Beyond Myola

Early on 16 October 1987 I was again on my way to Myola, only three weeks after my last visit. Then, Mike Hopkins had reached 3150m to the east of the village. Such was his enthusiasm for this high altitude forest that he had organised this trip in order to return as soon as possible. This time I, and five others, were going to accompany him. We arrived in Myola before 07:00 to be greeted by the now traditional coffee and toast. After breakfast, porters were hired to carry our bags to a campsite selected by Mike on his previous visit. We set off at about 08:30 on the first stage of our trek. The path climbed steeply most of the way and it took us about 4 hours to reach the tree fern forest at 2800m (700m higher than Myola). Towards the top of the ridge some flowering trees were attracting a variety of lorikeets including Papuan, Little Red, Yellow-billed and Plum-faced. Nearby, and moving with contrasting slowness, we saw a male Brehm’s Tiger-Parrot. The hunting trail we were following continued beyond the weird scenery of the tree fern forest but still climbed just as steeply. Orange-billed Lorikeets replaced Yellow-billed but there was much less bird activity during the afternoon or maybe I was just getting to tired to notice. Mike, Peter and Burk pushed on ahead and by the time Bill and I reached the grassland where Mike intended us to camp, they had already set up the tents. Our campsite was on a slight rise in the grassland, at 3150m. Alpine Pipits were common flying from the grass to perch on tree ferns while Island Thrushes and white-winged Robins were to be seen at the forest edge.

As the sun sank, the temperature dropped rapidly and we all opted for the warmth of our sleeping bags. When I woke there was ice on the tent and until the sun climbed above the surrounding peaks it was chilly. A pair of Eastern Alpine Mannikin and a small party of Mountain Firetails, which drew our attention by their mewing calls, were seen at the grassland edge near the camp. Belford’s Melidectes and Crested Berrypecker were common in the forest. After breakfast, and a stand in the sun to warm up, Mike and Peter set of in an attempt to reach the summit of Mount Kenevi (3400m) while Helen and I went in search of birds in the forest nearer the campsite. Three Greater Ground Robins, intent on a dispute of their own, stopped less than 2m from us. Upon realising we were there, one flew for about 2m, never more than 10cm from the ground. This may be the first time this species has been recorded flying. Before returning to the camp for lunch we added Lesser Melampitta and Blue-capped Ifrita to our list. For the latter this c.300m above the extreme upper limit given in Beehler et al (1986). After lunch we ventured to another part of the forest seeing a male Painted Tiger-Parrot climbing moss covered branches, a very cryptic Rufous Woodcock foraging amongst leaf litter and a flock of c.20 New Guine Thornbills flitting through the canopy. Chris went in search of the ground robins and dipped, but did see a male Crested Bird of Paradise. Some consolation! Mike and Peter returned having not quite made it to the top of Mt Kenevi but they did see Mountain Robin, a species that eluded the rest of us. We spent the evening chatting around the camp-fire while watching UFOs glide across the milky way. By the time we turned in there was a hard covering of ice on the tents.

After an early morning birding session around the camp that produced nothing new, we packed the tents and headed back to Myola. Walking up had been hard work but going down was painful and although I was rewarded with a good look at a male Garnet Robin, shining in the sun, I was very pleased to wander into Myola at 16:00. A restful evening in the Myola guest house, with dinner cooked for us, was a nice way to round off the weekend.

As always our thanks to Talair, Pacific Expeditions and, especially the people of Myola. Thanks also to Mike for organising the venture. I enjoyed it and despite the distance walked, the lack of oxygen, the intense midday sun and freezing conditions at night; I think everyone else did too. Isn’t that right Chris? Bill?

People List: Bill Cooper, Chris Eastwood, Roger Hicks, Mike & Helen Hopkins. Peter Lambley and Burk Sharpless.

Species List: Brown Goshawk, Rufous Woodcock, White-breasted Fruit-Dove, Papuan Mountain Pigeon, Goldie’s Lorikeet, Little Red Lorikeet, Papuan Lorikeet, Yellow-billed Lorikeet, Plum-faced Lorikeet, Orange-billed Lorikeet, Brehm’s Tiger Parrot, Mountain Swiftlet, Glossy Swiftlet, Alpine Pipit, Greater Ground Thrush, Island Thrush, Spotted Jewel-Babbler, Lesser Melampitta, Blue-capped Ifrita, Tawny Grassbird, Mountain Mouse-Warbler, Large Scrub-Wren, Buff-faced Scrub-Wren, Papuan Scrub-Wren, New Guinea Thornbill, Dimorphic Fantail, Black Fantail, Friendly Fantail, Black-breasted Boatbill, Canary Flycatcher, Garnet Robin, Mountain Robin, White-winged Robin, Regent Whistler, Rufous-naped Whistler, Papuan Treecreeper, Black Sitella, Mid-mountain Berrypecker, Tit Berrypecker, Crested Berrypecker, Red-collared Myzomela, Black-throated Honeyeater, Rufous-backed Honeyeater, Sooty Melidectes, Belford’s Melidectes, Common Smoky Honeyeater, Mountain Firetail, Eastern Alpine Mannikin, Macgregor’s Bowerbird, Crested Bird of Paradise, Brown Sicklebill, Stephanie’s Astrapia.

