Serra do Mar Is Home to Birdwatching Sanctuaries in the Heart of the Atlantic Forest

Trips through the Serra do Mar mountain range on the northern coast of São Paulo state are revealing a world far removed from the region's crowded beaches: birdwatching in the Atlantic Forest. The Serra do Mar State Park, covering more than 322,000 hectares across ten sectors, is home to one of the richest concentrations of species in the biome, including around 130 endemic birds.

At the Caraguatatuba sector, just six kilometers from the coast, the terrain allows visitors to observe very different bird communities within only a few kilometers of trails. According to ornithologist Luciano Lima, a guide with Brazil Birding Experts, "it also preserves exceptionally well-conserved habitats across the entire altitudinal gradient. In just a few kilometers, you go from the foothills to about 1,000 meters above sea level, passing through a succession of distinct environments, each with its own bird community."

Park manager Miguel Nema uses a whistle once confiscated from poachers to attract birds for educational purposes. "Something that was once used to destroy our wildlife is now used for good, turning birdwatching into a tool for environmental education," he said.

On the island of Ilhabela, guide Fernando Moraes is known for attracting rare birds, including the gray-necked wood rail, nicknamed Dedé. "I first found it in 2020 and kept trying to get closer. Some days I left here in tears. But I knew that if it happened, I'd have made it," he said. His client base has grown from ten to more than one hundred a year.

In Ubatuba, retiree Jonas D'Abronzo maintains a hummingbird sanctuary at his home but warns visitors to be cautious. "This is forest edge habitat, and especially during the warmer months, there are snakes here," he said. The Ninho de Cambacica Inn and Macuquinho Lodge, in Salesópolis, complete the region's birdwatching route.

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