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” Over the next hour or so we had great views of the bird perched in the trees and were able to take some photos. We then ambled slowly out the forest seeing Variable Dwarf Kingfisher, Meek’s Pygmy-Parrot, Golden Whistler, Pied Monarch, Shining Flycatcher and Northern Fantail. We paid Temote, who is a really nice guy, 250kina and soon reached the road where the hotel vehicle was waiting.
The Huon astrapia is considered as Least Concern, though as poorly-known as it is, it almost comes in into the Data-Deficient category. It is not routinely hunted, though the skins and tail feathers of the males are important cultural items for the people of Nokopo. The Huon astrapia , also known as Rothschild’s astrapia, Huon bird-of-paradise, or Lord Rothschild’s bird-of-paradise, is a species of bird-of-paradise belonging to the genus Astrapia. Except for some forest loss along the southern part, habitat modification of the narrow coastal shelf, and the Buweng Timber Rights Purchase , most of the ecoregion’s natural habitat is intact, especially the Huon Highlands. Two proposed large protected areas (Finisterre and Mt. Bangeta) cover about 18% of the ecoregion area, but recent protected area assessments suggest their boundaries, gazettement, and management are presently unconfirmed.
Blue whale
The rain persisted and grew heavier so around 13.00 we descended the by now treacherous trail – JH slipping into the river – finally reaching the house by the road where we again sheltered under the eaves. Paid the guide half of what he asked for and began to walk up the road to the village. Fortune favoured us as a vehicle stopped to pick up which saved our legs but left us soaked through by the time we arrived at the Mission. The rain continued unabated the entire afternoon and was still pouring as we went to bed. Returning to the car park we scanned the trees around the open area and saw Zoe Imperial-Pigeon and the uncommon Coroneted Fruit-Dove.
Same scenario as the previous evening, stumbling around uncomfortably inside the forest proved useless and we eventually came out to the edge where 3 or 4 Goldies including full males seen well. Blyth’s Hornbill, Channel-billed Cuckoo and Sulphur-crested Cockatoo were also added. Fried sweet potato and tea for breakfast, during which JH saw a Cinnamon Ground Dove fly through the clearing. We left at 07.15 and during the descent saw the highly localised Curl-crested Manucode showed well and lower down a small flock included Spot-winged and Black-faced Monarchs, Large-billed Gerygone and Grey Whistler. This agreed, by late afternoon they produced the first bird at 6 pm with great daytime views of a calling Manus Hawk-Owl. Departed Rossun leaving JH in his 50 kina accommodation after declining a large meal of chicken, fish, taro, greens and rice from AJ’s sensible wife Susan.
After some debate we decided to take DW as intermediary, costly but it was to prove well worth it. At 09.40 we began walking the Circuit Trail, seeing Dwarf Whistler and Sooty Thicket-Fantail. Semirubra it is necessary to charter a boat to Tong Island outside the coral reef near Lorengau.
Brown sicklebill
It takes around 5–6 years to reach full adult plumage, like its congeners. We ate lunch on the road and while the others wandered off in search of new species we walked back down to the trail where we had seen the first Parotia the previous day. No sign of the bird but good fly-by views of Pesquet’s Parrot. Left JH by the trail, camera poised and walked back up the road to give the Parotia one more try. Down at the hide we were rewarded with stunning views of the bird on the ground clearing its display court of leaf litter, with iridescent breast-shield, orange nose bump and swirling plumes clearly visible without bins. The bird appeared to be gearing itself up to display but, possibly lacking the stimulus of a female audience, suddenly gave up and disappeared.
- Same scenario as the previous evening, stumbling around uncomfortably inside the forest proved useless and we eventually came out to the edge where 3 or 4 Goldies including full males seen well.
- Left JH by the trail, camera poised and walked back up the road to give the Parotia one more try.
- More whooping elicited a distant response, then it was heard closer at which point AJ hared off down the track hooting even more loudly but the bird came no closer.
- Interesting chat about belief systems and secret valleys with special trees before we retired to our floor for the night.
- As the light improved we had great views of several male Emperor BoPs displaying in a large tree 70 metres away and indeed from time to time they would fly in and display above us.
There are 81 mammal species in this ecoregion, including six species that are endemic or near endemic. The Huon tree-kangaroo is restricted to the peninsula forests at higher elevations. The endangered Papuan long-beaked echidna is resident, as well. Huon Astrapia is another bird of paradise only found in the isolated mountain ranges of the Huon Peninsula.
AJ lectured us on standing still and not making any silly mistakes like yesterday when, according to him, our minimal movement had scared off the bird – no comment! More whooping elicited a distant response, then it was heard closer at which point AJ hared off down the track hooting even more loudly but the bird came no closer. We walked a little further and began the whooping again when suddenly the bird appeared above us vibrant red, blue and black calling loudly.
Wahnes’s parotia is endemic to the Huon and nearby Adelbert Mountains. The Finisterre Range, covering a third of the ecoregion, is home to more mainland endemic species of warm-blooded vertebrates than any similar-sized area in Papua New Guinea. We slept better than anticipated even although it became quite chilly in the night, and arose at 05.30 having foregone the opportunity to look for the owls calling an hour earlier. We packed our gear and as dawn broke wandered to the edge of the forest where the Goldie’s were calling.
It has a very limited range, confined to the mid-mountains of the Huon Peninsula. This unique bird of paradise has an incredible upside-down hanging courtship display. Paid Anton 300 kina including a small tip which he accepted with bad grace and in many ways we were happy to depart his dubious company. Back at the hotel, JH went round to Grace & Ken’s who kindly agreed to allow us the use of their boat the following morning. We had JH for company now, having given up village living for the relative comforts and cold beer of the hotel. Tour groups tend to go to Sebutuia Bay on West Fergusson Is as there is a more easily seen population of Goldie’s of about 10 birds at sea level only 20 minutes easy walk from the beach.
The Huon Mountains are isolated from other montane regions by the lowland barrier of the Ramu/Markham Basin lowlands. Wahnes’s Parotia is only found in a narrow band of suitable habitat within the Huon Peninsula and is the longest-tailed member of the genus Parotia. The male performs a spectacular courtship “ballerina dance” on the forest floor. We passed the rest of the evening in real “village” style with a dinner of sweet potato, corned beef,pumpkin, greens and noodles with lots of tea. Interesting chat about belief systems and secret valleys with special trees before we retired to our floor for the night.
Later discovered that JH had walked all the way back to the Mission. Similar routine as yesterday except that the vehicle picked up JH and AJ at Rossun then returned to collect us, before driving to Temote’s house in Pokun village. A calling Boobook was spotted at the edge of the forest and gave good views in torchlight. Walked in pretty quickly, AJ whooping loudly, to the area where we had stopped yesterday.
Alfonzo Bissonnette is a wildlife conservationist and a television personality. He is 29 years old. When he was just four years old, he found his first dead animal on the side of the road. From that day on, he knew that he wanted to work with animals.
Alfonzo has always been passionate about protecting the environment and its inhabitants. As a child, he would spend hours catching bugs and spiders in his backyard, then release them back into the wild unharmed. He later studied Wildlife Conservation at university, and now works tirelessly to protect endangered species all over the world.
Alfonzo is also a television personality. He has been featured on several shows about wildlife conservation, and has even hosted his own show about animal rescue operations.