Raptors & Jaguars of Brazil

Combine it with our Southern Atlantic Forest Pre-Tour Extension, 30 July – 3 August (See Page 4)

Superb raptor watching in the its talons: a jaw-dropping 2-in tarsus diameter at the narrowest point, and a heart of South America! threatening 4-in long hind talon! A sloth or Mato Grosso, in central Brazil, is a monkey skull crushing machine perfectly top destination to any global adapted to snatch prey from tree-tops as the hawkwatcher! Sought-after species bird dashes at staggering speeds thru the such as the Harpy Eagle—the most thick canopy of the lowland tropical forests powerful raptor on the planet—and of the Neotropics. secretive jungle dwellers such as the On this tour we will visit not one, but two White-browed Hawk or the Cryptic Forest nests of this Queen of all raptors, the mighty Falcon, along with many open habitat Harpy Eagle! We will have lots of time to species are readily seen on this expedition to watch the eagles. If we are lucky, we may the heart of the Bird Continent. even see a prey delivery at the nest! The Harpy Eagle is every The mighty Harpy Eagle! The Jaguar birdwatcher’s dream bird, and the most powerful raptor on Earth. We Few raptors inspire admiration and respect The Pantanal is one of the largest wetlands will visit two nests of this species in as the Harpy Eagle does. Standing nearly 40 on Earth. Dubbed the Serengeti of South this tour. inches tall, with a wingspan of over 6.5 ft, America, it is the most reliable place to see © S. Seipke and weighing up to 20 pounds (!) it is easy to Jaguars! see why. But it is not its height, or wingspan, not even its impressive weight what earned The Jaguar is the third-largest feline in the Email Raptours, L.L.C. the Harpy Eagle the seemingly pretentious world, after the tiger and the lion, and the ([email protected]) to reserve title of “the most powerful raptor on Earth”, largest in the Americas. We saw three of your place in this tour, or book online but the thickness of its tarsi, and the size of them on a previous tour. at www.raptoursllc.com.

Copyright © Raptours, L.L.C. 2014–2016. All Rights Reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced without Raptours, LLC’s express consent. 1 Raptors, raptors, raptors... disappoint no one seeking superb images of fauna. We will work from cars, open-top from the Pantanal to the trucks, elevated platforms, and speedboats Amazon to maximize your lenses’ reach. Dependent on number of participants, one or two Some 35 species of raptors are expected on experienced wildlife photographers —Darío this tour to the mixed landscapes of the Podestá and José Luis Ojeda—will be Pantanal and Serra das Araras, and the available to coach us and help us improve lowland humid forests of Alta Floresta. our photographic technique. The rest will be Birds, mammals, and reptiles: up to you! in big numbers! Fun and productive boat

Countless birds of all sizes offer such an rides... amazing spectacle it is hard to keep track of If you like watching wildlife from boats this Black-collared Hawks are very it. As we look for raptors we will get close tour is just perfect for you! We will work from partial to fish. They perch low along and personal with many species of other rivers or on lake shores and snatch speedboats for two days up and down the birds, mammals—including Black Howler fish from the water. You should be Cuiabá River and its tributaries looking for Monkey, Capybara, and Giant River Otter, able to take your own photo of this Jaguars and raptors. And we will take daily during this tour. among others—, and even reptiles, the boat rides on the Cristalino and Teles Pires © D. Podestá Caiman being the most notorious of them rivers from our base at the Cristalino Jungle here. Lodge—one of the best eco lodges in the Expert wildlife photographers world, according to the National Geographic. on board! On one of these boat rides we got to sail within 3 m of a Brazilian Tapir on a previous Abundant, tame animals at close range tour, and Red-throated, and Black represent a dream combination for any Caracaras, and Bat Falcons were seen on a wildlife photographer. The Pantanal will daily basis here.

