Posted by Johan Geyser on June 23, 2008 at 1:15 AM
I am off to work in Indonesia ( on Sulawesi island ) for some time. I have scouted around on the internet but I just don't seem to find a good field guide to the birds of that region. Does anyone have any idea of a suitable book?
Johan Geyser
South Africa
Posted by Rajesh Mohan on June 23, 2008 at 12:14 PM
you can buy a guide in Indonesia or Singapore if you are passing by. There are several books on Birds of SouthEast Asia. Not sure if you will find island specific guide. You can also check this link and post this question.
http://www.naturephotosociety.org.sg/ASP/Main.asp
I hope it helps.
Cheers,
Rajesh
Posted by Vandit Kalia on June 23, 2008 at 12:49 PM
I just got back from Sulawesi (mostly diving, although I did do a day of birding in Tongoko) and the only decent book that covers Sulawesi is the "Birds of Wallacea" - you wont get this in Indonesia, however, so order it off the Internet.
There is a photographic guide to the birds of Indonesia as well, but it is terrible for ID.
Vandit
Posted by Johan Geyser on June 24, 2008 at 9:10 AM
Thanks guys - I might be pressed for time but I'll look around in Singapore on Sunday if I have a chance. I could also be in Jakarta for two days next week so I'll try to find a good bookstore there.
I have also heard that the photographic book is not so good for bird ID, so I'll have a look at your suggestion, Vandit.
Johan
Posted by Vandit Kalia on June 24, 2008 at 2:31 PM
I checked some bookstores in Jakarta (in the malls around the Grand Hyatt - Plaza Indonesia and a few others) myself and didnt find a pictoral field guide - only the photographic guide. Still, good luck with your search.
A good option might be to get the Birds of SE Asia for the ID and the photo guide for the distribution maps and use them in conjunction.
I have the Birds of SE Asia and off the top of my head, I dont think its distribution charts are detailed enough to give you a sense of distribution within Sulawesi (lots of species found only in the North or only in the South). The Indo photo guide has pretty good distribution maps.
OTOH, I really cannot emphasize enough how lousy that book is for ID - there are crappy photos of some relatively common birds and it appears as though the book is more of an exercise in publishing the author's photos than providing help with identification. That is the only reason that explains the choice of some of the images contained therein.
See if you can get Amazon to DHL the books to your Singapore accommodation. It usually takes 4-5 days for me to receive orders from the US to India in such a way, and that should get your Wallacea guide by then.
Good luck and look forward to your trip report (here or Birdforum?)
Vandit
Posted by Vandit Kalia on June 24, 2008 at 2:43 PM
I checked some bookstores in Jakarta (in the malls around the Grand Hyatt - Plaza Indonesia and a few others) myself and didnt find a pictoral field guide - only the photographic guide. Still, good luck with your search.
A good option might be to get the Birds of SE Asia for the ID and the photo guide for the distribution maps and use them in conjunction.
I have the Birds of SE Asia and off the top of my head, I dont think its distribution charts are detailed enough to give you a sense of distribution within Sulawesi (lots of species found only in the North or only in the South). The Indo photo guide has pretty good distribution maps.
OTOH, I really cannot emphasize enough how lousy that book is for ID - there are crappy photos of some relatively common birds and it appears as though the book is more of an exercise in publishing the author's photos than providing help with identification. That is the only reason that explains the choice of some of the images contained therein.
See if you can get Amazon to DHL the books to your Singapore accommodation. It usually takes 4-5 days for me to receive orders from the US to India in such a way, and that should get your Wallacea guide by then.
Good luck and look forward to your trip report (here or Birdforum?)
Vandit
Discussion
5 repliesJohan Geyser
South Africa
http://www.naturephotosociety.org.sg/ASP/Main.asp
I hope it helps.
Cheers,
Rajesh
There is a photographic guide to the birds of Indonesia as well, but it is terrible for ID.
Vandit
I have also heard that the photographic book is not so good for bird ID, so I'll have a look at your suggestion, Vandit.
Johan
A good option might be to get the Birds of SE Asia for the ID and the photo guide for the distribution maps and use them in conjunction.
I have the Birds of SE Asia and off the top of my head, I dont think its distribution charts are detailed enough to give you a sense of distribution within Sulawesi (lots of species found only in the North or only in the South). The Indo photo guide has pretty good distribution maps.
OTOH, I really cannot emphasize enough how lousy that book is for ID - there are crappy photos of some relatively common birds and it appears as though the book is more of an exercise in publishing the author's photos than providing help with identification. That is the only reason that explains the choice of some of the images contained therein.
See if you can get Amazon to DHL the books to your Singapore accommodation. It usually takes 4-5 days for me to receive orders from the US to India in such a way, and that should get your Wallacea guide by then.
Good luck and look forward to your trip report (here or Birdforum?)
Vandit
A good option might be to get the Birds of SE Asia for the ID and the photo guide for the distribution maps and use them in conjunction.
I have the Birds of SE Asia and off the top of my head, I dont think its distribution charts are detailed enough to give you a sense of distribution within Sulawesi (lots of species found only in the North or only in the South). The Indo photo guide has pretty good distribution maps.
OTOH, I really cannot emphasize enough how lousy that book is for ID - there are crappy photos of some relatively common birds and it appears as though the book is more of an exercise in publishing the author's photos than providing help with identification. That is the only reason that explains the choice of some of the images contained therein.
See if you can get Amazon to DHL the books to your Singapore accommodation. It usually takes 4-5 days for me to receive orders from the US to India in such a way, and that should get your Wallacea guide by then.
Good luck and look forward to your trip report (here or Birdforum?)
Vandit