Designed by Paul Smith 2006. This website is copyrighted by law.
Material contained herewith may not be used without the prior written permission of FAUNA Paraguay.
Photographs on this web-site were taken by Paul Smith, Hemme Batjes, Regis Nossent,
Alberto Esquivel, Arne Lesterhuis, Rebecca Zarza, José Luis Cartes and Hugo del Castillo and are used with their permission.
SHORT BREAK MBARACAYÚ BIOSPHERE RESERVE
Listed by WWF amongst the 100 sites on earth that are of highest conservation priority, the Mbaracayú Biosphere Reserve is one of Paraguay´s most famous protected areas. The second largest remaining block of Atlantic Forest left in the country, it also counts on a substantial area of threatened cerrado habitat. Over 450 bird species have been recorded at this globally-important reserve, amongst them almost all the Atlantic Forest endemic species found in Paraguay and a series of globally-threatened species that are difficult or impossible to see elsewhere. Expect 150-180 species on this short trip!
We begin our trip in Asunción and en route to Mbaracayú we´ll make a stop over at Arroyos and Esteros, a great place to observe the charismatic but highly-threatened Strange-tailed Tyrant. There a host of other wetland birds here too, Maguari Stork, countless herons, Rusty-collared and Tawny-bellied Seedeaters, Crested Doradito, Long-tailed Reedfinch, Limpkin and many more. Once the ticks start to try up here we´ll continue on to Mbaracayú, our base for the next three days.
The forest at Mbaracayú throws up so many possibilities that space allows us to mention only a small sample of the Atlantic Forest birds that we may encounter here. The call of the Bare-necked Bellbird (Guyra Pong), Paraguay´s national bird, rings out across the forest, while threatened forest inhabitants that will be high on our list include Helmeted Woodpecker and the extraordinary Black-fronted Piping-Guan. Saffron and Spot-billed Toucanet are always popular with visitors, but both are overshadowed by the larger Red-breasted Toucan. Other eyecatching forest inhabitants include Plush-crested and Purplish Jay, Rufous-capped Motmot, Surucua Trogon, Yellow-fronted Woodpecker, Blue, Band-tailed and White-bearded Manakins and myriad tanager species. Reddish-bellied and White-eyed Parakeets are commonly observed, whilst Mbaracayú is one of the only places in Paraguay where the extraordinary Scaled Pigeon can be seen. A colony of Red-rumped Caciques located near the accommodation attract Piratic Flycatcher and Giant Cowbird, both species looking to usurp the nest owners. In the forest undergrowth we will look for Black-goggled and Ruby-crowned Tanager, Greenish Schiffornis, and with luck the rare Russet-winged Spadebill. Above our heads Blue Dacnis, Violaceous and Chestnut-bellied Euphonia, Black-capped and Ochre-breasted Foliage-gleaners, Rufous-crowned Greenlet and the unusual Sharpbill will be amongst the species that we may encounter. And of course no visit to South America would be complete without ticking off a few hummingbirds, possibilities include Scale-throated and Planalto Hermit, Violet-capped Woodnymph and Versicoloured Emerald. Another typically Neotropical group are the puffbirds and three species are present - Buff-bellied and White-eared Puffbird and the retiring Rusty-breasted Nunlet. At night Black-capped and Tropical Screech-Owl emerge, alongside more elusive nightbirds such as Ocellated Poorwill, Black-banded Owl and Silky-tailed Nightjar.
In the cerrado at Aguara Ñu we´ll be looking for cerrado specialities such as Rufous-winged Antshrike, Rusty-backed Antwren, Black-throated Saltator, Curl-crested Jay and Black-masked Finch. Other cerrado birds that we might encounter include Burnished-Buff Tanager, Red-winged Tinamous, White-rumped Monjita, Toco Toucan, Turquoise-fronted Amazon, Plumbeous Seedeater and Red-legged Seriema. After dark nightbirds such as Pauraque, Scissor-tailed and Little Nightjar emerge, but perhaps the biggest after-dark attraction is the endangered White-winged Nightjar. Mbaracayú is one of only three sites on earth where this species is known to regularly occur.
Mammals are tough to observe in the forest but are occasionally encountered in the early morning and on night drives. Possible species include Azara´s Agouti, Crab-eating Fox, Crab-eating Raccoon, Collared and White-lipped Peccary, Maned Wolf and even Jaguar.
WHAT DOES IT COST?
The cost includes pick up and return to an Asunción hotel, transport to Mbaracayú, accommodation, food and non-alcoholic drinks, entrance fees to the reserve and guiding fees.
This is a minimum three-day trip for a minimum of 2 people:
Price: 320 EUROS per person for a minimum of 3 days each additional day 115 EUROS per person
