2004
EAST HIMALAYAN EXPLORATORY TOUR
Mishmi Hills
Northeast Arunachal Pradesh, NE India
12 November-5 December (24 days)
At last, we can offer a road-based tour to the epicenter of montane bird distribution in Asia. The area of NE Arunachal Pradesh, SE Tibet, extreme NW Yunnan and extreme northern Burma has one of the highest annual rainfalls on earth, coupled with an extreme altitudinal gradient, resulting in lush plant growth and the highest diversity of mountain birds in the whole of Asia. Species diversity declines in every direction from this core. Closed to foreigners since the end of World War II, this area has been opening recently by ever increasing cracks, offering some of the most exciting birding on earth.
Our birding will range from the Brahmaputra River Valley at about 200 meters (660 ft.) to Mahodya Pass at 2,700-3,000 m. (9,000-10,000 ft.). This is one of the least inhabited areas of Arunachal Pradesh and has some good forest, giving us an excellent opportunity to sample the entire range of eastern Himalayan forest birds. This will be the first birding tour to this area and it is truly an exploratory trip on which we do not know what birds we will find. If exploration and the thrill of discovery excite you, this is the tour for you.
Some of the more exciting possibilities are: White-bellied Heron, White-winged Duck, Pied Falconet, White-cheeked and Chestnut-breasted Partridges, Blood Pheasant, Blyth's and Temminck's Tragopans, Himalayan and Sclater's Monals, Kalij Pheasant, Grey Peacock-Pheasant, Ibisbill, Snow Pigeon, Pin-tailed Pigeon, Ward's Trogon, Blyth's Kingfisher, Rufous-necked Hornbill, Pale-headed Woodpecker, White-throated Bulbul, Gould's and Rusty-bellied Shortwings, Golden, White-browed and Rufous-breasted Bush-Robins, Blue-fronted Robin, Purple and Green Cochoas, Plain-backed, Long tailed and Long-billed Thrushes, Black-breasted and Chestnut Thrushes, all 3 tesias, White-spectacled, Grey-cheeked, Broad-billed, Rufous-faced, and Black-faced Warblers, Rufous-fronted and Sultan Tits, White-tailed and Beautiful Nuthatches, Rusty-flanked Treecreeper, Yellow-bellied Flowerpecker, Fire tailed Sunbird, Tibetan Serin, Yellow-breasted Greenfinch, Crimson-browed Finch, Scarlet Finch, Grey headed Bullfinch, Collared Grosbeak, Gold-naped Finch, and Collared Treepie. The Snow Leopard has been seen near Mahodya Pass.
The Mishmi Hills are at the center of babbler distribution and will make up a large part of our list. A prime target will be the Rusty-throated Wren-Babbler, Spelaeornis badeigularis, which is known from only a single specimen collected in the 1940s in the Mishmi Hills. Other possible babblers are: 7 scimitar babblers (including Red-billed, Coral-billed and Slender-billed), 6 other wren-babblers (including Long billed, Bar-winged, Spotted and Wedge-billed), 15 laughingthrushes (including Chestnut-backed, Rufous-vented, Rufous-chinned, Spotted, Grey-sided, Rufous-necked, Blue-winged, Scaly and Black faced), Red-faced Liocichla, Silver-eared Mesia, Red-billed Leiothrix, Cutia, Black-headed, Green and Black-eared Shrike-Babblers, White-hooded Babbler, Streak-throated Barwing, all 3 minlas, 7 fulvettas (including Golden-breasted, Yellow-throated, White-browed, and Brown-headed), Beautiful Sibia, 7 yuhinas, and Fire-tailed Myzornis. Seven parrotbills are possible: Great, Brown, Fulvous, Black-throated, Rufous-headed, Blue-spectacled and Grey-headed.
Anyone in good health and moderate physical condition will take this trip in stride. Most of our birding will be along the road and trails leading away from the road. Accommodation in Delhi is first class, while we stay in rustic guesthouses or tents along the road on the tour. Tents will be supplied by our operator but you could bring your own if you preferred. While tour time is normally the driest time of the year due to the annual persistent high pressure system over southern Tibet at this season, we will have some rain and it could be heavy. Snow is possible at high elevations. It will be warm in the lowlands and cool to cold at high elevations.
