Wildlife Watching Gear

Every visitor must bring his or her own mask and hand sanitizer. These can be bought in big supermarkets in Indonesia. First-aid kit is also needed.

For Birding and Wildlife Watching

Visitors who like to explore nature to see its plants and animals usually bring several equipment as follows:

wildlife watching gear

• Every visitor needs a good pair of binoculars. Famous brands such as Swarovski, Leica, Nikon, Zeiss, Vortex manufacture high quality binoculars. The recommended sizes are 8×42 mm 10×42 mm. The recent product of Celestron 10×56 mm binoculars have got larger objective lenses that are suitable for lowlight condition. It does not matter whether the binoculars use porro or roof prism design. The most important thing is that it can create clear images for those who use them.
• Digital Camera with Telephoto Lens - Professional photographers usually bring D-SLR camera with Sigma 150-600 m sport or Tamron 150-600mm G2 lens which are suitable for taking birds, wild animals and plants that are far from them. However, these photographic devices are heavy. They also need more spaces in backpack. Visitors who are not photographers can still take pictures of distant birds and other wild animals using bridge camera such as Canon SX70HS, Nikon P900 or Nikon P1000.
• Laser Pointer - This little device will help you or local guide point the right location of where a bird, butterfly, snake or other animal during the tour in the rainforest. However, the light of the laser pointer must not directly aimed at the animal.
• Spotting scope for watching birds or other wild animals and plants will also be useful but is not a must for everyone to bring it. A group of birdwatchers usually bring one spotting scope. 

Snorkelers and Freedivers usually bring their own snorkeling masks and swim fins. Waterproof underwater cameras such as Nikon W300, Fujifilm FinePix XP series, Canon G7X with waterproof case, Go Pro action camera, Olympus TG Series will be useful for taking pictures of coral reef and any marine creatures.

Please, bring your snorkeling gear

If you wan to know more about the flora and fauna of New Guinea, you could read several books that discuss about them at this link: 

• References about Flora and Fauna of New Guinea

Birding Trip to Teluk Wondama Regency

Most of mainland and islands of Teluk Wondama regency is covered by pristine tropical rainforest. It is the natural habitat of hundreds of species of birds.

There are several birdwatching sites around Rasiei town 

Rowi Forest - This birding site is located behind the local government's building. You can walk along an old road or explore the banks of Rowi river that flows from Wondiboy mountains to the sea to find such birds as Pinon Imperial Pigeon, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Blyth's Hornbill, Helmetted Friarbird, Singing Starling, Olive-backed Sunbird, Brown Cuckoo Dove, Glossy Swiftlet, Spangled Drongo, Olive-crowned Flowerpecker, Black Sunbird, Mimic Meliphaga. The mangrove forest is around one kilometer away from the village. It can easily be reached on foot especially in the morning. You need to be accompanied by villagers or local guide from HPI Wondama in order to watch birds and other wildlife in the forest. If you walk along the sides of the river up the slopes to Wondiboy mountains, you can see more birds and wildlife. This forest area can be explored in multiple days if you bring camping gear and food supply.

Rasiei Beach is another birdwatching site in Teluk Wondama that birders can explore to find such birds as Sacred Kingfisher, Pacific Swallow, Lesser Frigatebird, Whimbrel, Little Tern, Torresian Crow, Willie Wagtail, White-bellied Sea Eagle. As a matter of fact, coastal birds can also bee seen along the beach of Wondama bay. 

Sobey Village - This coastal village is another interesting site for birdwatching because you can explore its lowland forest, mangrove, sand bank that is located around two hundred meters from the beach. Flocks of sea birds such as plover, tern, lesser frigatebird, and egret can often be seen on this sand bank.

As you explore further area to the north of Wondama Bay, we will arrive at Wandamui Hill. This viewpoint overlooks the sea and the other side of the bay. Town dwellers like to visit it for taking selfie pictures which they will share in social media. Birds soaring in the sky like Lesser Frigatebird, Brahminy Kite, Long-tailed Buzzard and White-bellied Sea Eagle can easily be observed from this hill. There is a good shelter which you can use to see the beautiful scenery of Wondama Bay and watch birds that sit on the branches of the surrounding trees or fly over the hills to different areas of the forest. Eclectus Parrot, Black-capped Lory, as well as the small Olive-backed Sunbirds are quite common in the area. In the evening more bird activity can be seen from this viewpoint.

Blyth's Hornbill (Rhyticeros plicatus)

The road that goes between Yopanggar village and Aisandami village is a great site for birding and wildlife watching. You can go directly to Yopanggar, spend one or two nights in the village and slowly do the birding walk to Aisandami village. It is not only birds that you will see but also other rainforest animals including mammals, reptiles, and insects. The Duari bay where Aisandami village is located is a great site for birding because it has got a huge mangrove forest. For easy birding, just walk along the sides of the road outside the village. To book your trip to Wondama, please, contact us by whatsapp to: +6281332245180.

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