Manado is the capital of North Sulawesi Province in Indonesia. This city is surrounded by farmlands and forests which are the habitat of various species of tropical birds such as Sahul Sunbird, Crimson Sunbird, Brown-throated Sunbird, Black Sunbird, Gray-sided Flowerpecker, Yellow-sided Flowerpecker, Hair-crested Drongo (white eye), Barred Rail, Isabelline Bush-hen, Sulawesi Hanging Parrot, Sooty-headed Bulbul, Green Imperial Pigeon, Spotted Dove, Zebra Dove, Javan Myna, Finch-billed Myna, Collared Kingfisher, Sulawesi Crow, and etc.
In general, visitors who have just completed their diving tour in Bunaken islands and Lembeh Strait need to stay in Manado city for at least 18 to 24 hours. Taking this birding tour outside of the city could help visitors to spend their waiting time without have to stay all day in their hotel rooms.
Usually we will start by picking up participants from their hotel at 05:00. We will go by car to farm forest outside Manado city. We wil do birding walk for around 2 to 3 hours. To observe birds in distant trees, we will use binoculars and spotting scope. We may also use a small portable loudspeaker to call birds. This will allow us to see more birds in the area. At around 10:00, we will bring tour participants back to their hotel for rest. The second session for birding could be carried out later in the afternoon from 15:00 to 18:00.
As a matter of fact, Manado city has got significant area of farm forest that is the natural habitat of birds, butterflies and various unique tropical plants. If we go further to remote areas, such as to Minahasa highland, we will be able to watch more birds such as Sulawesi Blue Flycatcher, Sulawesi Bush Warbler, Sulawesi Cuckoo-dove, Sulawesi Pygmy Woodpecker, Superb Fruit Dove, Black Kite, Lesser Fish Eagle, Citrine Canary Flycatcher, Black-faced Munia, Finch-billed Myna, and etc.
To enjoy birding, tour participants need to bring binoculars such as Swarovski, Leica, or Nikon Monarch 10×42 mm
The tropical rainforest in Malagufuk is the natural habitat of various species of birds. Some of them are listed below:
Sulawesi Hanging Parrot (Loriculus stigmatus) is a small parrot that is endemic to Sulawesi island. The bird likes to feed on nectar of flowers, and fruit such as papaya. Sulawesi Hanging Parrot also eats lichen on the surfaces of tree branches.
Here are some of the birds that we could find at the outskirts of Manado city
This birding tour at the outskirts of Manado city could be extended to places such as the farm forest of Subdistrict Sonder, Mount Mahawu, and Lake Linow in Minahasa highland.
Every day, there are regular flights between Manado city and some major cities in Indonesia such as Denpasar, Jakarta, Makassar, Balikpapan, Ternate.
Garuda Indonesia, Lion Air, Batik Air, and Super Airjet have got regular flight services to Manado city.
If you are interested in taking this birding tour from Manado city, please, contact us by whatsapp to: +6281332245180 or by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com