Magnificent Riflebird Dances Like a Cheerleader

If Western Parotia dances like a ballerina, the Magnificent Riflebird dances like a cheerleader.

A Male Magnificent Riflebird (Ptiloris magnificus)

This bird can be seen in lowland, and lower montane forest of New Guinea. The recommended sites to watch this bird are Susnguakti forest of Manokwari, Klasow valley of Sorong regency; Sikor, Ases valley of Tambrauw mountains.

Male Magnificent Riflebird was waiting for his female counterpart

I often organize birding tour in West Papua and this bird is included in the list of target birds to see. Other birds from lowland and lower montane forests that become the vocal points of the tour are Lesser Birds of Paradise, King Bird of Paradise, Yellow-capped Pygmy Parrot, Western-crowned Pigeon, Lowland Peltop and a lot more.

Lesser Birds of Paradise	Common Paradise Kingfisher	King Bird of Paradise

In recent years, West Papua has become an important destination for international visitors because its rainforest is the natural habitat of birds of paradise and other tropical birds. Traveling birders fly from their countries to Jakarta and then to Manokwari city or Sorong city before they could continue their trip by cars into birding sites usually located deep in the forest. 

They bring camera with telephoto lens, binoculars, sound players and laser pointer which birders usually bring when they go birdwatching. Most often tourists have to stay in very basic guesthouses that are lack of comfortable beds, and clean toilets. However, because those are the only available accommodation in the forest, they have to adapt with such situation. Birding tourism bring economic benefits to local people who live in the forest where the visitors go. It helps local people earn money without destroying their forest. - written by Charles Roring