Birdwatching Program at Mamiraua Reserve
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Photo above by JP Jorges Pedro
The unique characteristics of the Mamirauá Reserve, a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site of floodplain forest, makes it an intriguing place for spotting birds that are typical of this kind of environment - some species that can only be seen on the Amazon River islands. Few areas in the Amazon can offer the possibility of joining both the comfort of a floating jungle lodge and the contact with researchers and specialized guides, who can provide all the information a birdwatcher needs. 
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When coming to this adventure you can:
For all programs, the visitor will be received at the Tefé Airport when the Azul Airlines flight arrives and will be transferred to the port, where a boat will be prepared to take the group to the Uakari Lodge. After traveling the mighty Solimões, which is how this stretch of the Amazon River is called in Brazil, for about one hour, we will get into one channel of Mamirauá Lake. During the way we might already see bird’s species such as the Yellow-hooded Blackbird (Agelaius icterocephalus) and Oriole Blackbirds (Gymnomystax mexicanus), Velvet-fronted Grackle (Lampropsar tanagrinus) and aquatic mammals such as Amazon (Pink) River Dolphin (Inia geoffrensis) and Grey River Dolphin (Sotolia fluviatilis).
This channel is where the Uakari Lodge floats, totally integrated to Amazon Floating landscape. It is strategically located in a wildlife-rich area close to the Mamirauá Lake that names the reserve. This gigantic reserve protects more than two-and-a-half million acres of forest, rivers and lakes and is home of many rare and threatened species, some of them only found within the reserve’s limits, such as the beautiful Uakari Monkey (Cacajao calvus calvus) and the Black-headed Squirrel Monkey (Saimiri vanzolinii). This reserve is not just a successful conservation project, but a pioneer project that involves the local people into conservation work. Apart from that, extensive field researches in the most diverse areas are taking place in the four corners of the reserve, generating information about the Floodplain forest and its biodiversity. As the environment of Mamirauá changes a lot along the year due to the flood seasons, the programs are also adapted so the tourist can get the best of their visit. In the wet season (May to July) the best sightings are made from canoes. With trails flooded to the height of the treetops, the birds are much closer, whether perched or in flight. During the dry season (August to April) the birds that feed on fish, such as the Herons (Ardeidae) and Cormorants (Phalacrocorax brasilianus) can be seen in huge numbers. The giant flocks of them are breathtaking. Please find below the itineraries for the dry and flooded seasons: Flooded Season - May to JulyDay 1: After checking in the lodge, we will be exploring the surroundings in a small motor boat. Some of the birds we might see this afternoon include Shorttailed (Graydidascalus brachyurus) and Festive Parrots (Amazona festiva), White-chinned (Galbula tombacea) and Paradise Jacamars (Galbula dea), and many more.
