Birdwatching with Trawas for Environmental Education

Trawas’s Centre for Environmental Education

The Centre for Environmental Education (PPLH Seloliman) above Trawas, a 1, 5-hr drive inland from Surabaya, is a great place to combine fruitful birding with comfortable stay in the hills. You can see rare Thick-billed Flowerpeckers and Violet Cuckoos in the forest on the hill above the centre, and during the wet season, listen for the chirruping calls of Forest Wagtails. The Centre is planted with nectar rich Calliandra shrubs, which attract numerous flowerpeckers and sunbirds. It is delightful to watch splendid Javan, endemic Violet-tailed and Purple-throated Sunbirds from the breakfast table.

The walk below the centre to where tall forest drapes the river banks makes a pleasant 2-hr excursion, especially if you have so far missed Javan Kingfisher, Blue Whistling-thrush or the distinct Javan race of Greater Goldenback, all of which are quite common here. Some authorities consider the latter a full species on account of the female’s having a yellowish crown rather than the normal white-on-black pattern. In any event, walk the short distance from the Centre’s entrance to the main road, and at this junction follow a path leading down to the river, to check them out.

The more adventurous may wish to climb to mt Pananggungan (1,653 m), where there are good vantage points for eagle watching (Javan Hawk-eagle has been recorded here) and rewarding views of the surrounding area. The trail for the 3,5-hr climb starts from the Hindu temple a 15-min walk uphill (on the right0 from the Centre.

source Birding Indonesia. Periplus Publishing. Singapore

Birdwatching in Kali Lemahan, Surabaya, East Java

Out to the Mud-flats

in the wet months between October and march, a boat journey down to the mud-flats at the mouth of the Kali Lemahan is a must. The pond owners will assist you to hire a small motorized prau (canoe) for the 45-min journey. Seeing the thousands of wintering or passage waders here is one of Java’s great birding experiences. These mud-flats are famous for the large numbers (up to 1,000) of rare Asian Dowitchers that spend the northern winter here. Indeed, the flats are a wader-watcher’s delight: 18 or more species can be found by carefully scanning the flocks with a telescope. Other highlights are Australian Pelicans, swimming out at sea, and another endangered species, Milky Stork; although often seen on the mud-flats, the latter has yet to be recorded breeding in this part of Java.

source Birding Indonesia. Periplus Publishing. Singapore

Birdwatching in Ujung Pangkah, Surabaya, (East Java)

Ujung Pangkah’s Herons

Java’s largest heronry, however, is found in the more natural setting of the Ujung Pangkah area on the delta of the Bengawan Solo; this huge river, popular in nostalgic Javan songs, is just a 2-hr drive from Surabaya’s hustle and bustle. An entrepreneurial local fishpond keeper decided to protect the colony as it produced a cheap source of fertilizer which he used to raise Javan tilapia (a cichlid fish) in his pond. A careful scan through the breeding colony will reveal 13 waterbird species, including Oriental Darter, Black-headed Ibis and the odd Rufous Night Heron. This colony 25,000 or more birds has become a popular destination for day trippers and has earned the pond-keeper the prestigious kalpataru award, presented by the government to individuals who have worked to benefit the environment.

Ujung Pangkah’s offers a glimpse of how the whole of Java’s north coast used to look; today it has largely been converted to sterile shrimp pond. The patchwork of ponds, avenues of trees, swamps, mangrove bushes and undisturbed shores here, however, support a full complement of the island’s water and shorebirds.

After enjoying the heronry, walk around the fish ponds and to the nearby estuaries for more good birding. The neat, yellow Javan White-eye and the endangered Javan Coucal, which reveals its presence with a loud “booping” call. Are two speciality species that inhabit the bushes and trees edging the ponds. Swampy areas along the coast are good for Sunda Teal-easily recognized by its strange, bulging forehead, the rare Bronze-winged Jacana and flocks of Asian Golden Weaver.

source Birding Indonesia. Periplus Publishing. Singapore

Birdwatching in Around Surabaya (East Java)

Surabaya

Around Surabaya

Herons and Dowitchers on the Solo Delta

At first glance the industrialized region of Surabaya may not seem very promising for birding, but marveling at spectacular heronries, watching Asian Dowitchers on the Solo Delta, or relaxing at the hill retreat of Trawas are just some of the highlights this area has to offer.

Sadly, the abundant egrets and herons that once enlivened Java’s rice fields are becoming a sight of the past; pesticides, persecution and the destruction of suitable nesting trees have all taken their toll. Today, heronries are generally restricted to remote reserves and off-shore islands, but nesting herons also find safe havens in some of Java’s big cities. In Surabaya, a large colony of night herons has taken up residence in the zoo, where their droppings try the patience of zoo-keepers and visitors alike.

taken from Birding Indonesia. Periplus Publishing. Singapore

Birdwatching in Wasur National Park (Papua)

Wasur National Park

The 13,00 ha Wasur National Park, located in the extreme southeast of Papua, bordering the Papua New Guinea border, is a veritable bird paradise and access is easy. The flat expanse of the vast Fly-Digul River delta is a mosaic of swamps, reedbeds and open savannah woodlands with denser forests along the rivers. In the dry season, literally thousands of waterbirds-many migrants from Australia-concentrate on the receding pools. There are mangroves and mudflats to search for shorebirds, and two species of bird-of-paradise in the denser forest.

Key species

Australian Bustard

www.anhs.com.au

Southern Cassowary, Brolga Crane, Magpie Goose, Australian Bustard, Noisy Pitta, Rufous-bellied and Spangled Kookaburras. Recently, Crimson Finch, White-spotted and Grey-crowned Mannikins and Fly River Grassbird have all been recorde on the Papua side of the Fly River and are all new additions to the Indonesian bird list. Black Mannikin, present just a few km across the border in Papua New Guinea, has not yet been confirmed in Wasur National Park.

