There’s some kind of problem with the photos not showing up in the Manokwari post. Photos are appearing in other posts, just not that one. I will give it some time to see if it resolves on its own. I have tried to upload it twice now. If one of them is working tomorrow, I will delete the duplicate post.
Update- I fixed the Manokwari post and deleted the duplicate.
Octavio Salles operates photo tours in Brazil and has some stunning images of birds on his blog. He also has an updated blog which appears to be down at the moment so I will link his original blog. He also writes trip reports and has nice details on the birds and where he saw them so well worth checking out. As always with this feature I can’t copy his images here so in order to protect his copyright will link to one of the pages on his blog that has some of the best images. Enjoy!
Palm Cockatoo (Probosciger aterrimus)
Dramatic and majestic, the Palm Cockatoo (Probosciger aterrimus) is high on most birder’s list of dream birds to see in the wild. They can only be found in the far north of Queensland, Australia, Papua New Guinea and West Papua, Indonesia. These are all countries on the Top Twelve countries to see wild parrots so all are well worth a visit.
Palm Cockatoo Habitat
Seeing them in Australia won’t be cheap. You have to get to Weipa, then get to Iron Range National Park. Sorry Star Alliance members, only One World airline Qantas can get you here! Redemptions using Qantas Frequent Flyer points start at 8000 each way from Cairns to Weipa. You could also use Avios if you are coming from elsewhere in Queensland for 4500-7500 Avios. If you are starting elsewhere in Australia you can use American Airlines miles for anywhere within Australia to Weipa for 10,000 miles. Once here, you can either join an organized tour or make your way to Iron Range National Park by hired 4WD. Avoid coming here between November to March due to extreme heat, humidity and danger from cyclones.
Even for Australians, it can be easier and cheaper to see them in Indonesia. Use miles to get to Jakarta or Bali, then a domestic carrier such as Sriwijaya to get to Sorong, Manokwari or Jayapura. Stay tuned for detailed destinations guides when I return from my own trip there!
Here’s some websites to read and a video with a bit more information.
If you are visiting my blog for the first time, I hope you find it enjoyable and informative. For many of you, this will be your first glimpse inside the world of miles and points……………and how you can use them to get almost FREE travel all over the world. I hope you enjoyed my article in the Jan/Feb issue of Parrot News. For my readers who are not members of Parrot Society of Australia, this is the article we are talking about – the one about Vini Lorikeets.
Jan/Feb issue of Parrot News
For PSOA members who are new here, I have compiled a list of blog posts you may be interested in.
Putting together an eco-adventure
Which Frequent Flyer programs to join
Top Twelve Countries by Parrot Species
Mileage Earning Credit Cards for Australians
If you have any other questions, please use the comments!
Blue-crowned Lorikeet – Vini australis
Rimatara Kuhl’s Lorikeet – Vini kuhli
Tahitian Blue Lorikeet – Vini peruviana
CLICK HERE TO LEARN HOW TO GET TO THE COOK ISLANDS
Collared Lory – Phigys solitarius
Blue-crowned Lorikeet – Vini australis
Red-throated Lorikeet – Charmosyna amabilis
Crimson Shining-parrot – Prosopeia splendens
Red Shining-parrot – Prosopeia personata
Masked Shining-parrot – Prosopeia tabuensis
Rimatara Kuhl’s Lorikeet – Vini kuhli
Tahitian Blue Lorikeet – Vini peruviana
Ultramarine Lorikeet – Vini ultramarina
Rainbow Lorikeet – Trichoglossus haematodus
Horned Parakeet – Eunymphicus cornutus
Uvea Parakeet – Eunymphicus uvaeensis
New Caledonian Red-crowned Parakeet – Cyanoramphus saissetti
Blue-crowned Lorikeet – Vini australis
Stephen’s Lorikeet – Vini stepheni
Pohnpei Lorikeet – Trichoglossus rubiginosus
Blue-crowned Lorikeet – Vini australis
Ducorps’ Cockatoo – Cacatua ducorpsii
Cardinal Lory – Chalcopsitta cardinalis
Rainbow Lorikeet – Trichoglossus haematodus
Yellow-bibbed Lory – Lorius chlorocercus
Palm Lorikeet – Charmosyna palmarum
Meek’s Lorikeet – Charmosyna meeki
Red-flanked Lorikeet – Charmosyna placentis
Duchess Lorikeet – Charmosyna margarethae
Red-breasted Pygmy-parrot – Micropsitta bruijnii
Finsch’s Pygmy-parrot – Micropsitta finschii
Singing Parrot – Geoffroyus heteroclitus
Eclectus Parrot – Eclectus roratus
Blue-crowned Lorikeet – Vini australis
Red Shining Parrot – Prosopeia tabuensis
Rainbow Lorikeet – Trichoglossus haematodus
Palm Lorikeet – Charmosyna palmarum
Wyndham Rewards is the frequent guest program of several different hotel chains.
Wyndham Hotels
The largest presence is in the USA with over 6500 hotels. This can come in handy if you are connecting to an overseas flights and want a budget hotel for the night near the airport. The odds are great that Wyndham will have several hotels near most major airports with free shuttles.
