Nature lovers from all over the world have the opportunity to come together for bird watching on the “Global Big Day” every year. The event invites the flâneur to observe and list the observed species over the course of a day. Several “passarinhas” are planned in the Paulist region on Saturday, May 14; To prepare, we recommend collaborating with science and testing your knowledge of the birds of São Paulo.
A day to promote citizen science
With 497 bird species, according to the 2021 wildlife inventory of the city of São Paulo, the São Paulo region is home to almost as many birds as metropolitan France, which has the 587th exotic feathers. In addition, the event not only invites contact with nature, but also promotes science. Lists submitted by observers allow researchers to study the distribution and numbers of birds all over the planet.
To participate in the event, you just need to pay attention to the surrounding nature (look, listen, note) even in city centers and record your observations in the eBird application developed in the United States by the Cornell Lab team. States.
Free registration and registrations can be made on the website or by downloading the Merlin app on a smartphone.
Test your knowledge of São Paulo’s popular birds
bem-te-vi
The tyrant quivivi in French, popularly called onomatopoeia, is one of the most talkative birds in the city of São Paulo. It is impossible not to notice the verb. According to popular stories, bem-te-vi is the bird that God hates, because when Jesus was hiding from the eyes of the soldiers, bem-te-vi saw him and began to sing: “I saw you, I saw you. I saw you”.
Sabia-laranjeira
The symbol of the state of São Paulo, the Sabiá-laranjeira – the English red-bellied blackbird – is a very popular bird in Brazil and has inspired various musicians, including Luiz Gonzaga e Zé Dantas with the sabiá headdress.
In Tupi, sabiá means “who prays a lot,” implying the song of this bird. According to an Indian legend, when a child hears the song of sabiá at dawn, early spring, he will be blessed with peace, love and happiness.
periquito-rico
Another famous happy bird flying over the Paulist city in a group, in real noise, is the periquito-rico, commonly called the maritaca; toui tirica, french. Its scientific name, “Brotogeris tirica”, emphasizes the behavior of the animal, derived from (Greek) brotogërus meaning “with a human voice” and the Tupi language “tirica” meaning “to ring”.
sanhacho-cinzento
It is also one of the most common birds in Brazil and São Paulo, the sanhaço-cinzento, English Tangara Counter, known for its acrobatics as it competes with other birds for fruit.
Joao-de-barro
João-de-barro, French red fournier, very popular in Brazil, architect bird. It is known for its kiln-shaped clay nest and is built in a direction away from the rain. The bird is also part of Brazilian legends. According to the story, if the male is “betrayed” by the female, he can lock her in the nest forever as punishment. Ornithologists have never witnessed such behavior in birds.
Nei Nei
It is very similar to bem-te-vi at first glance, but differs from it in its much larger beak and, above all, its distinctly different voice, which gives it the name of reflection. Its French name is “Tyrant pitangua”.
canario-da-terra
Sicale buttercup in French has a strong song, a set of notes, and well-voiced short phrases, “tsip, tsi-tit, tsi, tsiti, tsi, tsiti”. Because of its graceful song, it is often confined as a captive bird (among the 10 most captured birds, according to IBAMA).
cambacica
The Paulista is the common bird of gardens, its song is very pronounced and measures several centimeters.
beija flower
A star bird of both young and old, the hummingbird may be of interest to light freshwater drinkers. The scientific name “Thalurania glaucopis” comes from the Greek word “thalos” meaning “child, grandchild”, “ouranos” meaning sky and “glaukos” meaning “gray-blue”.
To make a bird portrait
Paint a cage first
with an open door
Then paint something nice
something easy
Nice thing
something useful
for the bird
Then lean the canvas against a tree
in a garden
in a forest
or in a forest
Hide behind the tree without saying anything
without moving…
Sometimes the bird comes fast
But it can take many years
before you decide
don’t be discouraged
To wait
Wait for years if necessary
Arrival speed or slowness
irrelevant bird
With the success of the table
when the bird comes
if it happens
observe the deepest silence
Wait for the bird to enter the cage
And when you come in
Close the lid gently with the brush
Then delete all the bars one by one
Taking care not to touch any of the feathers of the bird.
Then make a portrait of the tree
Choosing the most beautiful branches
for the bird
Also paint the green leaves and the freshness of the wind
sun dust
And the sound of grass in the summer heat
And then wait for the bird to decide to sing.
If the bird does not sing
it’s a bad sign
Indicate that the table is bad
But if she sings, that’s a good sign.
you can sign
So you’re slowly tearing
one of the bird feathers
And you write your name on a corner of the board.
Poems by Jacques Prevert, Lyrics, 1945