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The Birds " Pantanal's" fauna of aquatic birds and paludicolous (inhabitants of lagoons) is among the world's richest, with many species of ducks which filter small animals and algae, the "irerê" being the most common and abundant in the region.
Some of the ducks belong to the typical fauna of the Paraná - Prata system. The "tachã", or "Pantanal's guard", an animal peculiar to South America and a distant relative of the Anatideos, can easily be seen on the grass fields or perched on tree tops where they remain for hours. Many species of herons and "socós" form large colonies in the trees of riverbank woods. The largest of our heron species is the "maguari". Although of solitary habits, it is common to find groups of large white herons together with small white heron groups. Each is specialized in the hunting of various preys, like fish, amphibians and small reptiles, in different zones of the lagoons, during the day or at sunset. The Ajaia ajaja, the beautiful pink "colhereiro" is a specialized filtration bird. The stork, the "cabeça-seca" and the "tuiuiú" feed on insects, crabs, snails, frogs and fish which they collect from shallow waters and mud. The "tuiuiú" is one of "Pantanal's" symbols. Its isolated tree nests stand out in "Pantanal's" landscape. This varied group of aquatic birds has different
diets and hunting strategies. The "biguá", for example, catches
fish by swimming and diving; the "biguatinga", with its
serpent like neck, uses the pointy beak to spear the fish. The "caramujeiro" hawk
is a "specialist" in catching snails, and thus dependent
on the gastropodous existence, especially the "aruás". |
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