Paradise Birds in Klabolo Forest

Lesser Birds of Paradise (Paradisaea minor)

Klabolo is the name of rainforest located in the east of Sorong regency. Several birds of paradise live there including Lesser Birds of Paradise (Paradisaea minor), Magnificent Riflebird (Ptiloris magnificus), King Bird of Paradise (Cicinnurus regius), Twelve-wired Bird of Paradise (Seleucidis melanoleuca), and Glossy Manucode (Manucodia ater).

Last week, I guided Tony Lau - a Canadian tourist to the forest for 4 days/ 3 nights. We explored the forest to watch paradise birds and other tropical birds that are endemic to West Papua lowland region. To watch the Lesser Birds of Paradise (Paradisaea minor), we had to wake up very early in the morning at 04.30. After drinking tea, and eating some bread, we began to wear our hiking shoes. Thirty minutes later we were leaving our guesthut for the birding site of the paradise birds. 

It took around one hour of walking up and down two hills, and along muddy paths to reach trees where paradise birds like to dance for mating. When we arrived at the birding site, we heard the calls of birds of paradise approximately 10 meters high the branches of trees. I brought two pairs of binoculars. I lent one pair to Tony. We spent 3 hours under the tree watching and photographing the birds. 

I used my old camera Fujifilm Finepix HS50EXR to take pictures of the birds. With its telephoto zoom capability of 1,000 millimeters, I could take some good pictures of the paradise birds. Although I was so exhausted with the morning walk, I was very happy to see the yellow paradise birds. 

We also saw other birds such as Pinon Imperial Pigeon, Pink-spotted Fruit Dove, Coconut Lorikeet, Helmetted Friarbird, Moustached Treeswift, Golden Myna, Yellow-faced Myna, and Northern Cassowary. I was fortunate enough to see Twelve-wired Bird of Paradise in a distant using my spotting scope Kinglux 20-60×60. He was sitting for a few seconds on the branch of a tree at the forest edge of the clearing area of the village. 

I provided birding tour to Klabolo forest for everybody who is interested in watching paradise birds as well as other birds in the jungle of Sorong regency.

Please, contact me (Charles Roring) by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp: +6281332245180 for detailed itinerary and cost.