Survey of birdlife in fragments of the Atlantic Forest at Fazenda Santa Rita, Natividade da Serra – SP Tamires Ferreira Lima, Judith Font Batalla

Abstract

Brazil has a great diversity of birds with about 1900 species. In the Atlantic Forest in the interior of the State of São Paulo, many species of birds already have their communities affected by the processes of fragmentation, suppression and alteration of their habitats. In several forest areas of the Atlantic Forest there was substitution by silvicultural species, such as pine (Pinus elliottii), a species that presents an invading potential, which may result in biological contamination and physiognomic alteration of the environment. The objective of the study was to carry out a survey of the avifauna in two fragments of the Atlantic Forest, located near to plantations of Pinus elliotti. For this purpose, the non-linear transect methodology was used with 20-minute stops at locations with possible incidences of birds. In total, 90 species of birds were registered at Santa Rita Farm. In both fragments (F1 and F2), a total of 84 species were recorded, belonging to 32 families and 12 orders. Among the birds identified in P. elliotti plantations, in the F1 fragment, Columbina talpacoti, Aphantochroa cirrochloris and Cyanocorax cristatellus were recorded. In the F2 fragment, only a bunch of parakeets from the Psittacidae family were seen flying over the canopy. The cumulative species curve indicated the need to further explore the Santa Rita Farm area to gain a better understanding of the diversity of birds there. To further ensure the conservation of the forest at Santa Rita Farm, it would be important to carry out a study to propose the creation of a Private Reserve for Natural Heritage - PRNH, aiming at the protection of a valuable part of the Atlantic Forest.