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Day 1 | 3 AUGUST south alongside ponds loaded with alligators, scores of jabirus, egrets, jacanas, Arrival at Cuiabá’s Marechal Rondon and of course many raptors such as International Airport (IATA code CGB) and Roadside, Savanna, and Black-collared check-in at our hotel nearby. In the Hawks! Lunch in Rio Claro. Dinner and afternoon, Sergio Seipke will give a slide overnight in Porto Jofre. show introducing the raptor species likely to be seen during this trip. Welcome brieﬁng at Day 3 | 5 AUGUST dinner. Overnight in Cuiabá. Big, fat breakfast and morning boat ride Day 2 | 4 AUGUST searching for Jaguars! We will see raptors along the river such as Lesser Yellow- After breakfast and checkout, we will start oﬀ headed and Turkey Vultures, Crane Hawk with a bang driving the Transpantaneira road and Great Black Hawk. We are likely to see

Copyright © Raptours, L.L.C. 2014–2016. All Rights Reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced without Raptours, LLC’s express consent. 2 Giant River Otters. Lunch at the hotel. Boat Eagle nest. Early dinner and overnight in ride in the afternoon. Dinner and overnight Alta Floresta. in Porto Jofre. Day 9 | 11 AUGUST Day 4 | 6 AUGUST Pre-dawn forest falcon survey (optional). Same plan as Day 3. Breakfast, then morning visit to Harpy Eagle nest. Look for soaring raptors by swimming Day 5 | 7 AUGUST pool, where we expect to see Greater Yellow-headed Vulture, Swallow-tailed, Breakfast and checkout. Drive back north on and Plumbeous Kites, and Roadside and the Transpantaneira. We will stop along the Short-tailed Hawks, among others. Lunch in way to watch wildlife and complete our Alta Floresta. Drive and ride a boat to get to photographers’ checklists. Evening boat ride Cristalino Jungle Lodge (CJL). Look out for and optional night drive for those interested Bat Falcons! Dinner and overnight at CJL. King Vulture in seeing mammals. Dinner and overnight at © G.F. Ruellan Rio Claro. Day 10 | 12 AUGUST

Day 6 | 8 AUGUST Super early breakfast! Cryptic Forest Falcon survey at dawn. Then spend the morning up Breakfast and free morning. Great in the observation tower looking for forest opportunity for a leisure walk in the woods, raptors such as White-browed Hawk and fish in the river, or go horseback riding. Double-toothed Kite; Ornate Hawk-Eagles Laughing and Aplomado Falcons are can bee seen too. Lunch at CJL. Boat ride in around, among many other raptors. Lunch in the afternoon to look for Black and Red- the pousada. After lunch we’ll head north throated Caracaras, and evening hunt for and west to Serra das Araras. Slaty-backed Forest Falcon. Overnight at After checking in we’ll head out to visit an CJL. active nest of Harpy Eagles! Dinner at the pousada. Day 11 | 13 AUGUST Early breakfast, then walk to old tower where We should see literally thousands of 9 AUGUST Yacare Caimans in the Pantanal. Day 7 | we’ll look for White-browed Hawk in early © D. Haas Pre-dawn walk to look for Barred and morning, and soaring raptors thru noon. Collared Forest Falcons. Breakfast at the Lunch at CJL. Boat ride in the afternoon and pousada. Morning visit to the Harpy Eagle forest interior surveys. (Tip: repack for nest, then drive around looking for raptors. domestic flight. See Day 7). Lunch in the pousada, and relaxing siesta time. Afternoon visit to the Harpy Eagle Day 12 | 14 AUGUST nest. Dinner at the pousada. (Tip: repack for Pre-dawn survey of forest falcons or early domestic flight: 1 checked bag 23 kg + carry- visit to towers to look for perched raptors. on bag 5 kg). Breakfast and checkout. Boat ride and drive back to Alta Floresta. Catch our flight back to 10 AUGUST Day 8 | Cuiabá. Dinner and overnight in Cuiabá. (Tip: Pre-dawn walk (optional) to look for forest repack for international travel). falcons. Big breakfast and checkout. Drive to Cuiabá, optional bag drop at our hotel there, Day 13 | 15 AUGUST and fly to Alta Floresta. Brazilian Tapir Catch flights home. Check in at our hotel and visit another Harpy © J.I. Areta

