Sítio do Cervo
The name of the property translates as "stag farm" -- no coincidence that Hirsch means stag in German. It is also named in recognition of the brocket-deer, a small South American species that can sometimes be seen venturing out of the forest. It is set in an open area cleared from the middle of about 100 hectares of Lowland Atlantic Forest several decades ago. The developed part of the farm consists of a large main house, guest house, swimming pool, landscaped fishing lake, covered barbecue area, fruit orchards, lawns for recreation and small-scale plots for vegetables and crops. Among the food produced at the farm are bananas, passion fruit, lemons, oranges, guava, manioc (cassava), jackfruit, chickens and eggs.
A peaceful retreat
The position of the farm makes it remarkably peaceful and secluded. It lies behind a ridge separating it from the highway some 3km away, and has 360 degree views of forest. Many birds come into the open area to feed on the fruit and nest in the palms, bamboo and other vegetation. The fishing lake attracts a variety of water birds including kingfishers, herons and occasionally cormorants. The other species, listed in full here, include toucans, guans, tanagers, trogons, flycatchers, woodpeckers, woodcreepers, finches, cotingas, hawks and tinamous. To get an idea of the changing wildlife through the year keep an eye on the nature blog on this site, and a flickr site with more photos.
A biodiversity hotspot
The Atlantic Forest of Brazil is among the most diverse ecosystems on Earth. Even though it has lost approximately 93% of its original cover, the remaining fragments are thought to contain as much as 8% of the planet's biodiversity, including more than 20,000 plant species. At Sítio do Cervo, a number of trails through the forest provide a close-up view of the rich variety of the lowland forest vegetation, including many endemic species such as this heliconia, a distant relative of the banana. The larger trees are covered with epiphytes (plants that use other plants for support but are not parasitic) such as bromelias, orchids, liana vines, cacti, mosses and philodendrons. One trail leads over a small hill to the banks of the São Laurenço river. As well as a great variety of birdlife, sloths can sometimes be seen feeding in the treetops.
Mayfly hatching outburst on river, December 2007.