First published in Muruk 3(2): 65-67

A Weekend in Tari

The Tari area, in the Southern Highlands Province, is the home to some of the stranger and more spectacular of PNG’s birds. With the opening of Ambua Lodge, in early 1986, it has acquired a reputation as one of the top birding locations in the world. Bird tours, from all over, visit the lodge and an extensive list of species, including 13 birds of pardise have been recorded. A booklet detailing the species to be seen in the area, written by Brian Frinch and updated by Cliff & Dawn Frith and Nick Gardner, is available from the lodge. Although several members of the PNGBS have visted the area, and stayed at the lodge, little has appeared in the PNGBS publications.

Ambua Lodge lies at about 2200m on the edge of the inhabited and cultivated Tari Basin and unspoilt moss forest, The township of Tari lies 700m lower while the forest above the lodge extends to the grassland of Tari Gap at 2800m. Within this altitude range can be found a wide variety of birds and nearly every species seen will be a New Guinea endemic.

We visited Ambua Lodge on an Air Niugini weekender package in early October 1987. It was the first time this year we had been away on our own and, with due deference t PNGBS members, it made a very nice change. We arrived in Tari before mid-day and were transported to the lodge. The bird-watching was delayed by lunch and then heavy rain but later we found a fruiting tree in the woods below the orchid garden which was attracting several birds of paradise. Over the weekend we watched this tree for about 8 hours and recorded the following feeding on the ripe black berries: an adult and juvenile Short-tailed Paradigalla; a female Blue Bird of Paradise; a female Lawes Parotia and male and female Loria’s Bird of Paradise. Female Brown Sicklebill and Ribbon-tailed Astrapia were seen nearby. An impressive complement of birds and all within the lodge grounds.

Early on Saturday morning we got a lift up to the gap and began walking down to the lodge. In the low scrub bordering the grassland we watched a female Crested Bird of Paradise feeding on small berries and a pair of Crested Berrypeckers feeding in the next bush. The machine gun-like call of a male Brown Sicklebill could be heard almost continuously and a female was watched foraging along moss-covered branches. Lower down, in the open moss forest, the ‘radio static’ call of a male King of Saxony Bird of Paradise was heard and eventually located, displaying in the top of tree with his antennae waving in all directions, an unforgettable sight. Our stroll down the hill became a sprint through heavy rain and we arrived at the lodge soaked to the skin. The log fire in the lounge was most most welcoming.

On Sunday we went below the lodge and saw Superb Bird of Paradise and numerous Island Leaf Warblers but not the hoped for Black Sicklebill nor male Blue Bird of Paradise. The reaminder of the day was spent in the lodge grounds. A Torrent-Lark was seen near the spectacular waterfall across the road; a pair of Varied Sittella foraged on the trunks of trees along the driveway and a female Macgregor’s Bowerbird was seen in the wood below the orchid garden.

Only a few of the species we recorded this weekend are mentioned above. Our list is presented below, but a dedicated birder could add many to that over a long weekend. For a birder visiting PNG this area must be high on the list of places to visit. Nowhere else in the country is it possible to find so many endemic species which are so readily accessible. For example, we saw 10 species of Birds of Paradise in our first 24-hours. For non-birders there is the intriguing culture of the Huli Wigmen, the inhabitants of the Tari Basin, who use bird of paradise feathers in their head-dresses. It is a fascinating destination, whatever your interest.

Species List: h = heard only,

New Guinea Harpy-Eagle (h), Little Curlew, Black-billed Cuckoo-Dove, White-breasted Fruit-Dove, Papuan Mountain Pigeon, Papuan Mountain Pigeon, Dusky Lory, Rainbow Lorikeet, Papuan Lorikeet, Yellow-billed Lorikeet, Tiger-Parrot sp, Rufous-throated Bronze-Cuckoo, Papuan Boobook, Mountain Swiftlet, Glossy Swiftlet, Pacific Swallow, Long-tailed Shrike, Pied Chat, Island Thrush, Tawny Grassbird, White-shouldered Fairy-Wren, Large Scrub-Wren, Buff-faced Scrub-Wren, Black Fantail, Friendly Fantail, Canary Flycatcher, Black-throated Robin, White-winged Robin, Blue-Grey Robin, Varied Sittella, Fan-tailed Berrypecker, Crested Berrypecker, Red-collared Myzomela, Rufous-backed Honeyeater, Grey-backed Streaked Honeyeater, Belford’s Melidectes, Yellow-browed Melidectes, Common Smoky Honeyeater, Hooded Mannikin, Mountain Firetail (h), Torrent-Lark, Great Wood-Swallow, Macgregor’s Bowerbird, Crested Bird of Paradise, Loria’s Bird of Paradise, Short-tailed Paradigalla, Brown Sicklebill, Ribbon-tailed Astrapia, Stepahanie’s Astrapia, Lawes Parotia, King of Saxony Bird of Paradise, Blue Bird of Paradise.

