Lesser Paradise Birds

Lesser Paradise Birds (Paradise birds)

Lesser Birds of Paradise (Paradisaea minor) is an important bird species in West Papua. Its feather is used as head-dress in most traditional costumes of the indigenous Papuan people. Hunters kill the birds and sell them to wealthy city dwellers who put them as decoration in the living rooms of their houses. Although the population of paradise birds in the forest is still high, the number is shrinking rapidly because of logging, and conversion of forest into roads, as well as human settlements and farmlands.
To support indigenous Papuan people in preserving their tropical rainforest, birds and wildlife, I introduce ecotourism in West Papua particularly in such regions as Tambrauw Mountains, Arfak mountains, Sorong regency and Raja Ampat. Although the title of the post is Lesser Paradise Birds, actually, visitors who take the birding and wildlife watching tour with me will see more. The duration of the tour is 3 days to 2 weeks depending on the number of places that visitors plan to visit.
Other birds that visitors can watch include Twelve-wired Birds of Paradise, King Bird of Paradise, Magnificent Riflebird, Red-breasted Paradise Kingfisher, Palm Cockatoo, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Pinon Imperial Pigeon, Eclectus Parrot, Wompoo Fruit Dove, Azure Kingfisher, and a lot more.
Visitors who want to take birding tour with me need to bring their own binoculars, and a D-SLR camera with telephoto lens.
Please, contact me by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com.

Also read:

• Birding and Snorkeling in Raja Ampat
• Birdwatching and Photography Tour in Tangkoko and Minahasa Highland

Lesser Birds of Paradise (Paradisaea minor)

I have guided hundreds of tourists on various birding tours in tropical rainforest of West Papua. One of the main targets which they want to see is bird of paradise.
There are tens of species of paradise birds. The famous one is the Lesser Birds of Paradise (Paradisaea minor). These birds live in lowland to lower montane forest and are usually active in the mornings and in the afternoons. To watch them, visitors need to wear a good pair of binoculars such as the 10x42 mm.
If you haven't seen the birds in their natural habitat, here is a photo print link from my zazzle store which you could click to see. It will be a good decoration for your room.

Lesser Birds of Paradise

Lesser Birds of Paradise can be watched in Klasow valley of Sorong regency, in Arfak mountains of Manokwari and in Tambrauw mountains. However, it is not the only bird species that visitors can watch. There are a lot of other birds and wild animals which visitors can see in the forest.

Lesser Paradise birds in Arfak mountains

A lot of birdwatchers and rainforest lovers go to Arfak mountains to watch paradise birds. There are several species that can be seen both in the lower and upper montane forests.
Lesser Birds of Paradise
 
One of the most famous species of paradise birds is the Lesser Bird of Paradise (Paradisaea minor). The birds can mostly be seen in lower montane forest. They like to gather in trees whose branches overlook sunrise. Early in the morning when the weather is clear, male Lesser BOPs fly to the trees to call their female counterparts. Morning sunlight makes their feather looks bright and colorful. The male birds of paradise will perform courtship dance to attract female lesser birds of paradise for mating. They jump from one branches to another. The branches that are used for the courtship dance have been cleared from twigs, leaves and moss. A recommended site for tourists who want to watch these paradise birds is Susnguakti forest. It is located in the south of Manokwari city approximately 1 hour ride and another 1 hour hiking into the jungle.

To watch the paradise birds in Susnguakti forest, birdwatchers have to wake up early in the morning at around 4.30 a.m. After eating some food and drinking coffee or tea, they need to leave the their camp for the birding site. Crossing a small stream of cool water in a narrow ravine, they will slowly walk up steep slopes of the Arfak range. When the sun rises in the east from the horizon of the Pacific Ocean, the male lesser birds of paradise perch on the branches of the trees and begin calling their females. The "courtship dance show" lasts for about 3 hours from 6 to 9 a.m. They can also be seen in the afternoons at around 13.00 to 15.00. Birdwatchers need to bring a good pair of binoculars or a D-SLR camera that is powered with telephoto lens. The camera that I highly recommend for birdwathers is Canon PowerShot SX50 HS or Nikon Coolpix P600. It is a compact point and shoot camera that is powerful and affordable. If you understand Indonesian language, please, contact Yunus Sayori (cell phone: 081343316087).
Other birds of paradise in Arfak mountains
In addition to the Lesser BOP, visitors can also see such species as Western Parotia, Magnificent birds of paradise, magnificent rifle bird, Arfak astrapia.

Interested in visiting Arfak mountains?
If you want to visit Warmarway village of Arfak mountains, and need an English speaking guide, please, contact us by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com.

Lesser Birds of Paradise

This is perhaps the most sought after birds in the world. People have hunted the Lesser Birds of Paradise (Paradisaea minor) since hundreds of years ago. Because of the continuous hunting, it is now facing extinction in several parts of New Guinea or West Papua forest. In 1980s, they could still be seen in the jungle of Table Mountain near Manokwari town. Today, I cannot see or watch the birds in that jungle anymore. Although Table Mountain is protected by the Department of Forestry of the Indonesian government, it is facing constant destruction from the town dwellers. Hunters carrying air guns like to go into the jungle of the mountain to shoot cuscus, soa-soa (monitor lizards) and birds.

Susnguakti Forest

Paradise bird in Susnguakti forest
of Manokwari

After searching the birds since 2010, finally, I was able to find their dancing site located in the territory of Susnguakti forest. It is a 1-hour ride from Manokwari town. There are four or five trees that have been chosen by the birds of paradise as the place where they perform courtship dance in the mornings and in the afternoons just before sunset. The trees stand on a hill with steep slope. I've got a blurred photograph of the male that I shot using Nikon Coolpix P500. I hope that I can make better pictures in the future. As a nature lover and eco-tourism enthusiast, I try to protect the area by offering birdwatching tours to tourists who want to watch birds of paradise. I hope that this environmentally friendly eco-tourism scheme will help local Papuan villagers generate alternative income that can replace their present livelihood.
Birds and Wild Animals

King Bird of Paradise

In addition to the Lesser Birds of Paradise, Susnguakti forest is also the natural habitat of King Bird of Paradise, Magnificent Riflebird, Hooded Butcherbird, Rufous-bellied Kookaburra, Coconut Lorikeet, Beautiful Fruit Dove, Common Paradise Kingfisher, Papuan Frogmouth.
Animals such as snakes, soa-soa monitor lizard, large ground brown skink, Papua Dragon Tree Lizard, blue-tailed lizard, Cruiser Butterfly (Vindula arsinoe), the Silky Owl Buterfly (Taenaris catops), Swallow tail blue mountain butterfly (Papilio ulysses) butterflies, beetles and fireflies can also be found in this forest.
A lot of species of plants in the jungle of this Arfak mountains including bamboos, big trees, orchids, and glowing mushrooms.
Booking your birding tour
If you want me to organize your birdwatching and wildlife tour in Manokwari, Sorong, Tambrauw Mountains, and Raja Ampat, please, contact me by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com 

Also read: 

• Wildlife Tour in Lowland Forest of Sorong