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CARACA MONASTERY

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# Species:414
# Excl Vagrants:414
# Endemics:53
# Near Endemics:5
Habitat: SE Atlantic forest, cerrado, marsh

ABOUT THE BIRDING

Caraca Natural Park is an old and historic former seminary school and monastery that has been converted into a lodge. Monks are still present and operate the lodge. The habitat in this rather mountainous area is a nice mix of SE Atlantic Forest and cerrado (grassland scrub). The best trail is often the Tanque Grande trail, but several other trails leading from the car park and elsewhere on the reserve can also be very good.

Caraca is most famous for the wild Maned Wolves that usually come onto the monastery steps for meat placed there by monks in early evenings, a practice first begun in the late 1980's. For birders the second star attraction is the endemic and endangered Serra Antwren, which usually can be seen along the Tanque Grande and Piscina Trails within the reserve. Other primary target birds at the reserve are Blackish Rails, which can be seen in the goose ponds in early morning and near dusk, the rare and endangered Hyacinth Visorbearer, White-breasted Tapaculo, Gray-backed Tachuri, Velvety Black-Tyrant, and Pale-throated Serra-Finch.

LOCATION OF SITE

Caraca Natural Park is located east of Belo Horizonte in the Espinhaco Mountain Range near the town of Santa Barbara. It's about a 4-hour drive from Guapi Assu Reserve.