The Southern Atlantic Forest in lowland forest south of São Paulo, where eastern Brazil is a hotspot for over 25 raptor species—including Black- endemic species of plants and and-white Hawk-Eagle—have been animals—including birds—and raptors are recorded on previous tours. no exception. This tour extension is targeted at hawkwatchers willing to maximize their White-necked Hawk is the target species of 2016 Brazilian raptor-watching experience this tour extension. It is scarcer and more targeting Mantled and White-necked confined to lowland coastal forest than its Hawks. Both species look quite similar in the larger congener the Mantled Hawk. We field and this tour extension is a good have observed both perched White-necked opportunity to learn about their field Hawks, and pairs flying together on previous identification, habitat use, and behavior first tours in the area. hand. We will concentrate our efforts on the

White-necked Hawk is a rare, patchily distributed, mid-sized raptor and the focus of this tour Day-by-Day Itinerary extension. © S. Seipke

Day 1 | 30 JULY Day 4 | 2 AUGUST

Arrive in São Paulo at Guarulhos Breakfast (7:30 AM), then, either check-out International Airport (IATA Code: GRU) early and drive on the road to Ariri looking for in the morning (or late the night before). raptors, or get on a boat to search for Rufous Drive south to Cananeia, our base for the Crab Hawk in the mangroves of the Mar lowland Atlantic forest. Lunch en route. Pequeno channel, and check-out before Check-in at our hotel, and go for a drive noon. Lunch. Then drive back to Guarulhos. looking for raptors. Dinner and overnight in Dinner and overnight in Guarulhos, north of Cananeia. São Paulo.

Day 2 | 31 JULY Day 5 | 3 AUGUST

Breakfast (7:30 AM), then drive to Ariri Breakfast and check-out. Catch our ﬂights* looking for White-necked and Mantled to Cuiabá to meet the rest of the group and Hawks, and other raptors. Picnic lunch. Drive begin the Raptors & Jaguars of Brazil tour! back to Cananeia stopping for raptors. Big-headed, long-winged, Dinner and overnight in Cananeia. short-tailed, largish and mostly black-and-white Mantled Hawk occurs from sea level to 1 AUGUST Day 3 | ______c. 1,500 m a.s.l. * Flights to and from Cuiabá are not included in © S. Seipke Same as Day 2. extension tour price.

You must sign up for the Main Tour to participate in the the Pre-Tour Extension.

GUYANA VENEZUELA SURINAME North FR. GUIANA Atlantic COLOMBIA Ocean

Equator 0° z o n A a B m R Cristalino Jungle Lodge A Alta Floresta Z I L P s s o E r o R G U t o BOLIVIA a M 20° S P AR Serra das A Araras G Cuiabá U A A Y tanal Rio Claro N an I P T Porto Jofre N E G S. Atlantic R URU. A Ocean 0 200 400 kilometers

