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Fazenda
Tamanduá
Birds |
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In
the years 1998 and 1999, 146 bird species were registered at Fazenda
Tamanduá. In 2004, as a result of a new project that deals with the
bird population of forest patches in the State of Paraíba
caatinga region, Fazenda Tamanduá was chosen as one of the
research areas because it is carrying out considerable ecological
work in the region. |
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In
addition, Fazenda Tamanduá is very rich in the number of species and in
the quantity of birds, especially water birds which benefit from the
dams existing in the area.
Thanks
to three expeditions already carried out in the months of May, August
and November of 2004, the number of species identified has increased to
171. Among the new species registered in the area are the pé-de-serra
falcon (Geranospiza caerulescens – right) and the rufous-headed
falcon (Buteogallus meridionalis – left), also known as “Toron”
in the local parlance of that region. |
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Gavião
pé-de-serra
(Geranospiza caerulescens) |
Gavião caboclo
(Buteogallus meridionalis) |
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Socó-dorminhoco (Nycticorax nycticorax) |
Martim-pescador
(Chloroceryle americana) |
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The building of new dams since 1999 has led to a rise in the
number of water species, such as the kingfisher (Chloroceryle
americana), two wild ducks, a wood rail and a
socó-dorminhoco (Nycticorax nycticorax – a type of
heron). |
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The latter is breeding in one of the dams, together with the
garça-vaqueira (another type of heron) and the large snowy
egret (herons’ and egrets’ nesting).
The fact that trees were preserved at this dam provided nesting
places for these species |
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In
the Conceição, Neco and Varginha dams, marrecas and various
other species of wild ducks are to be seen; the numbers using the
dams have risen, from hundreds in 1998 to thousands in 2004. |
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Águia-chilena
(Geranoaetus
melanoleucus) |
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In addition to water birds, other species of land birds call the
attention of more careful watchers, such as the Chilean Eagle (Geranoaetus
melanoleucus) which uses the Tamanduá Range and which is now
in the breeding season. The nest of this very beautiful bird may
be observed with the help of binoculars or a small telescope,
and those who wish to venture up into the hills can see this
eagle from a short distance. However, one has to be careful not
to be chased away by the pair on guard, protecting their nest.
At the Tamanduá Private Nature Reserve, various species may be
watched, especially small birds, such as the tree-creeper
arapaçu-verde (Sittasomus griseicapillus – photo at
right), the tanager sanhaço-de-bananeira (Thraupis
sayaca – photo at left), and other birds, such as the
woodpecker (Picumnus pygmaeus – an endemic caatinga
species), the humming bird bico-de-agulha (Galbula
ruficauda) and the striped cuckoo (Tapera naevia);
these are newly registered species at Fazenda Tamanduá |
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The importance of the conservation work carried out by the owner
of the farm, Pierre Landolt, should be stressed; by taking the
initiative to protect the area, preventing hunting and the
trapping of birds, in addition to developing organic farming, he
has made the area a refuge for wild life, permitting the number
of species and specimens using that area for breeding, feeding
and shelter to rise.
Professor Dr. Rachel Maria de Lyra Neves |
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Arapaçu-verde
(Sittasomus
griseicapillus |
Sanhaço-de-bananeira
(Thraupis sayaca) |
woodpecker
(Picumnus
pygmaeus) |
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Bico-de-agulha
(Galbula ruficauda) |
striped cuckoo
(Tapera naevia) |
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Within the cycle
of addresses aimed at training and educating its workers,
Fazenda Tamanduá organized two more talks during the month of
December.The first, within the Environmental Risk Prevention
Program, had the following wide-ranging theme: “The importance,
use and maintenance of Individual Protection Equipment. Hygiene,
health and safety in the work environment.” It was given by Ms
Valdisa Véras Fontes, of the SESI/SENAI Ocupational Health
Center, to an audience of 28 workers directly connected with the
production and processing of the farm’s products. |
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In the second, in
connection with the World Anti-AIDS Week, the themes of Sexually
Transmitted Diseases and AIDS were addressed. This difficult
issue was presented very tactfully by employees of the Patos
SENAI, Maria das Graças Neves de Lucena and Verônica Viana Lugo
Nobrega, who are social assistants working in the sertão and
know the local mentality and taboos well. The talk raised a
great deal of interest and was given to an audience of 60
workers. The latter, who were not accustomed to dealing with
topics such as these, after a certain period of inhibition,
asked many questions, which were all answered clearly, seriously
and with scientific foundations. Finally, everyone was persuaded
that “prevention and love have to take place between the couple”
- a commitment to life with a permanent dialogue with one’s
partner. |
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An
easy and delicious recepy to start the New Year: Ricotta
Pie |
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Preparatino:45
minutes Cooking:30 minutes
Serves:6 people |
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For time tea or as
a dessert |
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Shell
250 g wheat flour
100g butter
1 soupspoonful
of sugar
1 coffeespoonful
of salt
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Filling:
1 ricotta (340g)
180g sugar
1/4 cup of milk
5 eggs
1 pinch of salt
vanilla essence |
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Pass mouse over image |
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Method |
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1 |
Prepare the dough: sieve the flour onto a table surface,
make a dip in the middle and put in the butter
(softened), salt and sugar. Mix well with finger tips,
blending in the flour without kneading the dough too
much. Make it into a ball, wrap it in a moist cloth and
put it in the fridge for two hours. |
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2 |
Make the filling: sieve the ricotta so as to reduce it
to fine crumbs. Using a blender, beat it with the sugar,
milk, the 5 eggs, vanilla essence and salt. |
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3 |
Roll out the dough on a marble top
covered in flour, reducing it to a 1/2 cm thickness, and
line a 26 cm diameter baking tin with it. Prick the
bottom several times with a fork, and then pour in the
ricotta mixture. Place it in a hot oven ( 225°C) for 20
to 30 minutes. Serve the tart warm or cold. |
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