State of Sergipe

The State of Sergipe, is the smallest of the twenty-seven states of Brazil apart from the federal capital area. It is located at the northeast of the country and covers an area of 21,910 km² (8,460 square miles). It borders Bahia to the south and west and Alagoas to the north with the Atlantic Ocean to the east. It has a population of around 2.25 million people and the largest city is the capital, Aracaju, home to a third of the state’s people.

Most of the state is caatinga and the coast is characterised by mangrove swamps and sandy beaches and a narrow strip of tropical forest. The northern part of the state drains into the São Francisco River that forms the northern boundary. Whereas, the southern part of the state slopes eastward draining into the sea via a number of small rivers such as the Irapiranga, the Real and the Cotinguiba. The western part of the state is higher land. The forested area and coast have abundant rain, the interior wet and dry seasons. Fertile areas are cultivated, and much of the rest used as pasture.

Serra de Itabaiana National Park – ©Demóstenes Pereira CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Serra de Itabaiana National Park preserves an area of Atlantic Forest of around 20,000 acres northwest of the capital. It is one of few protected areas in the state. There is, however, the Caatinga Ecological Corridor connecting with similar areas in other states does run through Sergipe. The idea is to connect fragmented habitats, conserve native dry forest vegetation, and allow the safe movement and genetic exchange of local plant and animal species. This gives protection to 15 million acres across five states, although the extent of protection varies between municipalities.

São Francsico River – ©Cleferson Comarela CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

There is also a marine reserve – Santa Isabel Biological Reserve which covers more than 13,700 acres of sandbanks, lagoons and mangrove with remnant Atlantic Forest patches. It is managed as a strict nature reserve.

Birding Sergipe

The most preserved area of Sergipe is located in the south, near the border with the Bahia; this being the best birding area for the entire state, located about 75 km/40 miles south of Aracajú. The county of Santa Luzia de Itanhi has a dirt road to Crasto, which is a fishing village.

Pernambuco Foliage-gleaner Automolus lammi – João Sergio Barros F de Souza CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Along the road is a forest patch, which holds some good species such as Fringe-backed Fire-eye Pyriglena atra. Other birds seen in this area include Red-shouldered Macaw Diopsittaca nobilis, Golden-tailed Parrotlet Touit surdus, Blue-backed Manakin Chiroxiphia pareola, White-bearded Manakin Manacus manacus, Pale-bellied Tyrant-Manakin Neopelma pallescens and White-fringed Antwren Formicivora grisea. Further on from this forest patch is a palm tree plantation, this can be good for Red-shouldered Macaw and Golden-capped Parakeet Aratinga auricapillus. There are ponds along the road with Wattled Jacana and Brazilian Teal.

Santa Isabel Biological Reserve – ©Stéfano Sá Azevedo CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

For shorebirds the area around Crasto can be productive and holds a few terns and waders.  Elsewhere, Santa Isabel Biological Reserve is important for Pectoral Antwren Herpsilochmus pectoralis. Lowland forest can hold Pernambuco Foliage-gleaner Automolus lammi and Yellow-legged Tinamou Crypturellus noctivagus.