2003
CAMBODIA TOUR
Giant Ibis Chase
7-25 March
Cambodia! The name conjures up images of continual war, poverty, millions of land mines, and rampant crime. This was all too true just a few years ago. The war is over and the law and order situation has improved greatly. Poverty and the land mines remain. Fortunately, they failed to put mines in all parts of the country and the mined areas are well known and can be avoided.
In spite of being war-ravaged, Cambodia still contains significant forested areas and some of the most prolific wetland areas in Southeast Asia, including remnant populations of several endangered species of birds. One of those, the Giant Ibis, is one of the most endangered species in the world. In January 2001, Pete Davidson discovered a relict population of Giant Ibis in northern Cambodia, numbering 40-70 birds, more than were believed to exist. In March of that year, Frank Lambert, Jon Eames and I spent 8 days in an attempt to see them. We saw two pair, one of which perched in a huge tree for excellent views for over an hour. It was one of my most exciting and gratifying times in the field during a lifetime of birding. We're going to try to repeat that experience on this tour, visiting the same areas with the same amount of time (i.e., about half the tour). We'll also visit an excellent area for the Bengal Florican, a site for the newly described Mekong Wagtail, and a site for the Chestnut-headed Partridge.
Because this trip can only be made in the dry season, and our tour is at the peak of the hot season, the heat will be extreme in the Giant Ibis area, where we'll need to undertake some long walks up to 15 km. (9 miles) to get to the various pools where the ibis feeds. The heat there is likely to be excruciating, with daily maximum temperatures in the 35-38°C (94-100°F) range, exacerbated by high humidity and the necessity of walking in the open. Lots of water and oral rehydration salts are essential. The other areas we'll visit will not be quite so hot and the walks shorter. We'll be camping on the ibis search, so you'll need to bring a tent, air mattress and sheets (or light sleeping bag). Other accommodation will be basic in Cambodia and first class in Bangkok. Food in Cambodia will be basic. Transportation will be by 4-wheel drive vehicles as many roads are poor to miserable.
While the places we will visit are deemed safe by the local folks, we will be exercising caution as there are still unexploded mines and other munitions throughout the country as well as a few bandits.
THE LEADER
BEN KING, president of KingBird Tours, has led 102 birding tours
to different parts of Asia and is one of the most experienced tour leaders
on the continent. His Collins Guide to the Birds of South-East Asia covers
Cambodia's birds and he has made 2 exploratory trips there. He has spent
over 6 years birding in various parts of SE Asia: Thailand, Malaya, Burma,
Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia, resulting in his seeing all but about 8 or 9
of SE Asia's 1,230+ bird species, and all but 1 or 2 of the species that
are known to occur in Cambodia. He has also written Checklist of the Birds
of Eurasia. His vast experience and knowledge of Asian birds and their habits
will make your trip an enjoyable one.
THE BIRDING SITES
PREAH VIHEAR PROVINCE (10-16 March) lies in north central Cambodia and borders both Thailand and Laos. The area inhabited by the Giant Ibis is in the low lying, extended flood plain of the Mekong River in the northeastern part of the province adjacent to southern Laos. It is a large, open, flat plain, interspersed with tracts of open deciduous forest, which is flooded for several months of the year. It is accessible by motor vehicle for only a few months of the year, during the dry season. As the flood waters recede, the remaining water is confined to a series of pools, called tropiangs, where the Giant Ibis feeds by probing for its prey in the mud. As the dry season reaches its end, even the tropiangs dry out and the ibises move to wetter areas. Our visit is timed late in the dry season to ensure ease of access to the best of the tropiangs, when the ibises are still present. We'll camp out near several of the tropiangs in two camps, from which we'll walk the circuit of tropiangs in our ibis quest.