First published in Muruk 3(1): 20-23 co-authored with Jenny H. Hicks

Observations of birds feeding in a fruiting Planchonella

During a visit to Ambua Lodge, near Tari (Southern Highlands Province) at c.2200m, we observed several species of birds feeding in a fruiting Planchonella sp. (Sapotaceae) tree was observed. It stood near the top of a steep sided valley and was c.20m tall with a large spreading canopy with sparse foliage that allowed clear views of feeding birds. The fruits were about 10mm in diameter and grew singly on short stalks amongst the leaves. Birds were only recorded feeding on ripe fruits which were distinguished from the unripe green fruits y being black with soft flesh. They usually contained two elongated seeds. Other Planchonella sp trees in the same area of forest were also in fruit and Short-tailed Paradigalla Paradigalla brevicauda and Superb Bird of Paradise Lophorina superba were noted feeding in them.

We first found the tree on 9 October 1987. Over the following three days (10 – 12 October 1987) we watched this Planchonella tree for a total of 465 minutes (7.75 hours) spread over five periods: 10 Oct: 14:30-16:00; 11 Oct 09:30-12:15, 16:45-18:00; 12 Oct 07:15-08:15, 09:30-10:45). The shortest observation period was 60 minutes and the longest 165 minutes. We observed the tree from a convenient vantage point, less than 20m from the trunk and which allowed us to view most of the canopy. We used 10x and 8x binoculars.

Over the four days seven species were observed feeding in the tree, including a minimum of nine individuals of five species of birds of paradise. No birds were present in the tree for 289 minutes of the observation periods (62% of the total observation time). Periods of no bird activity coincided with overcast, cooler and windier conditions, particularly when the wind was strong enough to move the branches. During the remaining 176 minutes five species of birds were recorded feeding in the tree. Most activity was noted in sunny and calm conditions (11 Oct 10:00-11:25 14 feeding records; 12 Oct 09:39-10:30 9 feeding records) and in the early evening (11 Oct 16:47-17:54 15 feeding records).

During our first cursory observation, at 15:20 on 9 October 1987, two species of bird of paradise, a female Blue Bird of Paradise Paradisaea rudolphi and two Short-tailed Paradigalla, considered to be an adult and a juvenile (Hicks & Hicks 1988), were seen feeding in the tree but not subsequently recorded in the tree.

A party of four Buff-faced Scrub-Wrens Sericornis perspicillatus was seen on three occasions, moving noisily through the tree, foraging along the smaller branches and twigs and amongst epiphytes. They were present for less than five minutes each time and were not seen to feed on the fruit or any part of the fruit.

The remaining four species were all recorded feeding on the Planchonella fruit. White-breasted Fruit-Doves Ptilinopus rivoli, never more than one male and one female at a time, were present in the tree for 124 minutes. They spent very little time actively feeding, mostly perching still in leaf shade. A solitary male was present on two occasions, spending 44 minutes in the tree, but was seen to take only one fruit. A solitary female also made two visits, both times overlapping with the single male, and was seen to take four fruits, three of them in a nine minute period. This species ingested the fruits whole.

Three species of bird of paradise visited the tree to feed (other than the two species only recorded during our first brief visit mentioned above). In total they spent much less time in the tree in the tree than the fruit-doves, only coming to this Planchonella tree to feed, but they took more fruits.

A female Lawes’ Parotia Parotia lawesii spent 10 minutes in the tree, two visits lasting seven and three minutes respectively, both on the same morning, In this time it fed on 11 fruits. The bird pulled each fruit from the tree using its bill and then held the fruit against a branch while it tore strips from the fruit with its bill.

Superb Birds of Paradise, never more than one male or one female at any one time were present on the tree for 20 minutes and took 17 fruits. A male made four visits to the tree during the two morning observation periods, no visit exceeding four minutes. A female also made four visits, all during the evening observation period, so never overlapping with the male. Both male and female birds foraged throughout the canopy of the tree in a ‘tit-like’ manner, often hanging upside down to reach fruit. As well as the fruit, a male Superb Bird of Paradise was noted feeding on a grub which it had extracted from the bark of the tree. It probably obtained other food items this way as it was observed foraging alon branches and among epiphytes on other occasions.

