ATLANTIC RAIN FOREST - SC

2007-01-21T17:35:00.000-08:00

WILDERNESS IN URUBICI

2006-04-08T08:03:00.000-07:00

Urubici is a town in the highlands of Serra Geral in Santa Catarina. The main economic activity in Urubici is agriculture, however the town is mingled in a matrix of continuos araucaria forest. It is a great place to hiking and observe nature. Over 300 bird species were recorded only in the upper Rio Canoas. Any wilderness oriented person can find his/her way into spots full of surprises. A hiker going up Espraiados region has good chances of observing King Vultures soaring along the slopes, or over the ridge in Espraiado. He/she can also spot the rare Mantle Hawk perched in a Araucaria close to the walls of many cliffs around the area.

Mantle Hawk perched in Araucaria up Canoas River

The colors of Spring in Espraiado las November 2005.

Urubici is served with many optons of lodges and hotels (http://www.serracatarinense.com/urubici/hoteis.html).

SANTA CATARINA = SC

2006-04-07T12:27:00.000-07:00

First of all, SC stands for a state in south Brazil called Santa Catarina. SC is one of the most beautiful places in the Brazilian coast. Florianopolis is the capital of the state. Great looking beaches are an attraction for thousands of visitors that come to taste good food and nice lodges to stay. Along the coast there are a series of sierras adding a fantastic look and charm to the state. Serra Geral starts in a neighbor state called Rio Grande do Sul and goes north. Several national parks are located in Serra Geral, such as Aparados da Serra National park, Itambezinho National Park, Sao Joaquim Natinal Park.

Serra do Tabuleiro is a sierra situated near Florianopolis. It is a state park covering about 90 thousands hectares fo atlantic rain forests, campos in the higlands. There are several trails to practice trekking and wild camping. There we can see tapir , pumas, small cats, and pecaris footprints. It is a paradise for a birder where one can observe about 300 bird species, among them Black Hawk eagles, Ornate Hawk Eagles, tanagers, ovenbirds, antbirds, and many others.

Crested Eagle still survives in southern Brazil

2006-04-01T17:57:00.000-08:00

Crested Eagle (Morphnus guyanensis) can still be found in southern Brazil - more specifically in Santa Catarina Atlantic rain Forest. The question is for how long? I recorded this magnificent eagle in Santa Catarina for the first time in 1978 near the scarpments of Serra Geral in the county of Sideropolis. Last February I saw another just about 60 km North from the previous site. The eagle was recorded soaring above fragmented rain forest in the middle of small farms. The exact point of this observation was about 14 km east from the canyons of Serra Geral in Grao Para. All this area is now suffering a rapid deforestation. The Atlantic rain Forest is logged and burned into charcoal to feed the ceramic industry olf Santa catarina. The area where the forest is logged is protected by law, however no one from Brazilian environmental authorities is doing nothing to stop logging. The population is under misery conditions. Actions to prevent deforestation, to teach people better land use and to protect the area are badlly needed. About 27 species of diurnal raptors were recorded in the area. Crested eagle is one of the most elusive of neotropical forest eagles and very little studied. The species is considered rare in any area of its distribution.