This is a trip for the more adventurous, who like the idea of traveling in remote, rarely visited areas, and who can tolerate or even enjoy poor accommodations and simple food. If you like exploration in basic conditions, this one is for you. Arunachal Pradesh has had only a few tourists, has no tourist infrastructure and is generally not ready for us. On the flip side, the tourist folks who'll be looking after us are fine people, very helpful and quite competent.
THE LEADER
BEN KING, president of KingBird Tours, has led 44 tours to the Indian Region and is one of the most experienced bird-tour leaders on the subcontinent, having spent over 3 years birding there. He has written A Field Guide to the Birds of South-East Asia and Checklist of the Birds of Eurasia. He has seen 2,063 species of birds in Asia, including all but 18 of the 1,333 species known to occur in the Indian Subcontinent. His knowledge of the birds, their habits and where they are found assures you of the best possible birding experience in India.
THE ITINERARY
| 12 November, Friday | Depart JFK Airport in New York via NW or KLM at 1830. |
| 13 November, Saturday | Arrive Delhi at 2320. Overnight Grand Hyatt Hotel. |
| 14 November, Sunday | Fly Delhi/Dibrugarh. |
| 15 Nov. - 3 Dec. | On tour. |
| 4 December, Saturday | Fly Dibrugarh/Delhi. Overnight Grand Hyatt Hotel. |
| 5 December, Sunday | Fly Delhi/JFK via NW or KLM (0120/1503), arriving the same afternoon. |
TOUR PRICES AND CONDITIONS
| Land | *Air | Total | Single Supplement | |
| From New York | $5,965 | $1,941 | $7,906 | $150 |
| From Delhi | $5,965 | $531 | $6,496 | $150 |
*AIR FARE: Based on NW/KLM Apex fare. The JFK/Delhi/JFK fare quoted, $1,410.00, may not be available when you book. If you make your reservation prior to 5 or 6 months before tour time you may get a cheaper fare. If you book close to tour time you may have to pay more. Lufthansa and Air India (and likely other airlines) have regular flights to Delhi. Depending on the airline you use you may not have to leave the USA from New York. The NW/KLM flight quoted stops in Amsterdam. NW/KLM flies to Amsterdam from several other US cities.
We will be purchasing your Delhi/Dibrugarh/Delhi tickets in Delhi in order to insure keeping the group together.
LAND PRICE/NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS: The land price is based on a minimum of 6 people. If there are fewer than 6, a small-party supplement will be charged. The maximum number of participants will be 10.
LAND PRICE INCLUDES: Land price includes all ground transportation, double occupancy hotel rooms, all meals, bottled water/soft drinks 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, camera fees, laundry, personal tips, alcoholic beverages, fruit juice (except at breakfast), 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. For those joining only part of a tour, meals taken before and after leaving the group are normally not included.
LAND AND AIR RATES: All prices are based on tariff and exchange rates in effect on 1 December 2003. Both airfares and land costs could rise somewhat. Price changes, due either to alterations in tariffs or exchange rates, will be reflected in the prices charged for the tour.
KingBird Tours' 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 Delhi. However, all other accommodation will be basic to primitive, including tents.
MEALS: All meals will be provided, i.e. breakfast, table d'hote lunch, and dinner. A la carte meals will be provided only in Delhi. Box lunches will be utilized on some days.
TOUR ESCORT: The leader of your tour, Ben King, will be with you during the entire tour from the time you reach Delhi until you depart from Delhi. 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. Thus it is NOT necessary to tip anyone on the entire tour. However, if you 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 entry fees are included in the tour price. Camera fees are NOT included. (Most parks have camera fees).
BAGGAGE: International flight baggage allowance from New York to India is two pieces with a maximum total dimension (length, width, height of both pieces added up) of 106 inches. Each bag may weigh up to 32 kilograms (70 pounds). However, all internal flights in India allow 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 rules be followed. Air carrier's liability for baggage loss is limited and therefore baggage insurance is recommended and available at nominal rates.
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