VOLTA VELHA RESERVE
BRAZIL
LOCALE
| Area (ha): | 1,100 |
| # Species: | 349 |
| # Excl Vagrants: | 349 |
| # Endemics: | 43 |
| # Near Endemics: | 5 |
| Species/100 ha: | 31.7 |
| Habitat: SE Atlantic forest, wetlands | |
ABOUT THE BIRDING
Volta Velha Reserve protects 1100 hectares encompassing several micro-habitats on the northern coast of Santa Catarina southeast of Curitiba. The primary habitats are Lowland Atlantic Forest, Restinga (stunted woodlands of thin-trunked trees growing on sandy soils), and coastal waterways. The reserve has become famous among world birders as the best place to see Kaempfer's Tody-Tyrant, a rare endemic first described in 1929 and seen only once again until it's re-discovery in 1991. Two other very range-restricted Restinga specialists best seen in the reserve are Restinga Tyrannulet and Black-backed Tanager.
There are 3 main trails through the reserve, a level trail through undisturbed forest, a second level trail through forest paralleling the river and allowing some access to it, and a loop trail through taller forest. Among the rare or threatened species found in the reserve not already mentioned are Solitary Tinamou, Yellow-legged Tinamou, White-necked Hawk, Brown-backed Parrotlet, Blue-bellied Parrot, Crescent-chested Puffbird, Robust Woodpecker, White-breasted Tapaculo, Unicolored Antwren, Black-cheeked Gnateater, Russet-winged Spadebill, Rufous-headed Tanager, and Olive-green Tanager.
LOCATION OF SITE
Volta Velha Reserve is located near the town of Itapoa on the northern coast of Santa Catarina state in southern Brazil. It can be reached from the north by driving across the Serra da Graciosa, then along the coast, across the Bahia Paragia by car ferry, then south to Itapoa. Alternatively, it can be reached by driving south from Curitiba to the town of Garuva and then east to Itapoa.