Other wildlife

Sugar Glider, Striped Possum, Rusa Deer, Agile Wallaby and forest wallabies, bandicoots and cuscus.

Getting there

The best place to get information and help in arranging tours to the national park is the World Wide Fund for Nature office on Jl Brawijaya sepadem, WWF are developing community tourism activities, including birding, in the park. Hiring a jeep is expensive unless you are in a group (around $75 a day, which includes driver/guide and fuel). It is cheaper and more pleasant to hire horses from the villagers. This creates less disturbance and provides a good vantage point for watching birds if you hang on (the horse are very tame). The WWF office will give you the price per day and can help you arrange a guide. The park entrance fee (pay at either Wasur or Ndalir KSDA posts) is a IDR 2,000 per person. Do not forget copies of your surat jalan for the police posts in the park.

For the Maro river trip, you ideally need two days. Arrange boat hire from the Kelapa Lima Maro river crossing, just to the north of Merauke. Like jeep hire, it is more economical if there are several people sharing the expense. Prices could be from IDR 400,000-900,000 per day including a boatman. Take all your own food.

Accommodation/dining

There are guest-houses in four villages; Yanggandur and Soa (for greater Bird-of-paradise), Onggaya (by the beach near Ndalir) and Soa (on the Maro river). These provide very simple accommodation, cooking equipment ets. Take your own food and water into the park.

General information

The best time to visit from August to December.

If you hire a jeep and driver for the 3-day trip described in the colour section, spend the first night at Tomeran village and the second at Ukra. Leave Ukra mid-morning to get to Rawa Biru by early afternoon. Ask the driver to meet you in Yanggandur and spend the rest of the afternoon (3-4 hrs) walking the track up to Yanggandur. Spend the night here for a dawn sighting of Greater Bird-of-paradise. Leave Yanggandur mid-morning to allow time to look around Wasur village on the way back to town. If you only have 2 nights, go straight to Ukra on the first night (you can get there in one day if you rush) and Yanggandur on the second.

At the village of Soa, about 5-6 hours up river (depending on tide), arrange for guide to take you in the monsoon forest nearby. Best chances to find the King Bird-of-paradise will be early in the morning.

Be very of snakes in Wasur; there are some real nasties including Taipan and Death Adder. There is no snake bite serum available in Merauke, so watch where you tread.

taken from Birding Indonesia. Periplus Publishing. Singapore

Birdwatching in The Lake Habbema Trek

The lake Habbema Trek

One of the world’s classic birding treks, from the high alpine lake and marshes down through pine, moss and rain forest into the Baliem Valley. Truly amazing birds-see below-and a people and culture from another age. Not tobe missed, and, as there is a road up to lake Habbema, the birds can be enjoyed on a (mostly) downhill trail.

Key species

Blue-breasted Quails

www.zyworld.com

Snow Mountain and Blue-breasted Quails, Swinhoe’s Snipe, Orange-billed Lorikeet, Painted Tiger-parrot, Lorentz’s Whistler, Sooty Honeyeater, Snow Mountain Munia, Archbold’s Bowerbird, Macgregor’s Bird-of-paradise, Brown Sicklebill, Splendid Astrapia, King of Saxony Bird-of-paradise.

Getting there

To get to Lake Habbema, charter a jeep ($30) for the 90-min drive up a new road.

General information

The requisite surat jalan should be obtained, eg at Jayapura/Sentani, before flying into Wamena. When you arrive in Wamena, the police check your passport and permit. The desk clerk at the hotel/losmen will ask for these, and will usually be able to send someone to the police station (which is just behind Pasar Nayak) to take care of this for you. Make sure that your permit is endorsed for Lake Habbema, if necessary.

The trek runs up the Ibele Valley, from the village of the same name to Lake Habbema. It can be done in either direction and, although there is some satisfaction in walking up through the different habitats found with increasing altitude, and out into the alpine zone, it is hard not to resist taking the new road to “the top” at Lake Habbema and enjoying the birding while walking downhill.

There are no “official” places to stay or eat on the trail. It is possible to manage without a tent-by staying in the rather dilapidated “post”-but it is helpful to have one available. Food has to be carried in, as only sweet potatoes and eggs, are available in the villages.

The first day is spent birding the alpine grasslands and marshes around Lake Habbema (3,000 m), with a spectacular panorama across to the rugged, snow-capped peaks of the Snow (Jayawijaya) Mountains, Pos IV, a hut by the lake, is dilapidated and leaky. From the lake it is about a 2-hr walk over the pass (3,200 m) to Pos III, located in moss forest and the place to stay for the first night. The trail down the Ibele valley is not too steep, but can be very muddy and slippery.

Walking times (at an average birding pace) between places to stay are listed below.

How long you take is entirely up to you.

Habbema to Pos III 1.5-2 hrs

Pos III to Yaubagema 3 hrs

Yaubagema to Dyela 3 hrs

Dyela to Ibele 5 hrs

Ibele to Beneme 2.5 hrs

Alternatively,

Dyela to Depolo 3 hrs,

Depolo to Beneme 5 hrs

At Beneme the cultivation starts. You can catch a bus (or truck) back to Wamena from either Ibele or Beneme (1.5 or 1 hr).

Rain is a possibility at any time but there is said to be drier period from March-May, with July also relatively dry. The temperature is generally pleasant during the day but it can be cold at night, particularly at the higher altitudes.

taken from Birding Indonesia. Periplus Publishing. Singapore