The REGUA wetland

After arriving at REGUA late last night we decided on an easy day around the restored REGUA wetland today. How things have changed in 18 months since our last visit! The final phase of landscaping and flooding of the wetland is now complete, increasing the total area of lakes, pools and channels to 18 hectares. Since 2005, around 60,000 trees have been planted around the edge of the wetland and growth rates have been phenominal with many trees now over 20 ft tall! Wildlife has been quick to move back in and as the forest edge is effectively brought nearer to the lodge, forest-dwelling birds are becoming increasingly common. A year ago, Maroon-bellied Parakeet was rarely seen in the lodge garden, but today about 100 were on the feeders or nearby - a good indicator of the quality of the replanted forest. Highlights today included 4 Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks (the first breeding record for Rio State), a Brazilian Ruby at the lodge feeders (very low altitude for this species) and some excellent mammals including a pair of Greater Grison, around 40 Capabara and this gorgeous orphaned Orange-spined Hairy Dwarf Porcupine.