This picture shows a typical sight for the Baliem Valley: a Belford's Melidectes drying and warming up in the early morning light, after a cold and rainy night. The canopy loaded with epiphytes, is also a typical sight.
Belford's Melidectes, is the omnipresent bird in the Baliem Valley. It is quite big for a honeyeater, has a conspicious behaviour, often occurs in small parties, it is very noisy, and is found within a broad altitudinal range. We saw these birds at the lower altitudes of about 2000 metres above sea-level, mostly in the forest interior or at the forest edge. On the higher altitudes around the lake (above 3300 metres), the birds occur in alpine dwarf shrub and dwarf forest. The birds generally feed on athropods, as well as on fruit or nectar.
This picture shows a typical sight for the Baliem Valley: a Belford's Melidectes drying and warming up in the early morning sun, after a cold and rainy night. The canopy loaded with epiphytes, is also a typical sight.