Ubatuba Birdwatching Centre

At the beginning of May this year we started a new project working with a school here in Ubatuba. We have seen that many school visits are one-off affairs, the children’s interest is piqued fleetingly and then all is forgotten; so instead of trying to reach all of the children and engage them superficially, we decided to set up a pioneer project to bring birds into the daily lives of the school and its children, engaging them more profoundly. At the end of April, the school, Colégio Dominique, held an inauguration ceremony to jointly open a new aeronautical club NINJA and announce the Aves na Escola (Birds in school) project.

Inauguration of the joint projects Ninja and Aves na Escola © Colégio Dominique

Rick, Elis and Cláudia Oliveira started giving regular lessons to all the students from Infants to the age of 11. The feedback has been overwhelming and the enthusiasm of the children is infectious.

Rick answering questions from the class © Elis Simpson

Elis talking about the UBWC © Rick Simpson

Cláudia telling a story to some of the younger students © Colégio Dominique

The standard of the work being done reflects the interest that children of this age have in the environment, and by providing continued input and reinforcement of ideas, the message is hitting home.

Renata proudly showing off her homework © Elis Simpson

We have set up a feeding station which will be maintained and monitored by the children and staff, the excitement was palpable when the first bird, the impressive Brazilian Tanager, appeared at the feeders.

Some of the children keeping an eye on the feeder, even the national pastime football took a back seat for a while! © Colégio Dominique

On the eve of Dia das Mães, (Mothering Sunday), Rick and (especially) Elis helped the children at the Brincando com Aves project to make some Mothering Sunday cards with a bird theme.

An industrious bunch! © Rick Simpson

They used two methods, some cut pictures from magazines and calendars whilst others with a more artistic bent drew and coloured their cards. The results were great and we’re sure the ‘mums’ would be delighted.

So ensued much writing... © Rick Simpson

... and drawing... © Rick Simpson

... and more writing...

... and cutting... © Rick simpson

... and more cutting... © Rick Simpson

... and more drawing... © Rick Simpson

... and sticking! © Rick Simpson

The results... © Rick Simpson

... speak for... © Rick Simpson

... themselves! © Rick Simpson

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Nicholas and Raquel have been working for the last 10 years to build a preservation area and more importantly a restoration area of precious lowland Atlantic forest. The Reserva Ecológico Guapiaçu, or REGUA as it is better known, is testament to their dedication and tenacity.

The lodge at Guapiaçu © Elis Simpson

We at the UBWC know only too well how complicated and frustrating trying to set up something of this nature can be, endless bureaucracy and hurdle jumping and there are always those with a personal agenda, a ‘me first’ attitude, where the heart is not in what they are doing, but what they appear to be doing and egos get in the way of what is really important. Nicholas and Raquel have overcome these and many other obstacles along the way, and surely will face many more, but they can be justly proud of what they achieved.

The beautiful lagoon surrounded by forest at the REGUA wetlands © Elis Simpson

REGUA is not just a reserve, it is the whole package, a model for any other similarly motivated institution to emulate. They run international volunteer programmes, they cater to the growing international eco-tourism market, but most importantly they run environmental education programmes in schools and at the lodge, preserve the little standing forest that remains and have spent much time and energy re-foresting huge areas of the area in which they work. They are not however content to rest on their laurels, if there is a possibility to expand and create yet more protected and reforested areas, they will be there to make sure it happens.

The reintroduction of the Black-faced Piping-Guan is just one of REGUAs ambitious projects © Elis Simpson

The UBWC is proud to count this dynamic couple among its friends and we look forward to working more closely with them in the future.

This past weekend Rick and Elis Simpson went to REGUA to meet William Dent, co-founder and Vice-President of Natural Partners based in the USA. It was a successful weekend with much to be positive about, with discussions about a variety of topics and projects for the future.

Nicholas, Raquel, William, Rick and Elis © Rick and Elis Simpson

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