Birds from the Tropical Rainforest of Manokwari West Papua

Papua is the second largest island in the world after Greenland. It is located in the tropical region of the Pacific ocean. Most of the island is still covered with pristine rainforest where various birds and mammals, reptiles, and insects live in it. Bird of paradise (Paradisaea apoda) is one of the most popular species that is in danger of extinction. Although the local government has banned the hunting of these threatened birds, people still hunt them because their price is expensive if sold alive. Hornbill, White Kakatoe (Cacatua galerita) and King Kakatoe or Goliath Cockatoo or Palm Cockatoo (Probosciger aterrimus) are beautiful species which we can still see in the jungle of Table Mountain of Manokwari. Bird watching is an interesting activity which most of the tourists like to do in this forest.

While I was traveling with three Russian tourists to this mountain on 16 January 2010, we were able to locate a place where King Kakatoe birds live. They make their nests or holes in tall trees. It was not easy to take pictures of those birds if we did not use digital camera that was equipped with long distant lenses. Mikhail brought such camera with him so he could take some photos of the King Kakatoe (Kakaktua Raja).  

We have to be extra patient if we really want to see or watch wild birds in their natural habitat. If we approach them too close, they will fly away. Sometimes they stand in places in camouflage. I remembered the moment when we found an owl whose feather was brown. We were not so sure whether it was a bird or not because it looked similar to other dry and decaying leaves on the ground. My friend Paul Warere took a wooden stick and touched the bird with it. Suddenly, it opened its mouth and eyes. Mikhail (one of the Russian tourists) and I took some photos of this bird. Because its feather was wet all over, it did not look like an owl. Do you know what owl is? If not, may be you used to watch Harry Potter. In that film, you could see the OWL bird.

At the foot of the Table Mountain of Manokwari, local people like to keep birds at their homes. Sometimes we can see Lory and White Kakatoe besides other animals such as Kuskus . I personally do not agree with keeping birds at home because they will become stressed and pluck their feather. There is a Papuan artist who likes to make oil paintings of Cendrawasih or Paradise Bird. Every time there are tourists in my sister's Kagum hotel, I will bring them to him to enjoy his beautiful artworks. Cendrawasih is one of the most beautiful birds in the world. Unfortunately, it is facing extinction. To stop the hunting of such precious birds, we need to provide alternative income to the local people. By buying souvenirs or handicrafts that are ornamented or painted with paradise birds, we have supported them by giving additional income so that they will not hunt animals in the forest anymore.

When Mike, Inga and Dima - the three Russian eco-travelers went to Mansinam island that is located in the middle of the Dorey bay of Manokwari, they saw a young Kasuari bird (Casuarius casuarius) at one of the houses of the indigenous Papuans. by Charles Roring