2004 SOUTH SUMATRA TOUR

31 July - 22 August (23 days)

We have long wanted to operate a tour that gives you a chance at most of the Sumatran endemic bird species. Recent road and accommodation improvements have finally made it possible to visit some of Sumatra's richest birding areas without the rigors of camping. We'll spend our time in four of Sumatra's best accessible birding sites, two in Kerinchi-Sablat National Park in the mountains of Sumatra's spinal chain, the Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park at foothill and submontane level near Liwa, and Way Kambas Reserve in the lowlands on the south coast.

The majority of Sumatra's endemics are in the mountains of the spinal chain that runs the length of the island. Kerinchi-Sablat National Park is situated in the south central part of this chain. The centerpiece of the park is Gunong (Mt.) Kerinchi, Sumatra's highest peak at 3,800 meters (12,540 ft.). We'll look for birds about 1,800-2,500 m. (6,000-8,400 ft.). Our second site in the park will allow us to cover the area between 400-1,500 meters (1,300-5,000 ft.) along an asphalt road that cuts through the park to the western coast. These two areas will give us a crack at most of the montane species. The forests in the Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park near Liwa will allow us to add some interesting species in the foothill/submontane zone. Way Kambas Reserve is situated at the southern end of Sumatra in the coastal lowlands. It consists of coastal wetlands and lowland forest. We'll spend our time searching the riverine forests and swamps. Way Kambas is a primary site for the White-winged Duck and we'll do our best to find it.

This tour is only moderately physically demanding. Our birding on Mt. Kerinchi will involve walking an excellent trail between 1,800-2,500 meters (6,000-8,400 ft.). While some sections are fairly steep, all walking on this trail will be quite slow. Our walking at the other site at Kerinci-Sablat National Park will be mostly downhill on an asphalt road, and birding at Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park is mostly along a road. Way Kambas Reserve is hot and humid, with a road and some good trails for birding. Accommodation at our four sites is basic, comfortable in Jakarta and Padang. The food is generally okay to good. Anyone in good health and moderate physical shape will be just fine.

THE LEADER

BEN KING, the president of KingBird Tours, has led 105 birding tours in Asia and is the most experienced bird-tour leader on that continent. He has observed 2,050 species of birds in Asia. Ben has written A Field Guide to the Birds of South-East Asia and Checklist of the Birds of Eurasia, and is now researching A Field Guide to the Birds of China. He is the most experienced bird-tour leader for Sumatra, having led 8 tours and done extensive field research there. He has seen all but 10 of the 600+ species of birds recorded for Sumatra. His knowledge of the birds, their habits and where they are found assure you of the best possible birding experience in Sumatra.

THE BIRDING SITES

JAKARTA MARSH (1 August) is a good place to see Javan Pond-Heron, White-browed Crake, Purple Swamphen, Island Turtle-Dove, Pink-necked Pigeon, Cave Swiftlet, Sacred and Cerulean Kingfishers, Sunda and Fulvous-breasted Woodpeckers, Clamorous Reed-Warbler, Bar-winged Prinia, Ashy Tailorbird, Yellow-breasted Gerygone, Scarlet-headed Flowerpecker, and Javan Myna. With luck, we might see Yellow or Cinnamon Bittern, Black Bittern, Milky Stork, Glossy Ibis, Sunda Teal, Slaty-breasted Rail, Ruddy-breasted Crake, or Streaked Weaver.

Some of the special birds of the HIGHER FORESTED SLOPES OF MT. KERINCHI IN KERINCI-SABLAT NATIONAL PARK (3-8 August) are: Salvadori's Pheasant, Bronze tailed Peacock-Pheasant, Schneider's Pitta, Dusky Woodcock, and Sumatran Cochoa. All of these are quite difficult to see, but we hope to see some of them. Other species present and more likely are: Red-billed Partridge, Mountain and Rajah Scops-Owls, Short-tailed Frogmouth, Barred Cuckoo-Dove, Pink-headed Fruit-Dove, Blue-tailed Trogon, Fire-tufted Barbet, Maroon Woodpecker, Sunda Minivet, Orange-spotted and Sunda Bulbuls, Lesser Shortwing, White browed Shortwing (its song is quite different - separate species?), Sunda Robin, Shiny and Brown-winged Whistlingthrushes, Rusty-breasted, Long-billed, Eye-browed, and Pygmy Wren Babblers, Spot-necked Babbler, Sunda and Chestnut-capped Laughingthrushes, Silver-eared Mesia, White-browed Shrike-Babbler, Long-tailed Sibia, Sunda Bush-Warbler, Hill Prinia, Mountain Tailorbird, Sunda and Yellow-breasted Warblers, Indigo Flycatcher, Rufous-vented Niltava, Pygmy Blue Flycatcher, Blue Nuthatch, Scarlet Sunbird, Black-capped White-eye, Black and-crimson Oriole, and Green Magpie.