They also have a number of hotels overseas, some of which are in countries that will attract eco-travelers and birders. I have highlighted these in yellow.
Wyndham Overseas Hotels
It varies widely depending on the chain. Hotels overseas tend to be more expensive than those in the USA.
Wyndham Awards
For example, LAX has several hotels all ranging between 14,000 to 16,000 redemption.
Wyndham LAX Awards
Same hotels if you pay cash/credit – notice that they are not expensive! Not a good use of points!
Wyndham LAX $$$
Now let’s look at Brazil as an example. Most people will use Sao Paulo as an entry or exit point for Brazil and I do recommend spending your last night here to make sure you don’t miss your connection home. Linhares is prime birding country but there are better options to stay which I will be blogging about later. The Parana property is near Curitiba which also has good birding in the area.
Wyndham Brazil
1. Stay at Wyndham chain hotels.
Wyndham T&Cs
Wyndham T&Cs
2. Get the credit card.
Wyndham Credit Cards
3. Rent a car.
Wyndham Car Rentals
4. Use their other partners. Out of these 3, the rate for flowers is pretty bad compared to other programs. The Energy one doesn’t look very good either. The Liberty Mutual quote can get you 500 points within a month if you are trying to top up to another level.
Wyndham Other Partners
The best use, especially for eco-travelers is transferring them to an airline. Why? Because in most countries, the Wyndham properties aren’t too expensive and Wyndham often has bonus promos going on. You can acquire a lot of points very quickly. I will blog about any promos that come up. Here is the list of redemption to airline miles partners. 3 of our top 8 frequent flyer programs are available as transfer partners – American, United and US Airways.
Airline mileage transfer rates
8,000 Wyndham Rewards points = 3200 airline miles
17,500 Wyndham Rewards points = 7000 airline miles
30,000 Wyndham Rewards points = 12,000 airline miles
Wyndham Airline Mile Transfers
WYNDHAM’S SECRET WEAPON
This is not a hack or a trick, it is in the T&Cs of the Wyndham hotel program. What this means, is when there is a very lucrative promo running and you don’t live near any Wyndham hotels, you can simply book ANY hotel participating in the promo, give your credit card to pay for it and then simply not show up! I have seen some really good promos in the past such as one where you get 16,000 bonus points for staying at specified hotels that could be booked for around $60. This gives a huge discount to buying airline miles if you maximize such a promo and transfer as I said above! I will let you know when such promos are running.
Wyndham T&Cs
I recommend that eco-tourists pay cash (credit card) if they are staying at a Wyndham hotel, accumulate the points and transfer to an airline. The hotels that we would be using are generally not expensive so the airline miles are a much better value.
Everyone has heard of the Mayan prediction that the world will end on 21 Dec 2012. I think most people don’t believe that is actually going to happen …………………..
…………………….but there are a few people who do.
Hey, the world better not end, I have 2 awesome trips booked with miles next year! I am sure many of you guys do too. OK, I don’t really believe the world is going to end. But let’s just pretend it is for a minute. You have 25 days left in the world as we know it. Let’s say that the human race will survive but it will never be the same again. Habitats will be flooded or destroyed by dust clouds. Many species will be gone. This is your last chance to see any part of the world you haven’t had a chance to yet while it is still there. Where would you go and why? Let’s assume you have enough miles and points to go anywhere in the world and you don’t care if your credit cards are maxxed out because the banks won’t be there anymore. Would you go to the Amazon Rainforest (like I did in Sept)? How about the Serengeti in Tanzania? Or Australia’s Daintree Rainforest? What species would you want to see?
I had my dream trip in Sept. My favourite all-time species is the Golden Conure (Guarouba guarouba), a highly endangered species and they can best be found in the Amazonia National Park in Brazil. I will save the details of this trip for a future post but here is a teaser pic.
If were to make another trip in the next 25 days, it would be to the Marquesas to see the Ultramarine Lorikeet (Vini ultramarina).
Now I would love to know where you would go and why. It’s your last chance to see the world as we know it! Please tell me in the comments. If you have trouble commenting because of the spamblocker, please contact me. I am still new at WordPress and trying to figure it out as I go along.
UPDATE 23/12/12 We are still here. The world did not end and neither should our dreams! Let’s keep them alive and make them come true. Click here.
It may be Friday morning in Australia but it’s Thursday evening in the USA and right now many of my friends and family are sitting down to a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner. I can’t be with them in person, but I am there in spirit. There is so much to be thankful for and while I don’t want to go into my personal life, I will share what I am thankful for that is in keeping with the topic of this blog.
I am thankful that I have the opportunity to travel and see the world.
I am thankful that there are beautiful nature reserves all over the world that protect so many endangered and not-endangered species.
I am thankful that there are birds in the world whose beauty enchants us and charm delights us.
I am thankful that there are organizations such as the World Parrot Trust who have research biologists out there trying to save endangered parrots so we don’t lose them from the planet.
I am thankful for the local people who gave up poaching wild birds and are now working as guides and other occupations because of ecotourism and that they are able to share their local wildlife with us.
I am thankful for the social media that allows us to be more aware and informed and teaches us to respect, cherish and protect nature.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL!