The Adventures of Birdwatching in Papua New Guinea

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Many people do not know that Papua New Guinea is a bird watcher’s paradise. There are many locations throughout the country where beautiful species of birds can be found. There are over 700 species of birds in the country, 269 of which can be found in the Milne Bay province. Birdwatching in Papua New Guinea is indeed a fascinating experience.

In Milne Bay alone, there are 162 passerines, 107 non-passerines, 2 cassowaries and 10 birds of paradise. Of all of those, 108 are original to Papua New Guinea such as the Goldie’s Birth of Paradise, the curl-crested Manucode, the Papuan Boobook, the tawny-breasted Honeyeater and the Papuan Black Myzomela. Milne Bay is also home to parrots, birds of paradise, kingfishers, hornbills, palm cockatoo and bowerbirds.

Some of the most popular bird watching spots in Papua New Guinea include the Kumul Lodge in the Western Highlands and Enga provinces; the Bulolo and Wau Districts found in the Morobe Provinces; the Varirata National Park located near Port Moresby; Bensbach, Kiunga and Tububil located in the Western Province; Walindi and Garu in West New Britain; Wasu in the Huon Peninsula; Arawa and Panguna in Bougainville and the world-famous Ambua Lodge of Tari Basin located in the Southern Highlands.

When pressed with time, it’s always recommended to sit longer at fewer sights as this turns out to be more rewarding. Which locations to choose depend ultimately on the bird watcher’s particular interests, physical strength and list of priority of birds to see.

A bird watching itinerary especially in Papua New Guinea requires a lot of time, patience and hard work, especially when gearing for the most exclusive birds out there. The top bird watching areas in the country can only be reached after tiring marches along the steepest, muddiest and most treacherous trails in the southern hemisphere. Luckily, with the service of experienced local guides and porters, the bird watching adventure becomes less harsh than it seems. With a combination of perseverance, specialized birding skills and a profound knowledge of the local birdlife, bird enthusiasts will be successful in tracking down the many sought-after feathered friends of the wild.

For the novice birders or for a more relaxed bird watching experience, there are key locations in Papua New Guinea that make bird watching easier. Anyone who has ever attempted to birdwatch in the vast unknowns of Papua New Guinea will indeed testify to its legendary stance.

The best time to go birdwatching in Papua New Guinea is during August and September, which is the usual time for courtship of the birds. The male birds are all out on display for the female birds, which makes a great time for us humans when we are watching such beautiful creatures.

Very few places on Earth can rival Papua New Guinea’s seemingly endless parade of amazing feathered life forms. With such a vast array of avian delights, it seems all the more puzzling that Papua New Guinea is one of the least traveled outbacks in the world. This leaves birdwatching in Papua New Guinea a more exciting experience for feather fanatics all around the world.