The SUBMONTANE ZONE IN KERINCHI-SABLAT NATIONAL PARK (9-12 August) has some different species: Crested Serpent-Eagle, Black Eagle, Rufous-bellied Eagle, Blyth's Hawk-Eagle, Little Cuckoo-Dove, Green-spectacled Pigeon, Asian Emerald Cuckoo, Bushy-crested and Wreathed Hornbills, Rhinoceros and Helmeted Hornbills, Collared Owlet, Brown Wood-Owl, Gold-whiskered and Black-browed Barbets, Rufous Piculet, Black-and-yellow and Long-tailed Broadbills, Sunda Cuckooshrike, Blue-masked Leafbird, Cream-striped, Spot necked, Scaly-breasted, and Grey-bellied Bulbuls, Sunda Forktail, Horsfield's Babbler, White crested and Black Laughingthrushes, Rufous-chested and Pale Blue Flycatchers, Crimson breasted and Yellow-breasted Flowerpeckers, Buff-bellied Flowerpecker, Yellow-eared and Grey breasted Spiderhunters, Sumatran Drongo, Crested Jay, and Sumatran Treepie. Oriental Hobby, Sumatran Pitta, Rufous-fronted Babbler and Marbled Wren-Babbler are possible here.

BUKIT BARISAN SELATAN NATIONAL PARK (14-16 August) is bisected by an asphalt road which will allow us some good roadside birding in the foothill, submontane zone. We can hope to find the endemic Sumatran Pitta, and we'll pick up some interesting species that we miss at Kerinci and Way Kambas, such as Crested and Ferruginous Partridges, Red-bearded Bee eater, Grey-and-buff Woodpecker, Banded Broadbill, Chestnut-naped Forktail, Grey-headed Babbler, Grey-chested Flycatcher, Plain and Ruby-cheeked Sunbirds, Pin-tailed Parrotfinch (maybe), and Javan and White-headed Munias.

Our major goal at WAY KAMBAS RESERVE (17-21 August) will be to see the White winged Duck. We will concentrate our efforts on it but cannot guarantee we'll be able to find it. There are only a few and they are often difficult to see. Besides the duck, the lowland forest is very rich with the entire lowland fauna of Sumatra and many fascinating birds to be seen: Storm's Stork, Lesser Adjutant, Grey-headed and Lesser Fish-Eagles, Wallace's Hawk-Eagle, Ferruginous and Crested Partridges, Crested Fireback, Cinnamon-headed and Little Green Pigeons, Blue-rumped Parrot, Blue-throated Hanging-Parrot, Moustached and Malaysian Hawk Cuckoos, Violet Cuckoo, several malkohas, Oriental Bay Owl, Rufesent and Sunda Scops-Owls, Buffy Fish-Owl, Brown Boobook, Large, Gould's and Sunda Frogmouths, Bonaparte's Nightjar, several trogons, Rufous-collared, Banded and Blue-eared Kingfishers, Wrinkled and Black Hornbills, Red-crowned and Brown Barbets, Banded, White-bellied, Buff-necked, Olive-backed, and Orange-backed Woodpeckers, Black-and-red Broadbill, Hooded and Banded Pittas, Fiery Minivet, Puff-backed Bulbul, Rufous-tailed Shama, Black-capped and Sooty-capped Babblers, Short-tailed and Ferruginous Babblers, Chestnut-rumped Babbler, Grey-breasted and White chested Babblers, Chestnut-backed Scimitar-Babbler, Fluffy-backed Tit-Babbler, Rail Babbler, Rufous-tailed Tailorbird, Rufous-winged Philentoma, Sunda and Malaysian Blue Flycatchers, Purple-throated and Purple-naped Sunbirds, White-bellied Munia, Dark-throated Oriole, and Black Magpie. We've seen the Leopard Cat here. Present are tiger, elephant, Sun Bear and Sumatran Rhino, but we're unlikely to see them.

THE ITINERARY

31 July, Saturday	Depart Los Angeles at 0120 via Singapore Airlines SQ29. In flight, stopping at Taipei. We lose a day crossing the International Date Line.
1 August, Sunday	Arrive Singapore at 1130. Fly Singapore/Jakarta via SQ156(1225/1330). Overnight Arcadia Hotel.
2 - 21 August	On tour.
22 August, Sunday	Fly Jakarta / Singapore via SQ155(1225/1500). Fly Singapore / Los Angeles via SQ30(1715/2000), stopping in Taipei, arriving the same day because of crossing the International Date Line.

COSTS & CONDITIONS

	Land	*Air	Total	Single Supplement
From Los Angeles	$5,418	$1,559	$6,977	$219
From Jakarta	$5,418	$269	$5,687	$219

*Based on Singapore Airlines Apex fare of $1,290 plus $269 for Indonesia internal fares (we will purchase the Indonesia internal tickets in Jakarta to insure keeping the group together. Singapore Airlines also offers service to Singapore and Jakarta from San Francisco (via the Pacific) and New York (via the Atlantic).

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 with meals (where available), guides, tips, fees, & 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 unforeseen delay beyond our control), 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 June 2003. 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.

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

ACCOMMODATIONS: Based on 2 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. Comfortable hotels with private bath and air-conditioning are provided in Jakarta and Padang. Other accommodations will be basic.

MEALS: All meals are included in the tour price. This will be breakfast, table d'hôte lunch and dinner. A la carte meals will be provided at some hotels. 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 Jakarta until you depart from Indonesia. An English-speaking representative of the local travel agent will be with us throughout to assist where 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 a tip. 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.

AIRPORT TAXES: These will be paid by your leader when he is accompanying you. When he is not with you, these taxes are your own responsibility.

BAGGAGE: International flight baggage allowance from Los Angeles to Jakarta to Los Angeles is two pieces, each weighing up to 30 kilograms (66 pounds) of standard luggage dimension. 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:
(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 the 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