Eastern Indonesia, which includes Papua Island, is full of wealth natural resources. In addition to having a wealth of flora, it turns out that West Papua also has a wealth of endemic West Papua birding that must be preserved.
Papua Island is home to many endemic bird species that need attention due to their rarity. However, due to illegal hunting, the indigenous birds of the Papua area are in danger and losing their population.
Preserving these Endemic West Papua Birding
1. Red Bird Paradise of West Papua Birding
One species, Red Bird Paradise, is a bird found in Raja Ampat. You can find this bird species at the end of the hills, perched on a branch.
In addition to the island, the two also explored the mountains to find other types of birds of paradise. One of the rugged regions they explored was the West Papuan Arfak Mountains. They chose this location because of the very high biodiversity of West Papua and the birding of paradise species there.
2. Maleo Waigeo
Maleo Waigeo or Aepypodius bruijnii is a bird species endemic to Waigeo Island, West Pupua. The bird is a charred bird (Megapodiidae family) living in Indonesia. This endemic bird population of Indonesia is threatened with extinction and is one of the rarest birds in Indonesia.
One of the most famous is Maleo Senkawor (Macrocephalon maleo), commonly known as ‘Maleo’ only. Maleo is a term for various types of charred birds living in Indonesia. Indonesia has 14 species of 21 species of charred birds found worldwide.
3. Jayawijaya Quail
The Latin name for the Snow Mountains Quail is Anurophasis Monorthonyx, which is refer to the Jayawijaya Quail. This quail is an endemic bird of Papua located in Lorentz National Park, precisely in the Habema Lake area and its surroundings.
According to a habitat survey, this information is accurate. The Lorentz National Park Center Team conducted Jayawijaya Quail in 2015. This West Papua birding belongs to the Phasianidae genus Anurophasis and is included in the list of threatened species according to the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources).
4. Spice Pergam
Bird Spice Pergam has the Latin name Ducula myristicivora. Internationally, this species is the Spice Imperial Pigeon classification..
Birds that are part of the pigeon family have a large bodies. The length is approx 41 cm. Its distinctive feature is that the throat is gray, and the chest to the belly is pinkish-gray. The back, wings, and tail are shiny green and blue.
5. West Papua Birding of Melipotes Arfak
This species was found at an altitude of 1,650 meters above sea level (asl) after a helicopter landing in a foggy area in the famous sacred Foja Mountains. The woven-winged Melipotes is one of the songbirds but sings very rarely. The leading food is a small fruit.
6. Kancilan Vogelkop
Kancilan Vogelkop, also known as the Vogelkop Deer, is a small bird with a body length of about 14.5 cm. The bird has a band of light gray on its chest and an olive-colored body.
Final Words
Well, those are the endemic West Papua birding. Its existence is few due to poaching. So, we must preserve the nature of Papua so that the richness of flora and fauna is maintained.
