradise does.
To access higher elevation forests, birdwatchers also visit the Kumul Lodge. More Bird of Paradise species are seen here along with high elevation specialties, and many come to lodge bird feeders for excellent photo opportunities.
Papua New Guinea might not be the easiest place in the world to watch birds, but it’s definitely one of the best. Save your money to take a birdwatching tour here and be ready to see birds from your wildest dreams.
flickr image by by jerryoldenettel
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