Pollution

Bush burning is one of the major cause of the pollution in Mato Grosse, where there is almost no industry. It causes respiratory problem during the dry season. It creates spectecular sunsets, on the other hand.

Trees of Cerrado

Trees that grow in this ecosystem have developed a natural protection against the fire. They are very short, have very deep roots and their thick "skin" can protect the tree core from the heat of the fire for a short time.

Queimadas

"Queimadas" is a Brazilian word for criminal fires of savanna and forests. After few months without the rain, savanna (Cerrado) becomes very dry and many locals set it on fire. This causes the destruction of the natural cycle. In nature burning happens, but not with the intensity and frequency of the human created problem. Dry grass of Cerrado burns very fast and hot. Often fires stops as quickly as it starts and most trees are not affected, however, this is not always a case (photo).

Deadly beauty

Nobody can deny the beauty of this large bill of Toco Toucan, the largest toucan in Pantanal. However toucan uses this large bill to extracts the eggs and little newborn birds from the nest. The beauty can be deceiving.

126 wooden bridges of Transpantaneira

Transpantaneira Road cuts through the Pantanal of Mato Grosso. To travel through 149 kilometers of this road, it is necessary to cross 126 wooden bridges. Are they safe? Sometimes they fall under the heavy trucks but most cars and trucks pass.

Moriche Palm tree

Moriche Palm tree (Mauritia flexuosa). Those palm groves are formed close to the rivers in Cerrado and are home to many species of the birds, including at least 5 species of macaws.

Simple things in life

Tomorrow will be another day

Tout e rien, rien e tout

Everything is nothing, nothing is everything

Birds do it too...

Wattled Jacana caught in action.

The rainy season

The rainy season started in November and it rains almost every day.

The skies of Chapada dos Guimarães.

The frequent visitor to the sky of the plateau is Swallow-tailed Kite. It soars in the sky and catches and eats the insects in the air without stopping. He often hits the branches of the tree with the talons to shake the insects out of the tree and then catches them in the air.

Tragic end

I was watching the male and female Yellow-chinned Spintail building this nest together. For the better protection from the predators, they built this nest in the bush above the water. They miscalculated the water levels and the flood destroyed their work.

Dedicated to singing.

This little Yellow-chinned Spintail is really dedicated to singing. When it sings, the whole body vibrates to the tune.

Typical house in Pantanal

This is one style of the houses in Pantanal.
During the anunual flooding (between February and May), the water come close to the house.

Family

The girl and her little brother watch their sister helping mother to clean the fish.

Storing the fish

Those baskets immersed in the water are filled with fish to keep them alive. This is the best way to keep fresh fish in the place that lacks electricity.

Simple fisherman shelter

When working away from home, the fisherman builds himself a little shelter.

Fisherman in Pantanal

This fisherman is fishing with simple line. The fish is a main source of proteins for the people of Pantanal. Those living close to the rivers are called "ribeirinhos".

Work or steal?

Neotropic Cormorant is an excellent fisherman, but there is always temptation to steal someone else’s fish. To avoid this, the bird takes off with the fish in his bill, as soon as the other one approaches.

Lunch time for Sayaca Tanager

Actually there is no fixed time for feeding. Parents are busy feeding their young all day, bringing the food avery 5 minutes. After each feeding they remove the droppings away from the nest. Keeping the nest clean.