Loria’s Birds of Paradise Cnemophilus loriae were present in the tree for 30 minutes and took 20 fruits, which were ingested whole. Only one female was present at any one time. A solitary female mad six visits to the tree, feeding on the fruits on each visit except one when it was in the tree for less than a minute. The average length of a feeding visit was 2.25 minutes and the average number of fruit taken per visit was 1.5. A solitary male made three visits to the tree while for one five minute period, two males and one female were present. Males ate the fruit on each visit. The average length of a feeding visit was 2.66 minutes amd the average number of fruit taken per visit was 1.2. Male(s) and female were only present together on the tree for six minutes.

As far as we know Planchonella sp has not previously been recorded as a food plant of birds of paradise or fruit-doves (Rand & Gilliard 1967, Gilliard 1968) although the seeds have been recorded in Dwarf Cassowary Casuarius bennetti droppings (Pratt 1983).

In the lowlands of PNG flocks of fruit-doves, sometimes numbering 50 – 100 birds are found in fruiting trees often feeding in a frenzy. At most, only two birds were present in this tree and only occasionally took a fruit. This may indicate that Planchonella is not a favoured food source of fruit-doves but will be taken to supplement the diet or that fewer frugivores at this altitude both in terms of species, e.g. only one species of fruit-dove c.f. six at sea-level, and individuals means less competition for a food source which possibly leds to less frenetic activity.

Two species, Lawes’ Parotia and Blue Bird of Paradise, were at the limits of their altitude range and had not previously been recorded in the grounds of Ambua Lodge, at c.2200m, although both were known to occur lower in the Tari Basin (Finch 1987).

Voucher specimen at UPNG is Hicks & Hicks #5. We would like to thank Paul Katik of the National Herbarium,Lae, for identifying the plant and Helen Fortune Hopkins for her helpful criticisms of earlier drafts.

Beehler, B.M, T.K.Pratt & D.A.Zimmerman. 1986. Birds of New Guinea. Princeton University Press.

Finch, B.W. 1987. The Birds of Ambua and Tari District – a Trans-Niugini Tours guide to the birds in the vicinity of Ambua Lodge (with additional notes by C.Frith, D.Frith and N.Gardner). 2^nd Edition. Trans-Niugini Tours.
Gilliard, E.T. 1969. Birds of Paradise  and Bowerbirds. London. Weidenfeld and Nicolson.
Hicks, R.K. & J.H. Hicks. 1988. Feeding Observations of Short-tailed Paradigalla. Muruk 3: 14
Pratt, T.K. 1982. Diet of Dwarf Cassowary Casuarius bennetti picticollis at Wau, Papua New Guinea. Emu 82: 283-285.
Rand, A.L. and E.T.Gilliard. 1967 Handbook of New Guinea Birds. London. Weidenfeld And Nicolson.

First published in Muruk 3(1): 10-11, co-authored with Jenny H. Hicks.

Display of Loria’s Bird of Paradise

At 10:15 on 11 October 1987 a displaying male Loria’s Bird of Paradise Cnemophilus loriae was observed briefly in the grounds of Ambua Lodge, Tari, Southern Highlands Province at c.2200m. Our attention was drawn to the displaying bird by a regular clicking noise. We could not at the time decide whether the click was a call or bill snapping. [It was probably the latter since a male bird which was recently (13 June 1988) mist-netted at Myola, Oro Province clicked its bill softly while puffing out its white cheek pouches while it was being handled]. The male bird hung upside down, about 6m off the ground, but below the canopy. He quivered with his wings half open. This display was observed for less than 10 seconds, after which the bird flew off to feed. Although this observation is of such short duration we present it here because, as far as we know, the display of Loria’s Bird of Paradise is undescribed.

First published in Muruk 3(2): 52,co-authored with Jenny Hicks.

Feeding Observations of a female Crested Bird of Paradise

At 07:45 on 10 October 1987, a female Crested Bird of Paradise Cnemophilus macgregoriae was observed feeding in a shrub on the edge of the grasslands at Tari Gap, Southern Highlands Province at c.2780m. The shrub Symplocos cochinchinensis (Loureiro) S. Moore (Symplocaceae) was typical of the area standing c.4m tall and having dense foliage. The bird moved about the outer twigs of the shrub selecting small (4 x 3mm) green berries, apparently at random. The berries were hard with very little flesh covering the woody seed and were borne on short spikes amongst the leaves.

Voucher specimen at UPNG for S.cochinchinensis is Hicks & Hicks #4. I would like to thank Paul Katik for identifying the food plant.

First published in Muruk 3(1): 15