Day 2: We will have one first tour to observe birds in the earlier hours of the day (birds are highly activity during this time). After breakfast, boat to the Apara channel.This is a very birdy area and some of the highlights here are the Hoatzin (Opisthocomus hoazin), Scarlet-crowned Barbet (Capito aurovirens), White-eared Jacamar (Galbalcyrhynchus leucotis), Black-crested Antshrike (Sakesphorus canadensis) and the rare Wattled Curassow (Crax globulosa). This is also a good place to find Sloths (Bradypus variegatus), Red Howler Monkeys (Alouatta seniculus) and Uakari Monkeys (Cacajao calvus calvus). In the afternoon we will be canoeing through the Várzea (flooded) forest, on the look for several species such as Long-billed (Nasica longirostris) and Zimmer’s Woodcreepers (Dendroplex kienerii), White-chinned Jacamar (Galbula tombacea) and, with some luck, the elusive Zigzag Heron (Zebrilus undulates). After dinner, we might go out on the canoes in search of night birds. Day 3: We will have one first tour to observe birds earlier. This morning we will be heading again to the flooded forest, this time in a different area. We might have a chance for a photograph or a better look at birds that we have seen before, or still be looking for new birds such as the Razor-billed Curassow (Pauxi tuberose), Chestnut-capped Puffbird (Bucco macrodactylus), Slatecolored Hawk (Buteogallus schistaceus), Plumbeous Antbird (Myrmeciza hyperythra), and more. In the afternoon we will be heading our boat to the Mamirauá Lake and, as we cruise in our boat towards the lake, we will be on the look for the Uakari Monkey (Cacajao calvus calvus), Black Caimans (Melanosuchus niger), Horned Screamer (Anhima cornuta), Hoatzin (Opistocomus hoazin), Tui Parakeet (Brotogeris sanctithomae) and Spotbreasted Woodpecker (Colaptes punctigula). It will be dark when we head back to the lodge, and there might be a chance for night birds such as Great Potoo (Nyctibius grandis) and Tawny-belied (Megascops watsonii) and Black-banded Owls (Strix huhula). Day 4: We will have one first tour to observe birds earlier. If the water level is not too high, our morning will be dedicated to birding the river edge of the Solimões River, especially the islands of the river, in search of species that only live in this particular habitat. Among them are Parker’s (Cranioleuca vulpecula), Red-andwhite (Certhiaxis mustelinus) and White-bellied Spinetail (Synallaxis propinqua), Lesser Hornero (Furnarius minor) and the Black-and-white Antbird (Myrmochanes hemileucus), and the grassy areas on the edge of the water could provide Wingbarred (Sporophila americana), Chestnut-bellied (Sporophila castaneiventris) and Lesson’s Seedeaters (Sporophila bouvronides). The afternoon will be dedicated to explore another trail close to the lodge, by canoe. Day 5: This is our last morning and we still have time for a short outing before breakfast. After breakfast we will check-out the lodge and transfer back to Tefé, in order to be at the airport in time to catch our flight back to Manaus. Most likely species to spot: − Apara boat tour: Crax globulosa, Amazona festiva, Opistochomus hoazin, Galbacyrhynchus leucotis, Ramphastos tucanus, Ramphastos vitellinus, Gymnoderus foetidus, Sakesphorus Canadensis; − Boat tour: Ara macao, Porphyrio Martinica, Amazona festiva, Capito aurovirens, Ramphastos tucanus, Ramphastos vitellinus, Gymnoderus foetidus; − Canoes in floodplain forest: Galbula tombacea, Capito aurovirens, Ramphastos tucanus, Ramphastos vitellinus, Nasica longirostris; − Mamirauá lake: Ahima cornuta, Amazona festiva, Opistochomus hoazin, Gymnoderus foetidus, Certhiaxis mustelinus, Cranioleuca vulpecula; − Night-spotting after lake visit: Hydropsalis leucopyga, Hydropsalis climacocerca, Nyctibius gandis, Nyctibius griseus, Tyto alba; − Rares species: Harpia harpyja, Pteroglossus azara, Picumnus lafresnayi, Myrmotherula assimilis, Pipra filicauda; |
Dry Season - August to AprilDay 1: After check-in in the lodge, we will be exploring the surroundings on a small motor boat. Some of the birds we might see this afternoon include Short-tailed (Graydidascalus brachyurus) and Festive Parrots (Amazona festiva), Whitechinned (Galbula tombacea) and Paradise Jacamars (Galbula dea), and many more.
