Maromiza is the fourth and last of the Andasibe area parks we visited. Its elevation is the highest of all, which makes some species more common here than in other parks. It can be reached from the Andasibe main road, by going East, following the Antananarivo - Tamatave highway for four km. In the late afternoon this is quite a hot and tiring walk, but it is by far the cheapest way. Officially guides are mandatory and entree fee is apparently 35.000 Ariary but there is no entrance gate or office and me and Luc just bumped into a guy claiming to work for the reserve and demanding the pricey "entrance fee".
Luc and me had a fairly productive morning in the reserve with birds recorded including: Madagascar Flufftail, Rufous-headed Ground Roller (three different birds heard only), Velvet Asity, Forest Rock Thrush, Brown Emutail (terrific views!) and most notably two Pollen's Vangas in a mixed vanga flock. For this species Maromiza is a new site. This year a pair of Helmet Vangas was also discovered on the far end of the park (ten hour walk) and twitched by several birders. However I missed Cryptic Warbler, which strangely enough seemd completely absent from Maromiza and Mantadia, making it the only realistically possible malagasy rainforest I have missed on the entire trip apart from the heard only Brown Mesite and Scaly Ground Roller. Mammals recorded included Indri, Eastern Grey Bamboo Lemur and Diademed Sifaka. Other highlights included Brookesia superciliaris and the otherworldly Giraffe-necked Weevil (a genuine one, for there are many more common look-a-likes).
I think, just as Mitsinjo Reserve, Maromiza forestry reserve deserves much more attention, especially considering the rare birds that have recently been found here. Luc even claimed to have seen a Madagascar Serpent Eagle here three years ago...
Luc and me had a fairly productive morning in the reserve with birds recorded including: Madagascar Flufftail, Rufous-headed Ground Roller (three different birds heard only), Velvet Asity, Forest Rock Thrush, Brown Emutail (terrific views!) and most notably two Pollen's Vangas in a mixed vanga flock. For this species Maromiza is a new site. This year a pair of Helmet Vangas was also discovered on the far end of the park (ten hour walk) and twitched by several birders. However I missed Cryptic Warbler, which strangely enough seemd completely absent from Maromiza and Mantadia, making it the only realistically possible malagasy rainforest I have missed on the entire trip apart from the heard only Brown Mesite and Scaly Ground Roller. Mammals recorded included Indri, Eastern Grey Bamboo Lemur and Diademed Sifaka. Other highlights included Brookesia superciliaris and the otherworldly Giraffe-necked Weevil (a genuine one, for there are many more common look-a-likes).
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| Male Madagascar Cuckooshrike (Coracina cinerea). This species often joins mixed Vanga flocks |
I think, just as Mitsinjo Reserve, Maromiza forestry reserve deserves much more attention, especially considering the rare birds that have recently been found here. Luc even claimed to have seen a Madagascar Serpent Eagle here three years ago...
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