Other species in the area are: Wooly-necked and Black-necked Storks, Lesser and Greater Adjutants, White-winged Duck (will take a lot of luck), Black Baza, Oriental Honey-Kite, Grey-headed Fish-Eagle, White-rumped Vulture, Red-headed Vulture, Rufous-winged Buzzard, Changeable Hawk-Eagle, White-rumped Falcon, Chinese Francolin, Green Peafowl, Barred Buttonquail, Pink-necked, Orange-breasted, Thick billed, and Yellow-footed Pigeons, Vernal Hanging-Parrot, Alexandrine and Grey headed Parakeets, Violet Cuckoo, Stork-billed Kingfisher, Yellow-crowned, Rufous bellied, White-bellied, Black-headed and Great Slaty Woodpeckers, Blue-winged Pitta, Rufous-winged Bushlark, Indochinese Cuckooshrike, Brown-rumped and Ashy Minivets, Burmese Shrike, Brown Prinia, Plain-backed Sparrow, Vinous-breasted Starling, and Racket-tailed Treepie.
This area was apparently never mined.
KOMPONG THOM (17 March) is situated in the low plains at the eastern end of Cambodia's large lake, Tonle Sap. Near here, in a seasonally flooded area which is rich in waterbirds, is a loose colony of Bengal Floricans. We'll spend a morning looking for the florican and other birds such as: Painted Stork, Spot-billed Duck, and Eastern Marsh-Harrier. At the time of our visit in March 2001, a large flock of Oriental Plovers was passing through. It is not known if this is an annual occurrence, but we can hope. This area was apparently not mined.
BOKOR (18-21 March) is a hill resort in southwestern Cambodia in the Damrei (Elephant) Mountains a short distance northwest of Kampot. We'll look for birds in forested areas up to 1,000 m. (3,300 ft.) in elevation, especially the Chestnut-headed Partridge. Other interesting birds that have been found here are: Shikra, Besra, Rufous-bellied Eagle, Scaly-breasted Partridge, Silver Pheasant, Coral-billed Ground Cuckoo (very difficult), Brown-backed Needletail, Orange-breasted and Red-headed Trogons, Banded Kingfisher, Blue-bearded Bee-eater, Wreathed and Great Hornbills, Green-eared and Moustached Barbets, Rufous, Laced, Grey-headed, Black-and-buff, and Heart-spotted Woodpeckers, Dusky, Banded, and Long-tailed Broadbills, Eared, Blue-rumped, and Blue Pittas, Lesser Shortwing, White-throated Rockthrush, Orange headed and Dark-sided Thrushes, Scaly-crowned Babbler, Large Scimitar-Babbler, Streaked Wren-Babbler, Asian Stubtail, Hainan Blue Flycatcher, Silver Oriole, and Indochinese Magpie.
We'll stay in a rustic guesthouse here. While this area was mined, it has been de-mined and is considered safe enough that it is used as a resort for a respite from summer heat and was used as a site for a Hollywood movie (which prevented our visiting in March 2001).
KRATIE (22/23 March) is a town on the Mekong River northwest of Phnom Penh. We'll reach it by driving to Kampong Cham and then taking a ferry boat to Kratie. About 20 km. above Kratie, along the Mekong River is a rapids where the newly described (2001) Mekong Wagtail can be found. We'll visit the rapids by boat to try to find the wagtail. We may see the Mekong Dolphin below the rapids.
THE ITINERARY
| 7 March, Friday | Depart USA |
| 8 March, Saturday | Arrive Bangkok. Overnight Amari Airport Hotel. |
| 9 March, Sunday | Fly Bangkok/Phnom Penh via Thai Airways TG696(0820/0935). Overnight Goldiana Hotel. |
| 10 - 23 March | On tour. |
| 24 March, Monday | Fly Phnom Penh/Bangkok via TG697 (1035/1140). Overnight Amari Airport Hotel. |
| 25 March, Tuesday | Fly Bangkok/USA, arriving same day because of crossing International Dateline |
COSTS & CONDITIONS
Land |
*Air |
Total |
Single Supplement | |
From Bangkok |
$4,698 |
$ 260 |
$4,958 |
$260 |
From West Coast |
$4,698 |
$1,828 |
$6,526 |
$260 |
*AIR FARES: Current Northwest Airlines and United
Airlines roundtrip West Coast to Bangkok fares are about $1,568. It's best
to purchase your air tickets as far in advance of the tour as possible to
get the best price. If you purchase your ticket 5 or 6 months before the
tour, you may get a cheaper fare. If you purchase your tickets close to
tour time, you may have to pay more. Note that it may be cheaper to fly
all the way to Bangkok from your hometown on one airline. Your Bangkok/Phnom
Penh/Bangkok tickets will be purchased by us to ensure keeping the group
together.
