Tangkoko Batuangus Nature Reserve is a famous destination in the Province of North Sulawesi for wildlife watching tourism. Visitors from all corners of the world go to Tangkoko to watch birds, reptiles, insects and mammals. It is located in the northeastern region of Minahasa peninsula around one and a half ride from Manado city.
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| Spectral Tarsier in the rainforest of Tangkoko's Nature Reserve |
According to Wikipedia, the number of species of animals is listed as follows:
- 127 mammals
- 233 birds
- 104 reptiles and amphibian animals
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| Knobbed Hornbill |
There are a lot of species of birds that visitors can watch while walking under the canopy of the trees of Tangkoko. Tangkoko is famous for its kingfishers. Some of them include Green-backed Kingfisher (Actenoides monachus), Ruddy Kingfisher, Sulawesi Lilac Kingfisher, Common Kingfisher, Collared Kingfisher, Blue-eared Kingfiher, Sulawesi Dwarf Kingfisher and etc. The nearby Kalinaun is the habitat of Great-billed Kingfisher.
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| Purple-winged Roller |
Visitors can also watch Red-backed Thrush, Ochre-bellied Boobok, Knobbed Hornbill, Sulawesi Pygmy Hornbill, Purple-winged Roller, Oriental Dollarbird, Gray-cheeked Green Pigeon.
Because Tangkoko Nature Reserve is located in the coastal area of North Sulawesi, visitors who go there can also watch sea birds such as the Pacific Reef Heron, Great-billed Heron, Osprey, Lesser Frigatebird, Greater Frigatebird, Common Tern, Great-crested Tern, Black-naped Tern, and etc.
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| Birding in Tangkoko Nature Reserve |
The activity of watching sea birds could be combined with a boat trip to Kalinaun where visitors could watch Great-billed Kingfisher, Pied, Little-pied Cormorant, Little-black Cormorant and etc.
The following picture of Great-billed Kingfisher was taken in Kalinaun river. Mangrove trees grow along both banks of the river. They are the natural habitat of various species of coastal birds including this kingfisher.
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| Great-billed Kingfisher |
Another important site for general birding in Tangkoko area is the Temboan Hill. It is the place where visitors could watch a lot of species of birds including Finch-billed Myna, Sulawesi-crested Myna, Silvertip Imperial Pigeon, Knobbed Hornbill, Sulawesi Hornbill, Sulawesi Pitta, and a lot more.
Visitors who go to Tangkoko can stay in the homestays or lodges that are run by local people. |
| Ashy Woodpecker in the rainforest of Tangkoko Nature Reserve |
Other Animals
In addition to birds, we could also see insects, reptiles and mammals.
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| Celebes-crested Macaque (Macaca nigra) |
MINAHASA HIGHLAND
The tropical rainforest and farmland of Minahasa highland is the natural habitat of a lot of colourful species of birds and butterflies. For birds, visitors could find Sulawesi Cuckoo Dove, Warbling White-eye, Sulawesi Myzomela, Crimson Sunbird, Scaly-breasted Kingfisher, Crimson-crowned Flowerpecker, Turquoise Flycatcher, Citrine Canary Flycatcher, Barred Rail, Isabelline Bush-hen, White-browed Crake, Black Sunbird, Black-faced Munia, Pale Blue Monarch, White-breasted Woodswallow, Collared Kingfisher, Pygmy Woodpecker, Black-crowned White-eye, Black-naped Oriole, Gray-sided Flowerpecker, Yellow-sided Flowerpecker and etc.
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| Scaly-breasted Kingfisher |
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| Pale Blue Monarch |
Birding Sites in Minahasa highland
Mount Mahawu is the recommended site for birdwatching. There are also forest and farmland areas in Subdistrict Sonder which visitors could explore. Sonder also has got rice fields that are suitable for watching and photographing water birds such as Little Egret, Cattle Egret, Javan Pond Heron, White-breasted Waterhen, Barred Rail, White-browed Crake, and etc.
Lakes and waterfalls in Minahasa highland are good choices for birding. Bringing binoculars, spotting scope and camera will greatly enhance the birding experience of tour participants.
For Minahasa highland, there are hotels in Tomohon town and homestay in Sonder town which visitors could choose to stay for a few nights.
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| Warbling White-eye |
Booking
If you are interested in watching birds and other wildlife in Tangkoko Nature Reserve as well as other areas in Sulawesi, you could contact me (Charles Roring) by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp to: +6281332245180.
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