60° W 40° W 0 200 400 miles

TARGE T SPECIES

1. Osprey 18. Mantled Hawk* 35. Laughing Falcon Pandion haliaetus Pseudastur polionotus Herpetotheres cachinnans 2. Turkey Vulture 19. White Hawk 36. Barred Forest Falcon Cathartes aura Pseudastur albicollis Micrastur ruficollis 3. Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture 20. Rufous Crab Hawk* 37. Cryptic Forest Falcon Cathartes burrovianus Buteogallus aequinoctialis Micrastur mintoni 4. Greater Yellow-headed Vulture 21. Savanna Hawk 38. Slaty-backed Forest Falcon Cathartes melambrotus Heterospizias meridionalis Micrastur mirandollei 5. Black Vulture 22. White-necked Hawk* 39. Collared Forest-Falcon Coragyps atratus Buteogallus lacernulatus Micrastur semitorquatus 6. King Vulture 23. Great Black Hawk 40. American Kestrel Sarcoramphus papa Buteogallus urubitinga Falco sparverius 7. White-tailed Kite 24. Roadside Hawk 41 Bat Falcon Elanus leucurus Rupornis magnirostris Falco rufigularis 8. Gray-headed Kite 25. White-tailed Hawk 42. Aplomado Falcon Leptodon cayanensis Geranoaetus albicaudatus Falco femoralis 9. Swallow-tailed Kite 26. Short-tailed Hawk Elanoides forficatus Buteo brachyurus MAMMALS 10. Plumbeous Kite 27. Harpy Eagle Ictinia plumbea Harpia harpyja 1. Jaguar 11. Double-toothed Kite 28. Black-and-white Hawk-Eagle Panthera onca Harpagus bidentatus Spizaetus melanoleucus 2. Jaguarundi 12. Snail Kite 29. Black Hawk-Eagle Puma yagouaroundi Rostrhamus sociabilis Spizaetus tyrannus 3. Giant River Otter 13. Hook-billed Kite 30. Ornate Hawk-Eagle Pteronura brasiliensis Chondrohierax uncinatus Spizaetus ornatus 4. Giant Anteater 14. Black-collared Hawk 31. Black Caracara Myrmecophaga tridactyla Busarellus nigricollis Daptrius ater 5. Brazilian Tapir 15. Crane Hawk 32. Red-throated Caracara Tapirus terrestris Geranospiza caerulescens Ibycter americanus 6. Capybara 16. Black-faced Hawk 33. Southern Crested Caracara Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris Leucopternis melanops Caracara plancus 7. Black Howler Monkey 17. White-browed Hawk 34. Yellow-headed Caracara Alouatta caraya Leucopternis kuhli Milvago chimachima ______* Extension tour only

Sergio has observed and photographed raptors for the past 20 years. He was born in Argentina, and TOUR GUIDE enjoys helping others to search for and identify raptors.

Sergio is currently working on Raptors of South America, to be published by Princeton University Press, and the ﬁrst ﬁeld guide to the raptors of the Sergio Seipke region.

Sergio is the owner of Raptours, L.L.C. and carries on Bill Clark’s legacy of raptor touring.

Sergio speaks English, Spanish and Portuguese.

Darío is a wildlife photographer, active for the past 28 years. PHOTOGRAPHY COACH

He is very persistent and methodical, and a most reliable driver too.

Darío is very personable and has an exquisite sense of aesthetics, which he applies to his nature Darío Podestá photography.

SUGGESTED FIELD GUIDES

ERIZE, F., J.R. RODRIGUEZ MATA, and M. RUMBOLL. 2006. Birds of South America. Non-passerines: Rheas to Woodpeckers. Princeton Illustrated Checklists. Princeton University Press, New Jersey.

FERGUSON-LEES, J., and D.A. CHRISTIE. 2005. Raptors of the World. Paperback Edition. Princeton University Press, New Jersey.

GWYNE, J.A., R.S. RIDGELY, G. TUDOR, and M. ARGEL. 2010. Birds of Brazil. Pantanal & Cerrado of Central Brazil. Cornell University Press, Ithaca.

Make a difference!

RAPTOURS®, L.L.C. will make a ﬁnancial contribution to Hawk Mountain Sanctuary for every member that signs up for this tour. Join us on this tour and make a lasting contribution to raptor conservation.

