2007

INDONESIA TOUR #2

SULAWESI/HALMAHERA

20 August - 16 September (28 days)

Here is a fine opportunity to see some of the world's most intriguing birds amidst spectacular scenery and tropical rain forests in the most diverse and fascinating archipelago on earth! With its more than 13,000 islands, Indonesia has the least known and one of the most varied avifaunas on our planet. Sulawesi and Halmahera are among the largest and most interesting of these islands and have a surprising number of endemics among their many unusual birds. We had a grand time on these exotic islands on our 8 previous tours and we'll be repeating our route with some modifications to add a few birds. We expect about 230 species, many of which are little known.            

The star attraction on Halmahera is the Wallace’s Standardwing, which we expect to see, while on Sulawesi it is the Maleo, an endangered megapode, which has become very difficult to see, but we have a chance. Other fine birds we should see are: 18-21 diurnal raptors, a number of very attractive fruit-doves and imperial pigeons, White Cockatoo, 14-16 parrots, Yellow-billed Malkoha, several coucals, 5-7 owls, an owlet-nightjar, 10-14 kingfishers, 3 hornbills, Ivory-breasted Pitta, 8-9 cuckooshrikes, some attractive flycatchers and monarchs, 4-5 whistlers, 4 flowerpeckers, 6 white-eyes, a few honeyeaters, and 4 very exotic mynas, etc.

Our accommodations will range from good in Manado to some rustic guesthouses. Our food will be pretty basic, but rather good for the most part. There are some long walks on rough trails. There are several long, tiring drives to get to the birds at Lore Lindu National Park, and the drive from Palu to Manado is a long slog, but otherwise the tour is not particularly demanding. If you are in good health and fair shape, you'll manage this trip quite well. The weather will be hot and sticky in some areas. We have found very good local people to work with, so it will be mostly pretty smooth going. A sense of humor and adventure and a little patience are all you need to have a marvelous time on this exciting trip. You'll find the Indonesians most gracious and hospitable.

THE LEADER

BEN KING, the president of KingBird Tours, is one of the most experienced bird tour leaders in the world, having led 133 tours to various parts of Asia. He has written A Field Guide to the Birds of Southeast Asia and Checklist of the Birds of Eurasia. He has seen 2,078 species of birds in Asia, believed to be a record. He has spent over 2 years birding in all the major regions of Indonesia, including leading our 21 tours to various islands. His knowledge of the birds, their habits and how to find them assures you of the best possible birding experience in Indonesia.

SULAWESI

Sulawesi's most fascinating bird is the Maleo, an endangered megapode, which we have a chance of seeing. This unusual bird buries its eggs in a community mound. The heat generated by the decaying vegetation in the mound incubates the eggs. The Maleo works on the mound daily to ensure the proper temperature for the eggs. The chicks emerge from the eggs, dig their way out of the mound and are fully independent and able to fly upon emerging.

Many other birds are likely, e.g.: Sunda Teal (split from Grey Teal), Barred Honey-Kite, Sulawesi Serpent-Eagle, Sulawesi and Spot-tailed Goshawks, Sulawesi Hawk-Eagle, Buff-banded and Barred Rails, Isabelline Waterhen, Slender-billed and White-faced Cuckoo-Doves, Grey-cheeked Pigeon, Red-eared, Superb and Black-naped Fruit-Doves, White-bellied, Grey-headed, and Silver-winged Imperial Pigeons, Ornate and Yellow-and-green Lorikeets, Yellowish-breasted and Gold-backed Racquet-tails, Azure-rumped Parrot, Sulawesi and Pygmy Hanging-Parrots, Rusty-breasted Cuckoo, Black-billed Koel, Yellow-billed Malkoha, Bay Coucal, Sulawesi Owl, Sulawesi Scops-Owl, Ochre-bellied, Speckled, and Rufous (Ninox ios) Boobooks, Moluccan and Uniform Swiftlets, Green-backed, Masked, Black-billed and Sulawesi Kingfishers, Purple-bearded Bee-eater, Purple-winged Roller, Sulawesi and Knobbed Hornbills, Sulawesi and Ashy Woodpeckers, Cerulean, Pied, White-rumped, Pygmy and Sulawesi Cuckooshrikes, White-rumped and White-shouldered Trillers, Sulawesi Babbler, Malia, Island, Blue-fronted and Citrine Flycatchers, Pale-blue Monarch, Rusty-flanked Fantail, Olive-flanked, Maroon-backed and Sulfur-bellied Whistlers, Yellow-sided, Crimson-crowned and Grey-sided Flowerpeckers, Brown-throated and Black Sunbirds, Mountain, Lemon-bellied, Black-ringed, and Black-crowned White-eyes, Streak-headed Ibon, Sulawesi Myzomela, Dark-eared and White-eared Myzas, Pale-headed Munia, Sulawesi, White-necked, Fiery-browed, and Finch-billed Mynas, Ivory-backed Woodswallow, and Piping Crow.

HALMAHERA

Halmahera, the largest of the Maluku (Molucca) Islands, is the home of Wallace's Standardwing, one of the most unusual of the Birds-of-Paradise. Its spectacular courtship display, "parachuting" with spread wings, vivid green breast shield spread and shining, and standards fluttering above its back, has only recently been described. We were able to witness this display on all our previous trips. We should also be able to see the Paradise Crow, the only other bird-of-paradise in the Maluku Islands. Halmahera still has a lot of forest and most of our birding will be along logging roads that cut through some great birding habitat.

