Content
Long-tailed Paradigalla Paradigalla carunculataOne seen above Syioubrig, as Zeth found it in the open. Black Butcherbird Cracticus quoyiMany heard, just one or two seen, in Nimbokrang. Hooded Butcherbird Cracticus cassicusSeen on Batanta, very common onBiak. Dark-backed Honeyeater Ptiloprora perstriataApproximately 10 birds were seen daily around Lake Habbema. Rufous-sided Honeyeater Ptiloprora erythropleuraApproximately 10 birds of this West NG endemic were seen well in Arfak.
Due to shipping restraints, many of our framed, stretched, and oversize paintings may take 6-21 days for arrival depending on the safest route determined by the postal service. Papuan Treecreeper Cormobates placensApparently fairly common in Arfak, where several heard. One male seen well close to “Attenborough Camp”. 1 heard en route from Wamena to Lake Habbema.
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.
Ornate Fruit-Dove Ptilinopus ornatus10 birds at SP1, close to Manokwari. The local race. Variable Goshawk Accipiter hiogaster Common. Moluccan and New Guinea birds are now considered to be two separate species. Previously split from Grey Goshawk in Australia.
Arfak Astrapia Canvas Print / Canvas Art by John Gould
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.
- 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.
- In total, more than 320 bird species have so far been recorded from the Arfak region.
- The northeastern region of the Bird’s Head or Vogelkop Peninsula of West Papua is made up of an isolated yet massive, more or less continuous mountain chain.
- They have white feathering at base of bill, pale underwing coverts, yellow iris and no knobb on top of the bill.
White-eared Bronze Cuckoo Chrysococcyx meyeriFairly common around Syioubrig. The red-fronted forehead of the female seen under good circumstances. Fan-tailed Cuckoo Cacomantis flabelliformisThis high altitude species was common around Lake Habbema.
The habits of the Arfak astrapia are very little known. The birds are found mostly in cloud forests at 1,700 to 2,250 m at the apex of the Arfak Mountains. Foraging habits observed include the birds probing fruits, mostly pandanus fruits, off of moss and epiphytes in the montane canopy. Arthropods also recorded in the diet. Breeding habits mostly unknown; female definitely builds the nests and tend the chicks, as with most other birds-of-paradise, though the exact rearing period is unknown.
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.
Elliot – Paradise – 008 Arfak Astrapia
In the afternoon we paid a visit to the nearby island of Salawati. The display tree of King Bird-of-paradise was very quiet in the rain, but a calling Hooded Pitta jumped almost all the way around us and eventually exposed itself brilliantly. A fast walk on the partly muddy trail, soon turning into a creek, eventually felt quite useless, so we decided to go back to the camp on Batanta. A Frogmouth in a big dead tree above the rest house showed some characteristics of Marbled, but Papuan could certainly not be ruled out.
The scrub and bushes attracted quite a number of species being new to us. The star bird was obviously Splendid Astrapia, as three individuals of this shining species were watched for long periods, often first discovered by distinctive call. Another favourite was still the Crested Berrypecker, one of the most common species at this altitude. Best represented family was certainly Meliphagidae; Common Smoky, Orange-cheeked, Black-throated and Grey-streaked Honeyeater, Short-bearded and Belford’s Melidectes all being easily found. New Guinea Thornbill was perhaps not a competitor for “bird-of-the-day”, but still nice to see as it is the only Acanthiza on Papua.
Ordered without a frame, it will be delivered in protective tube within business days. Unframed rolled canvas orders will arrive rolled inside a protective tube with an extra 1.5″ white canvas on all sides so you can easily frame it locally. The artist will add 3 inches (7.5 cm) of extra paint “bleed” to every 4 sides of the canvas. There will still be 1.5 inches of white canvas around all 4 sides of the canvas. If your order fails to meet your expectations, please email us and return the print within 30 days of receipt for a complete refund. A feeding female was recorded in July, juveniles from July to August.
Check the box marked ‘Maintain original proportions’ in order to always keep the same aspect ratio as the original painting. Input your desired width or height and the other dimension will automatically adjust in keeping with the original proportions. Stretched, Gallery Wrapped and Framed paintings are covered with protective bubble wrap, separated by foam board and then carefully put into the cardboard box.
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.
Audubon 131 American Robin (DEF)
Blue Grey Robin Peneothello cyanusCommon in Arfak, but sometimes difficult to see. Mountain Robin Petroica bivittataThis high altitude species was seen twice around Lake Habbema, both times in small groups of 4-5 birds. Garnet Robin Eugerygone rubraThis smart little bird was seen a few times in Arfak.
Orange-cheeked Honeyeater Lichenostomus chrysogenysThis species is restricted to Snow Mountains, where it was common. Black-throated Honeyeater Lichenostomus subfrenatusFairly common around Lake Habbema. Little Shrike-Thrush Colluricincla megarhyncha1 bird at Syioubrig, otherwise mostly seen in Nimbokrang, where common. Vogelkop Whistler Pachycephala meyeriOnly a few birds seen with certainty in Arfak.
Sclater’s Whistler Pachycephala sororSplendid males in Arfak and Snow Mountains. Dwarf Whistler Pachycare flavogriseaHeard and seen briefly at Syioubrig. Superb views of a pair on the way down from Arfak.
If you have not heard back from us by then, please first check your spam folder through your web mail. If our response is not there, then kindly resend your initial communication. Many thanks! When purchasing a painting on its own, it will arrive rolled inside a secure tube with an extra 1.5″ of white canvas on all sides so you can easily frame it in any local frame shop. We always ship express via courier to ensure your order reaches you as soon as possible – normally within three business days.
Also 4 adults in flooded rice fields close to Jayapura. Osprey Pandion haliaetus Seen on Batanta and Biak. This subspecies rnight be a species of its own right according to DNA.
The female is a blackish brown with pale barring on its abdomen. The diet consists mainly of pandanus fruits. Shortly after leaving for a walk along the road, sun shifted into heavy rain threatening to flood our tents. We were saved by our local crew, which fast and heroically dug a canal leading the water away. The rest of the afternoon was spent watching the hillside below the road a few hundred metres from the camp.
Magnificent Bird-of-paradise Cicinnurus magnificusWe all saw a male from Zeth’s blind at Syioubrig, showing sorne display moves for sorne. Ended up on third place in “Bird-of-the-trip” ranking. Another 2-3 males were heard around Syioubrig and at km 14. Golden Myna Mino anais1 bird in Nimbokrang, 2 birds close to the PNG border. Both times seen together with previous species.
Stephan’s Dove, Black Cuckoo-shrike, Shining Flycatcher and Golden Myna were a good reward. Most of the afternoon was spent looking for Shovel-billed Kingfisher. We ended up almost lost in the jungle, climbing up and down muddy creek sides and forcing ourselves through dense vegetation, but just before dusk we were luckily back on track. Grey-headed Goshawk, King Bird-of-paradise and Papuan Nightjar should be mentioned. The northeastern region of the Bird’s Head or Vogelkop Peninsula of West Papua is made up of an isolated yet massive, more or less continuous mountain chain. The name ‘Tamrau’ applies to the western portion, bisected by the grassy Kebar Valley, heartland of the indigenous Karoon people.
The Arfak astrapia is large, approximately 76 cm long, black, with an iridescent purple, green and bronze plumage. The male has a very long broad tail, velvety black breast feathers and extremely complex head plumage, although it often appears black. The male displays upside down.
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.