Copyright © Raptours, L.L.C. 2014–2016. All Rights Reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced without Raptours, LLC’s express consent. 6 Tour Details NEED TO KNOW TOUR PRICE Observation towers are suitable for people of all ages: if you can walk, you can get to the highest Main Tour price is $5,850 per person, and overlooks. TOUR DATES & includes hotels (double occupancy), meals, soft AVAILABILIT Y drinks, entry fees, ground transportation, boat and COMFOR T horseback rides, domestic flights from Cuiabá to 3–15 August 2016 We will stay below 800 m (2,600 ft) above see level. Alta Floresta and back to Cuiabá, and guide fees. Accommodations range from good to excellent. BOOKING CLOSES ON Extra nights in Cuiabá, alcoholic beverages, items of personal nature, tips, and insurance of any kind Whenever possible, we will drive in comfortable 4- 1 May 2016 are not included. passenger vehicles. GROUP SIZE LIMIT Atlantic Forest Pre-Tour Extension price is $1,290 Guide-to-passenger ratio will be 1:4 or better. per person, and includes hotels (double 9 participants occupancy), entry fees, ground transportation, WEATHER & CLOTHING boat ride, and guide fees. TOUR PRICE August is the core of the dry season in Mato Extra nights in São Paulo, meals, drinks, items of Grosso with average high temperatures in the low Main Tour $5,850 personal nature, tips, and insurance of any kind are 90s (34 °C) and lows in the mid 60s (18 °C) in the Tour Extension $1,290 not included. Cuiabá area. Occasional showers can occur anywhere but especially in Alta Floresta. Weather SINGLE SUPPLEMENT SINGLE SUPPLEMENT in Cananeia (Pre-Tour Extension) is somewhat chillier with average highs in the low 70s (23 °C) Main Tour $550 Main Tour single supplement is $550. and lows in the high 50s (15 °C). Tour Extension $130 Atlantic Forest Pre-Tour Extension single Make sure you pack your raincoat or folding R APTOR SPECIES supplement is $130. umbrella, and a light jacket. Hat and sunglasses EXPEC TED Single rooms will be subject to availability. will be of use as well. Sunscreen and insect Roommates will be assigned to those participants repellent (DEET) is recommended. 35 willing to share a room. If a roommate is not HEALTH COUNTRY ENTRY available, you will be required to pay the single REQUIREMENTS supplement. Brazil recommends Amazon visitors to be vaccinated for yellow fever, even though its Valid U.S. passport and visa COUNTRY ENTRY REQUIREMENTS occurrence is very unusual in Alta Floresta and Brazil requires U.S. citizens to carry a valid U.S. Cristalino State Park. DIFFICULT Y passport and visa when traveling to Brazil for any Travel medical insurance is strongly Easy to Moderate purpose. You must obtain your Brazilian visa in recommended. advance from the Brazilian Embassy or Consulate COMFOR T nearest to your place of residence in the United For more information visit CDC’s website 6 weeks States. before departure. Good to Excellent There are no “airport visas” and immigration LOCAL CURRENCY WEATHER & CLOTHING authorities will refuse entry into Brazil to anyone not possessing a valid visa. Local currency is the Brazilian real, and exchange rate is nearly 3.15 reais for U.S. dollar. Hot and humid | Bring hat, Travelers holding a European Union passport do sunscreen, sunglasses, insect Most places will not accept travelers’ cheques. We repellent not need a visa to enter Brazil for up to three will drive passengers to ATMs upon request or months in a 6-month period. whenever available. HEALTH DIFFICULT Y It is recommended to start the trip with reais Vaccination for yellow fever The level of difficulty of this trip is easy to cash, or to get them at the international airport is recommended moderate. upon arrival in the country for expenses such as souvenirs, drinks or phone calls. LOCAL CURRENCY An 800-m walk in flat terrain is necessary to access the observation towers (40+ m) at Cristalino Brazilian real Jungle Lodge.

I understand that the tour to which I am a party demands that I be in good health and physical condition. I You will be required to acknowledge the risk and hazards of travel in remote areas where injury, delay or unanticipated events may sign this form upon occur. I understand that such risks simply cannot be eliminated without jeopardizing the essential qualities meeting with your tour of the activity. I may be subjecting myself to dangers and hazards which could result in illness, injury, or leader at the tour starting death. I recognize that such risks, dangers, and hazards may be present at any time during the trip. I also point. Please read realize that medical services or facilities may not be readily available or accessible during some or all of the carefully before time in which I am participating in the tour. I realize that I will be traveling in remote areas with poor or no booking. access to emergency and/or medical services. I understand that there is a risk that accidents or illness can occur in remote places where medical facilities, emergency treatment or other services cannot be rendered. I understand that there is a risk involved in the consumption of food or drink.