Birds we should see: Moluccan Goshawk, Gurney's Eagle, Superb, Blue-capped, and Gray-headed Fruit-Doves, Spectacled, Cinnamon-bellied & Pied Imperial-Pigeons, Violet-necked Lory, Red-flanked Lorikeet, White Cockatoo, Great-billed Parrot, Moluccan Hanging Parrot, Goliath Coucal, Moluccan Scops-Owl, Moluccan Boobook, Moluccan Owlet-Nightjar, Common Paradise-Kingfisher, Blue-and-White and Sombre Kingfishers, Papuan Hornbill, Ivory-breasted Pitta, Moluccan and Halmahera Cuckoo-shrikes, Golden Bulbul, Slaty Flycatcher, White-naped and Spectacled Monarchs, Golden and Drab Whistlers, Flame-breasted Flowerpecker, Cream-throated White-eye, Dusky Myzomela, White-streaked Friarbird, Dusky Oriole, and Long-billed Crow.

THE BIRDING SITES

SULAWESI (22 August-8 September) offers some of the best birding in Indonesia, with lots of interesting and colorful endemic species. There are still large primary forest tracts and some good reserves where we'll be able to see a fine sample of Sulawesi's birds. Habitats covered will range from lowland to montane rain forests at 2,100 m. (7,000 ft.), and from tranquil sandy beaches and mangroves to savanna. Our tour will take us to some excellent birding areas in central and northern Sulawesi. TANGKOKO BATUANGUS RESERVE(22-24 August) is a rather dry lowland forest area for a good introduction to Sulawesi birding. The lowlands near PALU(25 & 31 August) will give us a look at the remnants of savanna there as well as mixed cultivation, brush and paddyfields. In LORE LINDU NATIONAL PARK(26-31 August), we'll explore tropical rain forest from about 600-2,100 m. (2,000-7,000 ft.) for a good sampling of Sulawesi's montane birds.  RENANG PANUA RESERVE(2 September) and BOGANI NANI WARTABONE NATIONAL PARK (formerly Dumoga  Bone: 3-7 September) are lowland rain forest areas with a very interesting mix of species. GUNONG AMBANG(8 September) is a forested mountain at about 1,400 m. (4,700 ft.) where we should be able to see the Rufous Boobook and hope to see the Matinan Flycatcher.

On HALMAHERA (9-14 September), we’ll stay in the town of Sidangoli in basic accommodation and range out from there to check out patches of forest near the roads. We’ll also check out the interior of several forest patches on trails.

THE ITINERARY

20 August, Monday	Leave New York (JFK) for Singapore via SQ25 at 2100.
21 August, Tuesday	In flight, with a stop in Frankfurt.
22 August, Wednesday	Arrive Singapore at 0655. Fly Singapore / Manado via Silk Air MI274 (0925-1305).  Overnight Tangkoko.
23 Aug - 14 Sept	On tour.
15 September, Saturday	Fly Manado/Singapore via MI273 (1350/1710). Depart for New York via SQ26 at 2355.
16 September, Sunday	Arrive New York at 1100 in the morning.

	Land	*Air	Total	Single Supplement
From New York	$6,546	$1,880	$8,426	$275
From Manado	$6,546	$340	$6,886	$275

*Based on Sinagpore Airlines New York/Manado round trip fare of $1,540 plus $340 for the internal Indonesia flights (which we will purchase for you in Indonesia). Note that Singapore Airlines now has daily nonstops between Newark and Singapore, but the connection from Manado on the return requires an overnight in Singapore.

Singapore Airlines also has flights to Singapore via the Pacific Ocean from Los Angeles and San Francisco, although these flights are not quite as convenient as they involve either a long layover (7-9 hours) or an overnight in Singapore on the outbound flight and an overnight in Singapore on the return flight. It's best to get your air tickets as early as possible as summer is a time of heavy travel to Singapore and Indonesia. We'll purchase your internal Indonesia flight tickets in Manado.

PARTICIPANT LIMIT: 10 persons, plus the leader.

LAND PRICE BASED ON NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS: Land price is based on 6 people. If there are fewer than 6, a small-party supplement will be charged.

LAND PRICE INCLUDES: Land price includes all ground transportation, double occupancy hotel rooms, all meals, bottled water at meals, guides, tips, fees, and 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, medical examinations or treatment, meal or other charges incurred which are not part of the itinerary (caused by unforseen delay beyond our control), 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 & AIR RATES: All prices are based on tariff and exchange rates in effect on 1 June 2006. Price changes, due either to alterations in tariffs or exchange rate, will be reflected in the prices charged for the tour. KingBird Tours' planning, promotional & operating costs are included in all tour rates.

TRANSPORTATION: Surface transportation will be by minibus, cars and 4-wheel drive vehicles.

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 or best available hotels with private bath and air-conditioning are provided where available. However, some accommodation will be quite rustic or primitive.

MEALS: All meals are included in the tour price. This will be breakfast, table d'hote lunch and dinner. A la carte meals will be provided at some hotels where there is a choice of menu. 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, the president of KingBird Tours, will be with you during the entire tour from the time you reach Manado until you depart from Manado.

TAXES & 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 it is not necessary to tip anyone on the entire tour. However, if you wish to tip anyone for any reason it is quite all right. All local government taxes are included in the tour price.

BAGGAGE: International flight baggage allowance from USA to Manado and return is two pieces with a total dimension (length, width, height of both pieces added up) of 107 inches. Note that most USA-based airlines now allow only 23 kg. (50 lbs.)/bag. On many foreign airlines, each bag may weigh up to 32 kg. (70 lbs.). However, on internal flights in Indonesia, 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. Charges are not high however, so bring what you need. You are allowed one carry-on bag on all flights. 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:

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