Brazil

The Amazon

The fantastic Amazon Rainforest is famous worldwide for its impressive levels of biodiversity. Most of the amazon region lies within Brazilian territory, extending from the foothills of the Andes to Central Brazil. A myriad of rivers, streams and rivulets dissect the Amazon, carrying the water from the Andes into the mighty Solimoes (Amazon) river, one of the largest in the world. You can picture this as a pattern of veins in a leaf. Two main forest types can be found. The ?Terra Firme? forest is what most people thinks of as ?typical? Amazonian forest, with a dense structure, and complex layer of plants like vines and smaller trees along the whole range of height. All through this region the tall forests could reach up to 50 m (164 ft). But along the complex network of the river system, another type of forest grows: The ?Varzea?. During 6 months of the year it will be flooded by 10- 15 m of water, the overflow from the many rivers and streams.

The ecologies of all organisms living there have adapted to this complex cycle. Each of these forest types contains a large number of species of course, with several specialties in each. Bird-life is very rich. Toucans, parrots, antwrens, woodpeckers, and flocks of colourful tanagers roam the dense canopies of the terra firme. Along the lower half of the vegetal structure you will hear the cacophony of antbirds calls and songs. Among these are the amazing ?professional antbirds?, which spend most of the day following the fear imposing ant-swarms. The ants will devour anything along their way, while the antbirds will jump around to catch what was lucky to escape from the earlier predators. Foliage-gleaners, spinetails, wood-creepers, tinamous and several manakins are also found joining sometimes very large mixed species flocks, and all moving at different heights.
This birder's paradise can be explored in several loges along the country, all conveniently built inside the forests, reasonably close from towns or villages, and of generally easy access. They have good networks of trails into the forests, and several have built observation towers that allow one to get eye-level views of the canopy. The Varzea will instead be explored from a small boat, giving one access deeper into the forest, or to chase after any birds. Very species rich as well, this habitat has special antbirds, antwrens and woodcreepers, and any wider spot along the waterways can give good views of the canopies on the other side.