Amapá

Amapá is one of the twenty-seven states of Brazil; it lies in the North region. It covers an area of 142,814 km² (55,141 square miles) and has a population of less than a million people. It is bordered by the country of French Guyana to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, the state of Pará to the south and west and the country of Suriname to the northwest. The capital and largest city is Macapá, where more than half of the state’s population live.

The dominant feature of the region, and 90 percent of its total area, is Amazon rainforest; the state is the least nature depleted of all Brazil. Unexplored forests occupy 70 percent of Amapá, and Tumucumaque Mountains National Park, established in 2002, is the largest tropical forest park in the world. The mouth of the River Oiapoque is the northern end of Brazil’s coastline. Other significant rivers are the Jari River, as well as the Araguari, Amapari and Cassiporé rivers.

River Oiapoque – ©Arria Belli CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

While most of the Amapá territory is covered with rainforest, the remaining areas are covered with savannah and plains. On the Amapá coast, almost intact beaches mix with swamps, creating the largest representation of this biome in Brazil. Pollution, however, is now a chronic problem because of mercury being used in the extraction of gold; it is now widely found in water sources and sewage systems in the population centres of Amapá.

There are a dozen protected areas and five indigenous territories together covering around 10.5 million hectares – 72% of Amapá. Apart from the rainforest of Tumucumaque Mountains National Park, another significant area is the Cabo Orange National Park, which preserves flooded grasslands and mangrove forests.

Amapa National Forest – ©César Favacho CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons.

Most of Amapá has a Tropical monsoon climate, a tropical climate with a short dry season and heavy rainfall for the majority of the year. Tropical rainforest is the natural vegetation, and also provides the other climate type located in the state.

Birding Amapá

The area around the capital is known for wetland and open country species like Snail Kite, Cocoi Heron, Wattled Jacana and several Chachalaca species among others. Local riverine and secondary growth habitats are worth checking with species such as Coraya Wren and Black-capped Donacobius present.

Cabo Orange National Park – ©Monicamagalhãesbarbosa CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

However, the real draw is the rain forest of southern Amapá with more than 400 species observed. Birding in many areas such as Serra do Navio birding can be magnificent with an abundant avifauna; species like Black-faced Hawk Leucopternis melanops, Dusky Parrot Pionus fuscus, Streak-throated Hermit Phaethornis rupurumii, Green Aracari Pteroglossus viridis, Chestnut Woodpecker Celeus undatus, Golden-collared Woodpecker Veniliornis cassini, Guianan Streaked-Antwren Myrmotherula surinamensis, Brown-bellied Antwren Myrmotherula gutturalis, Rufous-bellied Antwren Myrmotherula guttata, Todd’s Antwren Herpsilochmus stictocephalus, Ash-winged Antwren Terenura spodioptila, White-plumed Antbird Pithys albifrons, Rufous-throated Antbird Gymnopithys rufigula, McConnell’s Spinetail Synallaxis macconnelli, Chestnut-rumped Woodcreeper Xiphorhyncus pardalotus, Pompadour Cotinga Xipholena punicea, Capuchin Bird Perissocephalus tricolor and White-breasted Wood-wren Henicorhina leucosticta.

Monte Karupina – ©Hiram pereira CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Bird the road through Serra do Navio to the left which leads down to the river, just before you enter the town coming from the Perimetral Norte. The Perimetral Norte itself, both before and after the turning to Serra do Navio can be disappointing. The road is settled and deforested for about 500m on either side.

Near Porto Grande there is primary forest with a long trail although this can also be a disappointment. Sonho Meu is an alternative to Serra do Navio. Do not ignore secondary forest as it too can hold may species such as Guianan Slaty-antshrike Thamnophilus punctatus and Yellow-throated Flycatcher Conopias parva.

As one leaves Porto Grande on the road to Macapá, before the large sand pits on the right, a road to the right will take you into a slash pine plantation interspersed with campina and woodland remnants. Dusky Antbird Cercomacra tyrannina, Pale-bellied Mourner Rhytipterna immunda and Black Manakin Xenopipo atronitens are all present.