Those who wish to visit Angkor Wat can easily do so from Bangkok by air, either before or after the tour. Our Bangkok agents can arrange it. It is not advisable to drive from Phnom Penh to Angkor Wat.
PARTICIPANT LIMIT: 10 persons, plus the leader.
LAND PRICE BASED ON NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS: Land price is based on 5 people. If there are fewer than 5, a small-party supplement will be charged. This method of pricing allows us to operate with any size group up to the maximum of 10.
LAND PRICE INCLUDES: Land price includes all ground transportation, double occupancy hotel rooms, all meals, bottled water at meals, guides, tips, fees, and foreign airport taxes when accompanied by the leader. NOT INCLUDED are airport taxes when not accompanied by the leader, passports, visas, service charges for obtaining visas, excess baggage charges, laundry, personal tips, alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, fruit juices (except at breakfast), mineral waters, room service charges, items not on menu of included meals, personal items, souvenirs, sightseeing not included in the itinerary, insurance of any kind, and telephone calls.
LAND AND AIR RATES: All prices are based on tariff and exchange rates in effect on 1 July 2002. Airfares and land costs may rise somewhat. Price changes, due either to alteration in tariffs or exchange rates, will be reflected in the prices charged for the tour.
KingBird's planning, promotional and operating costs are included in all tour rates.
ACCOMMODATIONS: Based on two persons sharing a twin-bedded room. Single rooms will be available at the supplement charge quoted. In some of the more remote areas, however, single rooms are unavailable. We'll supply roommates where possible, but cannot guarantee to find roommates for all desiring them. If no roommate is available, the single supplement will be charged for any person utilizing single accommodation. First class hotel with private bath and air conditioning is provided in Bangkok. Our Phnom Penh hotel is a pleasant one favored by the expatriate community. The other accommodations are quite basic. We'll be camping in our own tents for 5 nights on the ibis chase.
MEALS: All meals are included in the tour price. A la carte meals will be provided on some days. Box lunches will be utilized on some days. For those joining only a segment of the tour, meals are normally not included when you are not with the main tour group (prior to joining or after leaving).
TOUR ESCORT: The leader of your tour, Ben King, will be with you during the entire tour from the time you reach Bangkok until you depart from Bangkok. There will also be a representative of the local tour company with the group at all times to assist wherever he may.
TAXES AND GRATUITIES: All necessary gratuities to hotel staff, waiters, local guides, drivers, etc. are included in the tour price. Your tour leader is paid a salary and does not expect tips. Thus all necessary tips are included in the tour price and you are not expected to tip anyone. However, if you do wish to tip anyone for special services or because you like them, it is quite all right. All local government taxes are included in the tour price.
LOCAL FEES: All park and entry and local fees are included in the tour price.
BAGGAGE: International flight baggage allowance from USA to Bangkok and return is two pieces with a maximum total dimension (length, width, height of both pieces added up) of 107 inches. Each bag may weigh up to 32 kilograms (70 pounds). However, on all internal flights in Asia, you are allowed a maximum of 20 kg. (44 lbs.). They are likely to weigh your luggage carefully at least once or twice and perhaps each time. You will be responsible for any excess baggage charges. You are allowed one carry-on bag on all flights. Technically the 44-pound limit includes your carry-on bag and occasionally a zealous agent will demand that the rule be followed. Air carrier's liability for baggage loss is limited and therefore baggage insurance is recommended and available at nominal rates. Baggage insurance forms will be included along with your interim invoice.
SMOKING RULES:
(1) NO smoking in vehicles.
(2) NO smoking at meal tables.
(3) NO smoking in bedrooms if your roommate does not smoke.
(4) The smoker is expected to see that his smoke does not move toward other tour members at all times.
(5) Anyone smoking will be last in line on single-file paths or trails.
KingBird Tours
P.O. Box 196
Planetarium Station
New York, NY 10024
Telephone: 1 (212) 866-7923
FAX: 1 (212) 866-4225
Email:kingbirdtours@earthlink.net