Far beyond the Pantanal: tuiuiús thrive in the floodplains of the São Francisco River in MG Pedro Rocha When thinking about the Brazilian Pantanal, it is natural to imagine the animals that live in this biome. Among birds, one of the first images that comes to mind is that of the tuiuiú (Jabiru mycteria), one of the main symbols of the largest floodplain in the world. What few people know is that the species also found refuge in the floodplains of the São Francisco River, in the Center-West of Minas Gerais. ? Also follow Terra da Gente on Instagram With long legs, a long beak, a black head, a white body and a red band around the neck, the bird draws attention due to its size. As it is a stork, the tuiiu flies with its neck and legs stretched out, unlike herons, which keep their necks tucked in during flight. An individual can measure up to 1.60 meters in height, have a wingspan of up to 3 meters and weigh around 8 kilos. It is the largest bird capable of flying in the largest floodplain in the world. This species, so beloved by Brazilians, can also be found thousands of kilometers from the flooded areas of Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul. In Arcos, in the Center-West of Minas Gerais, the tuiuiús are illustrious residents. See more news from Terra da Gente, on g1: IMPRESSIVE: Vulture tries to eat a carcass, loses its balance and is caught 'spinning' alligator in the water NIQUIM: Brazilian venomous fish helps to understand the immune system JUBARTEE WHALES AND DISCREET BIRD: Follow the adventure of Terra da Gente in Ilhabela (SP) Away from 'home' for over 100 years Biologist Pedro Rocha, one of the greatest experts on biodiversity in the municipality, explains that the first records of the species were made during the Brazilian Empire. One of the oldest reports is by the German geologist and naturalist Baron de Eschwege. Far beyond the Pantanal: tuiuiús thrive in the floodplains of the São Francisco River in MG Pedro Rocha In 1810, Eschwege was hired by the Empire government to carry out the first major survey of the country's mineral resources. Between 1811 and 1821, he traveled through the interior of Brazil, mainly Minas Gerais, and at that time he recorded the presence of tuiuiús in the interior of Minas Gerais. "The first explorers of the region, when Brazil was being colonized, they already reported this type of environment around the São Francisco River. So, since then, we have been able to place the river as a primary factor in our region for the occurrence of these Pantanal animals", explains Pedro Rocha. Tuiuiú in search of water Humid regions have an important characteristic. Birds that depend on these environments tend to show strong migratory behavior, as water is not always available. In some periods there are prolonged droughts and then major flooding. Therefore, these animals need to move in search of more favorable areas. Between November and March, the rainiest period in the region, the plains of the São Francisco River are usually flooded in Arcos. See what's trending on g1:
The unexpected refuge of the tuiuiú is far from the Pantanal and is in Minas Gerais
Far beyond the Pantanal: tuiuiús thrive in the floodplains of the São Francisco River in MG Pedro Rocha When thinking about the Brazilian Pantanal, it is natural to imagine the animals that live in this biome. Among...
"In Arcos you will have many species typical of the Pantanal: dryhead, spoonbill, maguari, but you also have water birds that sometimes are not so common in the Pantanal or sometimes don't even get there, for other distribution reasons. And you see crested duck, many rallids, which is the group of saracuras and sanãs, which are migratory birds generally associated with water, and turu-turu, yellow tanager, small moorhen, spectacled widowbird, olive tricolino, which is a typical Chaco animal, ends up in Arcos", comments the biologist. But, without a doubt, the tuiuiús are the region’s greatest attractions. Since 2023, Pedro Rocha has been following a couple. The birds remain in the same floodplain, but have moved to a point located about a kilometer from the nest occupied three years ago. Couple accompanied Tuiuiús nest in MG Pedro Rocha The first nest was on a private property. Employees removed some dead trees and, as the nest was in one of them, it ended up being destroyed. However, the tuiuiús are territorial and it didn't take long for the biologist to find the new structure, high up in another tree. "I knew that the tuiuiús have this specific behavior of having a territory. So they will hunt a tree there when there is one, you can cut down ten trees and, if there is one more, they will continue in the area. I've seen this in other nests too. So I looked and found the nest again. Then it was in its current area, which is on the banks of the São Francisco River. So it's been at least three years that this nest has existed there in this floodplain. But it changed the address a little because the old tree fell", he reports. For the first time, Pedro Rocha accompanied the couple's reproduction. The tuiuiús began the mating season at the end of the rainy season, between February and March. In addition to copulations, they reinforced the structure of the nest with new branches. Between April and May, the birds were already hatching eggs. Before the beginning of June, the biologist managed to observe the cubs. "Within three months they are already leaving the nest. The parents pay more attention during these three months because they are unable to fly. And then I believe that by September they will be gaining more independence, leaving the nest with their parents. First they accompany their parents, you will always see the family walking together, finding them in the swamp feeding and then the parents expel them from the nest, because that is their territory. And then they have to find a new direction for them." In the Arcos region, the tuiuiús' main food is a snail native to the floodplain areas. It is also common to see birds feeding on muçuns, a type of snakefish that is abundant in the marshes, as well as other fish. Tuiuiú eating snail Pedro Rocha The biologist has already counted 11 tuiuiú nests in different areas of Arcos. It also recorded around 200 individuals gathered in groups, a significant number for a population in the interior of Minas Gerais. "So can you imagine the São Francisco River, a river so
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