Twelve-wired Bird-of-paradise Seleucidis melanoleucaAt least five birds in Nimbokrang. One displaying male showed nicely with several females. Great-billed Parrot Tanygnathus megalorynchos10 birds on Senapang Island. This diminishing species is a small island specialist in New Guinea.
Buff-tailed Sicklebill Epimachus albertisi“BVD”, “UTV” (“untickable view”) or no view at all for most of us. However, it was seen well on the extension trip to Arfak. Calls a bit like a Whimbrel. Splendid Astrapia Astrapia splendidissimaSeen rather frequently around Lake Habbema, including good looking males.
It’s more common on Halmahera, but even there local. Claret-breasted Fruit-Dove Ptilinopus viridis10 birds en route to Syioubrig , 1 male SP1, locally common on Biak. All orders ship with UPS, FedEx or DHL and will arrive directly to your home or office. A tracking number will be emailed to you as soon as the order leaves our studio so you can track it online. All orders ship express and usually arrive within 4-5 days from the shipping date.
Instead Shita was leading the journey with assistance of Untu, a childhood friend to Kris. Shita’s skills of organization and practical matters sorted everything out perfectly. Otherwise you might end up loosing a lot of money and invaluable time. Shita’s former occupation as a lawyer and extraordinary life experiences in West Papua solved most of the problems even before we had them noticed. Her only disadvantage at this point was that she’s not really a bird guide.
Snow Mountain Quail Anurophasis monorthonyxTotally 4 birds seen on 3 days in Snow Mountains. Not really a Quail, but a species of a monotypic genus. Also hoped for were Yellow-bibbed Fruit-Dove and Red-fronted Lorikeet, while Biak Monarch was considered out of reach. After lunch some preferred siesta while others went for a short walk along the road.
She knows for sure where to find most important species, but has not had time to learn all the calls. The same goes for Untu, who is an experienced bird guide at Sulawesi/Halmahera but need some time to adapt to this new field. We would love to hear from you at Papua Expeditions ! Email us or simply click on that address to automate your email app. We endeavor to respond to all queries within 72 hrs.
Get hand painted museum quality reproduction of “Arfak Astrapia Astrapia Nigra Bird of Paradise” by William M. Hart. The Reproduction will be hand painted by one of our talented artist. Depending on the degree of damage to the warranted painting, it will either be repaired or replaced. This warranty service is provided free of charge.
Some secluded Arfak endemic forms became known in Europe remarkably early into the 18th century. The Arfak Astrapia, for instance, was first illustrated as early as 1734! However, it took until September 1872 before the exuberant L. M. D’Albertis would be the first European collector to penetrate any distance into the Arfaks and as a matter of fact into montane New Guinea as a whole!
Long-tailed Buzzard Henicopernis longicaudaTotally 7 birds seen on 4 locations. A flight of 70 minutes took us to the airport east of Jayapura. We checked in at Hotel Sentani, where binoculars were needed to watch the other side of the lobby. As it was too late for afternoon birding we decided to stay put, taking advantage of luxury stuff such as swimming pool and bar. This trip was organized by Papua Bird Club, founded by Kris Tindige and his wife Shita . However, Kris was not able to run the tour due to serious cancer disease and he died on the 20th of August, leaving indescribable loss and emptiness behind.
Read on about our Easy West Papua birding expedition visiting the Arfak Mountains. Read on about our Amazing Arfak birding expedition to the Arfak Mountains. Read on about our short birding break to the Arfak Mountains.
The local people (i.e. Zeth’s family) certainly provided perfect cooking services as well, and the fresh passion fruits, coming straight off nearby trees, were probably the best ever eaten. The Arfak astrapia is a species of astrapia, a group of birds found in the Paradiseidae family of the birds-of-paradise. In the wild, the bird has hybridised with the black sicklebill creating offspring that were once considered a distinct species, the Elliot’s sicklebill “Epimachus ellioti”. While some ornithologists still believe that this bird is a distinct species, possibly critically endangered or even extinct, many now think it was a hybrid between the two species.
Lesser bird of para…
It was actually the first species of astrapia to be discovered, so the generic name was first assigned to this bird. Western Parotia Parotia sefilata3-4 males and at least 5 females seen in Arfak. Zeth’s blinds made all the difference. A sudden change to skirt takes place and then the performer is shaking it, like a “Drag Queen”. -What a display! Second place in “Bird-of-the-trip” ranking.
Black-breasted Boatbill Machaerirhynchus nigripectusCommon in Arfak. Seen en route from Lake Habbema to Wamena. Ochre-collared Monarch Arses insularisA few heard, at least one seen in Nimbokrang. Brown-breasted Gerygone Gerygone ruficollisThe common high altitude Gerygone around Lake Habbema and in Arfak Mountains. Biak Gerygone Gerygone hypoxanthaSplit from Large-billed with yellowish sides. Seen very well on a few occasions.
