Choose Raja Ampat and enjoy Nature taking over while the Earth rests. Welcome to Biodiversity, a fully committed Raja Ampat resort.
When the industrial world sleeps nature continues to run its cycle and day to day life continues as usual. During this pandemic one could even say nature has been given a chance to enjoy the planet and throughout the world many animals are showing their faces and enjoying this period of peace and quiet. For us in Raja Ampat at Biodiversity Nature Resort there have been some new friends visiting our resort and we can only put it down to the boat activity, which has dramatically reduced these past few months.
25
Our commitment as a sustainable Raja Ampat resort
Being an eco-resort we have always put nature first. Our Intention as divers and nature lovers is a resort that practices environmentally sustainable eco-tourism in the hope of managing natural resources, to help improve the lives of the surrounding community as well as maintaining the quality of the environment around our area. Please see our Resort Dossier.
We have built all our bungalows with locally sourced natural materials and integrated them with nature, so we have as little impact on the environment as possible. In and around the gardens we have also grown plants from the area, to encourage the bird and butterfly population. Over all offering our guests a unique and unforgettable holiday where you can connect with Mother Nature.
New visitors around our resort
Recently we have seen an increase in bird activity around the resort. What is more, some species that we rarely see, we are spotting on a daily basis.
- Great Billed Heron
One that has been making a splash is the Great Billed Heron, Ardea sumatrana. This impressive bird is 115 cm tall and is typically restricted to the coast were it inhabits mangroves. However we have spotted him on our jetty, where he waits patiently for his prey and then gracefully dips into the water spearing his “catch of the day” with his long sharp bill. He truly puts on a spectacular show for us.
- Straited Heron
The second bird, who seems to accompany the Great Billed Heron is the Straited Heron,Butorides striata. It is much smaller with only 44cm in height. They are also known as the Mangrove Heron. They are the masters of fishing, as they will sometimes bait their prey by dropping a feather or leaf carefully on the water’s surface, catching fish that come to investigate.
- Collared Sparrowhawk
Our third visitor is the Collared Sparrowhawk, Accipiter cirrocephalus. This very small slim bird of prey specializes in hunting small birds and lizards. We often see him hopping in and among the tree branches scouting for his next meal and sometimes he will crash into a bush, yellow claws out, and immerge a few seconds later with a lizard between his talons. The master of surprise!
- Pacific Swallows
Our last visitor, is a pair of Pacific Swallows, Hirundo tahitica , who have made their home under our jetty. These graceful birds can be distinctly identified by their reddish brown throat which blends into a grey breast and belly. They have mastered the art of flying swift and fast to catch insects and flies while airborne. They are more active in the afternoons, when we spot them flying around the jetty and surrounding area.
- A few more visitors around
Some other species that are always here and we spot on a regular basis are the Rainbow Lorikeets, Brahmany Kite, Spiced Imperial Pigeon, Palm Cockatoo, Sulfur-crested Cockatoo, Blyth’s Hornbill, Beach Kingfisher, Hodded butcher bird and Spoty winged Monarch. Many of these species being endemic to the area make it all the more special when they are around.
It is such a treat to see these birds in their natural habitats, going about their lives undisturbed. It is now your turn to enjoy Nature responsibly and become an example for other travelers. We hope that together we can preserve this paradise for generations.
