Looking for Wallace's Standardwing on Halmahera - help needed! (1 Viewer)

[Megaloblatta]

I am helping a film crew make a 3 part TV series about the great naturalist and co-discoverer of evolution by natural selection, Alfred Russel Wallace. They really want to film male Wallace's Standardwing Bird of Paradise at a lekking site on Halmahera, which is easily accessible and not very far from Ternate Island. I used to know an excellent one in Weda Bay, but very sadly it has been effectively destroyed thanks to a nearby nickel mine.. For some time I have been trying to find an alternative, but all are too remote and difficult to get to. I heard of one at Kali Batu Putih, which is fairly close to Sidangoli, but am not sure it is still possible to see the birds there any more. Details are in this 2006 post: You are being redirected... If you know an active lek and have contact details of someone who can help arrange a trip there then please let me know. Many thanks.

 

[dandsblair]

I am helping a film crew make a 3 part TV series about the great naturalist and co-discoverer of evolution by natural selection, Alfred Russel Wallace. They really want to film male Wallace's Standardwing Bird of Paradise at a lekking site on Halmahera, which is easily accessible and not very far from Ternate Island. I used to know an excellent one in Weda Bay, but very sadly it has been effectively destroyed thanks to a nearby nickel mine.. For some time I have been trying to find an alternative, but all are too remote and difficult to get to. I heard of one at Kali Batu Putih, which is fairly close to Sidangoli, but am not sure it is still possible to see the birds there any more. Details are in this 2006 post: You are being redirected... If you know an active lek and have contact details of someone who can help arrange a trip there then please let me know. Many thanks.

I suspect we probably saw birds in 2018 at site you knew within 30 minute walk of Weda Bay Resort. We went with Carlos Bocas from Birdtours Asia who will know if Lek or is still active or could lead you to an alternative.

 

[Megaloblatta]

Many thanks! Yes, I visited the lek in Weda on about 4 trips. Here is a photo I took there.

 

[SteveClark]

I saw them at a lek near Bubale. Approximately 1.26, 128.18. This was in Nov 2018 on a tour with Explore Iso Indonesia | Indonesia birding trips and tour operator based in Palu, Central Sulawesi. led by Royke Mananta. He was excellent.

 

[Megaloblatta]

I saw them at a lek near Bubale. Approximately 1.26, 128.18. This was in Nov 2018 on a tour with Explore Iso Indonesia | Indonesia birding trips and tour operator based in Palu, Central Sulawesi. led by Royke Mananta. He was excellent.

Many thanks! Did you see many males and were you fairly close to them, with good views?

 

[SteveClark]

Many thanks! Did you see many males and were you fairly close to them, with good views?

From memory we arrived before dawn and the birds started arriving soon after. Maybe 8-10 displaying males at the peak. Royke will have more up to date info.

 

[THE_FERN]

Many thanks! Yes, I visited the lek in Weda on about 4 trips. Here is a photo I took there.View attachment 1467702

Nice pic G

 

[THE_FERN]

Here's where people go now:

https://ebird.org/hotspot/L1295243

Apparently you need a 4x4 to get up the muddy track but this is arranged at the nearby village. There is or was (2022) a viewing platform in perilous condition