Cendrawasih Raja dari Hutan Tambrauw

Cendrawasih Raja atau yang dalam bahasa Inggris disebut King Bird of Paradise (Cicinnurus regius) adalah salah satu spesies burung surga yang hidup di hutan dataran rendah dan daerah perbukitan di Tanah Papua. Ukuran badannya kecil saja. Yang jantan sekitar 16 cm sedangkan yang betina 19 cm. Di pepohonan yang banyak ranting, tanaman tali hutan dan rotan yang bergelantungan, burung Cendrawasih Raja suka hidup di sana. 

Foto burung Surga Raja dari Tambrauw

Cendrawasih Raja bisa ditemukan di hampir semua kawasan hutan dataran rendah dan perbukitan. Lokasi yang mudah dijangkau untuk melakukan pengamatan burung ini adalah di Kabupaten Tambrauw. Di sini, warga melestarikan hutan dan membiarkan berbagai satwa hidup dan berkembang. Foto berikut ini adalah Cendrawasih Raja yang hidup di hutan Tambrauw. Foto tersebut dibuat oleh Nico Nauw, seorang pemandu turis di daerah tersebut. 

Wisatawan yang ingin berkunjung ke Kabupaten Tambrauw untuk mengamati burung Cendrawasih Raja dan burung-burung tropis Papua bisa pergi ke pantai Weyos dengan naik speedboat. 

Tidak mudah bagi siapapun untuk mencari burung Surga Raja tersebut di dalam hutan karena ukuran tubuhnya yang kecil. Oleh sebab itu, wisatawan membutuhkan jasa seorang pemandu (guide). 

Untuk mencapai Tambrauw, wisatawan perlu terbang ke kota Sorong. Ada beberapa penerbangan reguler yang menghubungkan kota Sorong dengan kota-kota besar lainnya di Indonesia. Beberapa maskapai penerbangan yang pesawatnya terbang ke kota Sorong adalah Garuda, Sriwijaya Air, Batik Air, Lion Air, Wings Air, dan Nam Air.

Tiba di kota Sorong, wisatawan perlu melanjutkan perjalanan ke Tambrauw dengan naik kendaraan 4WD. Jangan lupa membeli bahan makanan sesuai dengan jumlah hari yang akan dihabiskan oleh wisatawan selama di Tambrauw. 

Untuk akomodasi di pantai Weyos, wisatawan bisa tinggal di shelter tepi pantai. Tapi wisatawan perlu membawa tenda dome dan matras. Kalau lokasi yang dituju adalah Sausapor (kota pantai dari Kabupaten Tambrauw), ada guesthouse atau penginapan yang bisa dijadikan sebagai tempat menginap. 

Pastikan bahwa wisatawan membawa kamera yang memadai seperti D-SLR dengan lensa 600 mm atau bridge camera seperti Canon SX70HS, Nikon P900 dan Nikon P1000.  

Perlengkapan pengamatan burung yang penting untuk dibawa serta adalah teropong (binocular). Salah satunya adalah SVBONY 10×42.

Semoga aktivitas wisata pengamatan flora dan fauna bisa meningkatkan dan kepedulian kita terhadap upaya-upaya pelestarian alam. 

Ini ditulis oleh Charles Roring

Baca Juga:

• Cendrawasih Raja
• King Bird of Paradise

Birdwatching in Sorong Regency's Rainforest

There are a number of birdwatching sites in the outskirts of Sorong city such as the hill, coastal and the mangrove forest areas. They are the habitat a lot of tropical birds including:

Pinon Imperial Pigeon

• Yellow-billed Kingfisher (Syma torotoro)
• Blyth's Hornbill (Rhyticeros plicatus)
• Yellow-faced Myna (Mino dumontii) 
• Golden Myna (Mino anais)
• Oriental Dollarbird (Eurystomus orientalis)
• Palm Cockatoo (Probosciger aterrimus) 
• Sulphur-crested Cockatoo (Cacatua galerita)
• Shining Flycatcher
• Wompoo Fruit Dove (Ptilinopus magnificus)
• Pinon Imperial Pigeon (Ducula pinon)
• Orange-bellied Fruit Dove (Ptilinopus iozonus)
• Western-crowned Pigeon (Goura cristata)
• White-bellied Cuckooshrike
• Boyer's Cuckooshrike (Coracina boyeri)
• Sahul Sunbird
• Black Sunbird
• Olive-crowned Flowerpecker
• Black Butcherbird
• Hooded Butcherbird
• Brown Oriole
• Helmetted Friarbird
• and etc.