The undersigned, being of lawful age, in consideration, and as part payment for the right to participate in the trip/tour, and associated activities, services, and food arranged for me by Raptours, L.L.C., and its agents, employees, affiliates or associates, I have and do hereby fully assume all risk of illness, injury or death, and hereby release, hold harmless, and discharge Raptours, L.L.C. and its agents, employees, affiliates or associates from all actions, claims, demands, or lawsuits for any accident, injury, property damage or personal loss to me or to those traveling with me in connection with any accommodation, transportation or TOUR TERMS other travel service, resulting from, related to, or arising in any manner out of my participation in the tour, as well as from any act of terrorism, defect in vehicle, break down in equipment, strike, theft, delay, or Raptours, L.L.C. reserves the cancellation of or changes in itinerary or schedule, whether foreseen or unforeseen. right to alter this itinerary as The undersigned understands that Raptours, L.L.C., its owners, operators, or agents have booked necessary, or to cancel the tour transportation, made reservations for lodging, made land arrangements for local transportation and is prior to departure, with full conducting the above prearranged tour; that the undersigned assumes the risk that the owners, operators refund to participants. and agents of the transport companies, hotels, and resorts may cancel or change the times, types or Raptours, L.L.C. or its agents method of transportation or accommodations; that the undersigned understands that Raptours, L.L.C., its may decline to accept or retain owners, operators or agents does not have control or responsibility for any such cancellations or changes in any person as a member of this times, types, or methods of transportation or accommodations; that the undersigned may incur additional tour at any time. charges and expenses because of the cancellations and changes to the times, type or method of transportation or accommodations; and the undersigned hereby releases and discharges Raptours, L.L.C., No smoking will be permitted its owners, operators or agents from any additional charges or expenses incurred by the undersigned. The while with the group, either undersigned agrees to promptly pay the additional charges and expenses because the owners, operators when indoors or in the field. and agents of the transport companies, hotels, and resorts have cancelled or changed the times, type or method of transportation or accommodations. Travel medical insurance is strongly recommended. I agree that I will not sue Raptours, L.L.C. and its agents, employees, affiliates or associates for damages incurred as a consequence of my participation in tour caused by the negligence or other acts of Raptours, All passengers will be required L.L.C. and its agents, employees, affiliates or associates or any employee, agent or contractor thereof. to sign a hard copy of the Should Raptours, L.L.C. or anyone acting on their behalf, be required to incur attorney’s fees and costs to Release of Liability and enforce this Release of Liability and Assumption of Risk, I agree to indemnify and hold them harmless for all Assumption of Risk form (at such fees and costs. left) upon meeting with the tour leader in Cuiabá. I agree that if I suffer injury or illness, Raptours, L.L.C. and its agents, employees, affiliates, or associates can, at my cost, arrange medical treatment and emergency evacuation service, as Raptours, L.L.C. and its agents, No participants will be allowed employees, affiliates or associates deem necessary for my safety. in the group without a signed copy of the Release of I agree that the foregoing obligation, release and assumption of risk shall be binding upon me personally, Liability and Assumption of as well as upon my spouse, heirs, executors, assigns, and administrators, and for all members of my family, Risk form. including any minor accompanying me. I have carefully read this Release of Liability and Assumption of Risk and fully understand its contents, terms, and conditions. I am aware that this is a release of liability and contract between me and Raptours, L.L.C. and/or its affiliated organizations or representatives, and I sign it of my own free will.

I state that I am of lawful age and legally competent to sign this aﬃrmation and Release of Liability and Assumption of Risk; that I understand the terms herein are contractual and not a mere recital; and that I have signed this Release of Liability and Assumption of Risk as my own free act.