Can’t find the painting that you are looking for? No problem! We can paint any painting in any size, even if it’s not listed on our website. Simply make a request and we will get back to you with a quote within a few hours. When you invest in our print, will receive a certificate of authenticity. Terrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land (e.g., cats, ants, snails), as compared with aquatic animals, which liv…
King-of-saxony bird…
Satisfied with the situation we headed for a place holding Biak Scops-Owl. As soon as darkness arrived the barking call was heard, first in the distance but eventually we stood right under the same tree. At that time the owl called with an agitated “po-po-po-po-po…” . Next bird to be analysed was a Northern Fantail. The race occurring here has a much more black-and-white plumage compared to the mainland forms, which appear more grey and buff.
Blue-black Kingfisher Halcyon nigrocyaneaOne seen, several heard, in Nimbokrang. Biak Paradise-Kingfisher Tanysiptera riedeliiSeemed to be locally common on Biak. Great Black Coucal Centropus menbeki2 heard by the pond on Salawati. Common in Nimbokrang, where also seen a couple of times. Orange-billed Lorikeet Neopsittacus pullicaudaThis is the real high altitude species, absent in Arfak and only seen around Lake Habbema. Rufescent Imperial Pigeon Ducula chalconotaOnly one BVD (“better-view-desired”) and some heard, in Arfak.
- Unframed paintings are covered with a special protective film, are gently rolled and then placed inside a strong specially designed tube.
- Further down, below 1000 m, we took an afternoon break listening for Lesser Bird-of-paradise calling in the deep valleys on either side of the road.
- The red-fronted forehead of the female seen under good circumstances.
- Protected by its geographical isolation and undisturbed forests home, the Arfak astrapia is evaluated as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
- The race occurring here has a much more black-and-white plumage compared to the mainland forms, which appear more grey and buff.
No other information. The first afternoon we satisfied our eagerness to see the beautiful Paradise-Kingfisher, which seemed fairly common and quite easily attracted by tape. Further along the road stunning Claret-breasted Fruit-Doves and lovely Moustached Treeswifts attracted our attention. Also notable were five Pacific Golden Plovers on a stony field. Long-tailed Starling was an abundant species and just before a rain storm our first Red Lories passed by.
Camp at Lake Habbema is usually set above 3000 m, which means cold night temperature (sometimes 0°C) and lower concentration of oxygen. In all you need to be in good health condition to do this trip. Also bear in mind that health care is sometimes far away and that the risk of malaria is fairly high. Having said this, I would like to end this general introduction by telling that through the trip we were served excellent food and that stomach illness seems rare in New Guinea. Hand crafted means unique to every owner.
This is the Geelvink Bay subspecies geelvinkiana. The ones we saw in Senapang Island had bill knobb and darker underwing coverts. Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Calidris acuminataSmall numbers in flooded rice fields close to Jayapura. Rufous-tailed Bush-hen Amaurornis moluccanaHeard in Arfak and Nimbokrang.
In the end Elegant was ruled out by whitish underwing coverts together with contrast between grey head/breast to warmer belly. A couple of stops along the road, where it was safe without getting into trouble with local chiefs, produced splendid views of Ornate Melidectes and Dwarf Whistler. Further down, below 1000 m, we took an afternoon break listening for Lesser Bird-of-paradise calling in the deep valleys on either side of the road. Upon leaving a New Guinea Harpy-Eagle glided just above the tree tops on the far slope in one of the valleys, just to disappear in the foliage. We arrived back in Manokwari after dark.
We only hire qualified artists with advanced degrees in Fine Arts who have completed a dissertation in European or American art. When you receive the painting; you are free to return it for more revisions or else for a full refund minus our actual shipping cost — which is, on average, $25 per painting. Free shipping is included in the price of the painting. Once the painting is ready and dry enough to ship, we will roll it and ship it in a sturdy cardboard tube.
It has conspicuous white tailcorners and white wingband on the underside of the wing. 1 individual also seen in Arfak. Spice Imperial Pigeon Ducula myristicivoraObviously many ornithologists before us have been confused by the birds on Biak. They have white feathering at base of bill, pale underwing coverts, yellow iris and no knobb on top of the bill.
The total delivery time from the moment you place your order until the package is delivered to your door is normally between three to four weeks. The Arfak astrapia is a species of bird-of-paradise. Superb Bird-of-paradise Lophorina superbaA pair seen briefly, male heard calling, above Syioubrig. Another pair seen briefly at Baliem Valley Resort. Jobi Manucode Manucodia jobiensis3-4 birds in Nimbokrang; one eating fruit and calling typically.
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.