Day 2: We will have one first tour to observe birds in the earlier hours of the day (birds are highly activity during this time). After breakfast, we will be walking the first trail in the Várzea forest to look for some of the highlights here, like the Scarlet-crowned Barbet (Capito aurovirens), White-throated Toucan (Ramphastos tucanus), Black-crested Antshrike (Sakesphorus canadensis) and the rare Wattled Curassow (Crax globulosa). In this trail you can find the amazing Sloths (Bradypus variegatus), Red Howler Monkeys (Alouatta seniculus) and Uakari Monkeys (Cacajao calvus calvus). In the afternoon we will be walking another Trail through the Várzea forest, on the look for several species such as Long-billed (Nasica longirostris) and Zimmer’s Woodcreepers (Dendroplex kienerii), White-chinned Jacamar (Galbula tombacea) and, with some luck, the elusive Zigzag Heron (Zebrilus undulates). After dinner, we might go out on the canoe in search of night birds. Day 3: We will have one first tour to observe birds earlier. This morning we will be heading again to the Várzea forest. We might have a chance for a photograph or a better look at birds that we have seen before, or still be looking for new birds such as the Razor-billed Curassow (Pauxi tuberose), Chestnut-capped Puffbird (Bucco macrodactylus), Slate-colored Hawk (Buteogallus schistaceus), Plumbeous Antbird (Myrmeciza hyperythra), and more. In the afternoon we will be heading our boat to the Mamirauá Lake and, as we cruise in our boat towards the lake, we will be on the look for the Uakari Monkey (Cacajao calvus calvus), Black Caimans (Melanosuchus niger), Horned Screamer (Anhima cornuta), Hoatzin (Opistocomus hoazin), Tui Parakeet (Brotogeris sanctithomae) and Spot-breasted Woodpecker (Colaptes punctigula). It will be dark when we head back to the lodge, and there might be a chance for night birds such as Great Potoo (Nyctibius grandis) and Tawny-belied (Megascops watsonii) and Black-banded Owls (Strix huhula). Day 4: We will have one first tour to observe birds earlier. Today our morning will be dedicated to birding the river edge of the Solimões River, especially the islands of the river, in search of species that only live in this particular habitat. Among them are Parker’s (Cranioleuca vulpecula), Red-and-white (Certhiaxis mustelinus) and White-bellied Spinetail (Synallaxis propinqua), Lesser Hornero (Furnarius minor) and the Black-and-white Antbird (Myrmochanes hemileucus), and the grassy areas on the edge of the water could provide Wing-barred (Sporophila americana), Chestnut-bellied (Sporophila castaneiventris) and Lesson’s Seedeaters (Sporophila bouvronides). The afternoon will be dedicated to explore one more trail, close to the lodge. Day 5: This is our last morning and we still have time for a short outing before breakfast. After breakfast we will check-out the lodge and transfer back to Tefé, in order to be at the airport in time to catch your flight back to Manaus. Most likely species to spot: - Boat tour: Crax globulosa, Porphyrio Martinica (mais provável de janeiro a abril), Amazona festiva; - Night-spotting: Nyctibius grandis, Nyctibius griseus, Tyto alba; - Trails: Crax globulosa, Zebrilus undulatus, Galbula tombacea, Capito aurovirens, Ramphastos tucanus, Ramphastos vitellinus, Picumnus lafresnayi, Nasica longirostris, Sakesphorus canadenses, Dendroplex kienerii, Schiffornis major - Canoe tour in shores: Crax globulosa, Amazona festiva, Ramphastos tucanus, Ramphastos vitellinus, Gymnoderus foetidus; - Island trails: Cephalopterus ornatus, Myrmochanes hemileucus, Furnarius minor (facilmente avistado na comunidade Caburini), Certhiaxis mustelinus, Cranioleuca vulpecula; - Mamirauá Lake: Anhima cornuta, Agamia agami, Amazona festiva, Opistochomus hoazin, Gymnoderus foetidus, Certhiaxis mustelinus, Cranioleuca vulpecula; - Night-spotting after lake visit: Cochlearius cochlearius, Hydropsalis leucopyga, Hydropsalis climacocerca, Nyctibius gandis, Nyctibius griseus, Tyto alba; - Night trail: In this activity it is more likely spot insects and spiders. It is rare to spot birds. Dates: any Monday through Friday (subject to availability) 2024 Rates per person: Single = R$ 10240, Double = R$9310 Includes:
Prices do not include: soft drinks and alcoholic beverages, insurance, extra transfers, flights Tefe is accessible by local flight from Manaus on Trip/Azul airlines |