Visitors who are in transit in Sorong city and do not have much time could take this tour. Usually, we starts early in the morning at 05:00 from the hotel. We will go by car to a hill outside Sorong city. The duration of the drive is around 1 hour. When we arrive, we will have some tea or coffee with biscuits or fruits as our breakfast. It will be in outdoor setting directly at the birding site.

We will enjoy birding walk along a quiet road. 

Sulphur-crested Cockatoo

Birds such as Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Black-browed Triller, Yellow-faced Myna, Blyth's Hornbill and Rufous-bellied Kookaburra are active in the mornings.  

The morning tour starts at 06:00 and finishes at 10:00. It could be continued in the afternoon from 14:00 to 18:00 to different birding sites. 

Blyth's Hornbill

Sorong city is the main gate for visitors who plan to enjoy snorkeling or scuba diving in Raja Ampat. Visitors who are in Sorong city could take this short birding tour.

To enhance the birdwatching and wildlife watching experience, visitors can bring binoculars, and if possible a spotting scope.

It is easy to travel to Sorong city. Visitors need to fly from their own country to Jakarta, Denpasar or Manado. These are cities in Indonesia. The flights to Sorong city are available every day and are served by such airlines as Garuda, Lion Air, Batik Air, Sriwijaya. 

To book your short birding trip in Sorong city, please, contact me (Charles Roring) by whatsapp to: +6281332245180 or by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com

Also read:

• Wildlife Watching Tour in The Forest of Sorong Regency
• Jungle Tour in Sorong of West Papua

Birdwatching in Fef Town of Tambrauw Regency

Fef is the capital of Tambrauw regency. It is located in the middle of bird's head (Vogelkop) region of West Papua province in Indonesia. Fef itself is a valley. Because the town is surrounded by rainforest, visitors who go there can enjoy birdwatching and wildlife watching while walking along its roads.

Sacred Kingfisher in Fef town of Tambrauw regency

Birds such as Yellow-faced Myna, Palm Cockatoo, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Yellow-billed Kingfisher, Sacred Kingfisher, Brahminy Kite, Blyth's Hornbill, and even New Guinea Harpy Eagle can be seen flying over the town or perching on the branches of trees there. Lesser Birds of Paradise, King Bird of Paradise, Magnificent Bird of Paradise, and Magnificent Riflebird could be seen in Tambrauw too. 

Yellow-billed Kingfisher

Most visitors who travel to rainforest to see wildlife bring binoculars and camera. Bringing a spotting scope will enhance the birding experience too. Since Tambrauw is located near the equator where rain often occurs, visitors should bring raincoat or rain ponchos which can protect them and their photographic equipment. 

There are guesthouses in Fef town that can accommodate visitors who want to stay for a few days there. One of them has got 8 bedrooms with toilets. 

A guesthouse in Fef town of Tambrauw regency

Fef is a small town, I highly suggest that visitors who want to go there, first, need to by logistical needs such as bread, biscuits, canned food, instant noodles, or batteries, and mineral water in Manokwari city or Sorong city. 

It is easy to travel to Fef town of Tambrauw regency. First, visitors need to fly from their country to Jakarta (the capital) or other big cities of Indonesia such as Manado, Surabaya, or Denpasar. After that, visitors can continue their trip by taking a flight to Sorong city or Manokwari city (capital of Papua Barat province). The trip to Fef town can be carried out by 4WD car. 

Booking:

Please, contact me, Charles Roring (whatsapp: +6281332245180)