Road ecology blog: Larissa Oliveira Gonçalves examines a roadkilled barn owl (Tyto alba), BR 101, about 19 km south of Capivari do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.

Larissa and her colleagues from Núcleo de Ecologia de Rodovias e Ferrovias (NERF) at the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul took us out along this highway that has an abundance of road-killed animals, including amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals.

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Larissa Oliveira Gonçalves examines a roadkilled barn owl (Tyto alba), BR 101, about 19 km south of Capivari do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, BrazilLarissa Oliveira Gonçalves examines a roadkilled barn owl (Tyto alba), BR 101, about 19 km south of Capivari do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil Roadkilled barn owl (Tyto alba), BR 101, about 19 km south of Capivari do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, BrazilRoadkilled barn owl (Tyto alba), BR 101, about 19 km south of Capivari do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil Roadkilled barn owl (Tyto alba), BR 101, about 19 km south of Capivari do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, BrazilRoadkilled barn owl (Tyto alba), BR 101, about 19 km south of Capivari do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil Roadkilled barn owl (Tyto alba), BR 101, about 19 km south of Capivari do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, BrazilRoadkilled barn owl (Tyto alba), BR 101, about 19 km south of Capivari do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Road ecology blog: Black-pencilled marmosets (Callithrix penicillata) looking for traffic before crossing at grade, right under the canopy crossing, ESALQ campus, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil

The canopy crossing was installed in 2014 in response to one or more marmosets being killed by vehicles at this location. While the canopy bridge is quite simple (canvas strap) it is being used by some of the marmosets. However, some animals in the group choose to cross at grade rather than over the canopy crossing. Before they cross the street they stop, sit up, and look both ways (see images below). They take their time doing this. This suggests that the marmosets are aware of the dangers associated with crossing the road and try to choose a moment when no vehicles are passing by.

Having observed the animals for a number of months I am pretty sure at least one of the individuals crosses both at grade and across the canopy crossing. So, when a group of marmosets approaches the road at this location, some of the animals use the canopy crossing while others choose to cross at grade. In addition, during different crossing attempts, individual animals sometimes use the canopy crossing but at other times the same individual chooses to cross at grade.

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Images below: Black-pencilled marmoset (Callithrix penicillata) stops on the curb and looks both ways before running across the road, right under the canopy crossing, ESALQ campus, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil

Black-pencilled marmoset (Callithrix penicillata) looking for traffic before crossing at grade right under the canopy crossing, ESALQ campus, Piracicaba, São Paulo, BrazilBlack-pencilled marmoset (Callithrix penicillata) looking for traffic before crossing at grade right under the canopy crossing, ESALQ campus, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil Black-pencilled marmoset (Callithrix penicillata) looking for traffic before crossing at grade right under the canopy crossing, ESALQ campus, Piracicaba, São Paulo, BrazilBlack-pencilled marmoset (Callithrix penicillata) looking for traffic before crossing at grade right under the canopy crossing, ESALQ campus, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil Black-pencilled marmoset (Callithrix penicillata) looking for traffic before crossing at grade right under the canopy crossing, ESALQ campus, Piracicaba, São Paulo, BrazilBlack-pencilled marmoset (Callithrix penicillata) looking for traffic before crossing at grade right under the canopy crossing, ESALQ campus, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil Black-pencilled marmoset (Callithrix penicillata) looking for traffic before crossing at grade right under the canopy crossing, ESALQ campus, Piracicaba, São Paulo, BrazilBlack-pencilled marmoset (Callithrix penicillata) looking for traffic before crossing at grade right under the canopy crossing, ESALQ campus, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil

Image below: Black-pencilled marmoset (Callithrix penicillata) runs across the road, right under the canopy crossing, ESALQ campus, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil

Black-pencilled marmoset (Callithrix penicillata) running across street under canopy crossing, ESALQ campus, Piracicaba, São Paulo, BrazilBlack-pencilled marmoset (Callithrix penicillata) running across street under canopy crossing, ESALQ campus, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil

Image below: Black-pencilled marmoset with young on back (Callithrix penicillata) runs across the road, right under the canopy crossing, ESALQ campus, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil

Black-pencilled marmoset (Callithrix penicillata) with baby running across street right under canopy crossing, ESALQ campus, Piracicaba, São Paulo, BrazilBlack-pencilled marmoset (Callithrix penicillata) with baby running across street right under canopy crossing, ESALQ campus, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil

Road ecology blog: Black-pencilled marmosets (Callithrix penicillata) use canopy crossing, ESALQ campus, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil.

The canopy crossing was installed in 2014 in response to one or more marmosets being killed by vehicles at this location. While the canopy bridge is quite simple (canvas strap) it is being used by some of the marmosets.

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Black-pencilled marmoset (Callithrix penicillata) looking for traffic before crossing at grade right under the canopy crossing, ESALQ campus, Piracicaba, São Paulo, BrazilBlack-pencilled marmoset (Callithrix penicillata) looking for traffic before crossing at grade right under the canopy crossing, ESALQ campus, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil Black-pencilled marmoset (Callithrix penicillata) looking for traffic before crossing at grade right under the canopy crossing, ESALQ campus, Piracicaba, São Paulo, BrazilBlack-pencilled marmoset (Callithrix penicillata) looking for traffic before crossing at grade right under the canopy crossing, ESALQ campus, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil

Black-pencilled marmoset (Callithrix penicillata) looking for traffic before crossing at grade right under the canopy crossing, ESALQ campus, Piracicaba, São Paulo, BrazilBlack-pencilled marmoset (Callithrix penicillata) looking for traffic before crossing at grade right under the canopy crossing, ESALQ campus, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil

Brazilian birds: Pampa finch (Embernagra platensis), Parque Nacional Aparados da Serra, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.

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Pampa finch (Embernagra platensis), Parque Nacional Aparados da Serra, Rio Grande do Sul, BrazilPampa finch (Embernagra platensis), Parque Nacional Aparados da Serra, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil Pampa finch (Embernagra platensis), Parque Nacional Aparados da Serra, Rio Grande do Sul, BrazilPampa finch (Embernagra platensis), Parque Nacional Aparados da Serra, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Road ecology blog: Molina’s hog-nosed skunk (Conepatus chinga) roadkill, BR-101, 5.4 km south of Capivari do Sil, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.

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Molina’s hog-nosed skunk (Conepatus chinga) roadkill, BR-101, 5.4 km south of Capivari do Sil, Rio Grande do Sul, BrazilMolina’s hog-nosed skunk (Conepatus chinga) roadkill, BR-101, 5.4 km south of Capivari do Sil, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil Molina’s hog-nosed skunk (Conepatus chinga) roadkill, BR-101, 5.4 km south of Capivari do Sil, Rio Grande do Sul, BrazilMolina’s hog-nosed skunk (Conepatus chinga) roadkill, BR-101, 5.4 km south of Capivari do Sil, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil Molina’s hog-nosed skunk (Conepatus chinga) roadkill, BR-101, 5.4 km south of Capivari do Sil, Rio Grande do Sul, BrazilMolina’s hog-nosed skunk (Conepatus chinga) roadkill, BR-101, 5.4 km south of Capivari do Sil, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil Molina’s hog-nosed skunk (Conepatus chinga) roadkill, BR-101, 5.4 km south of Capivari do Sil, Rio Grande do Sul, BrazilMolina’s hog-nosed skunk (Conepatus chinga) roadkill, BR-101, 5.4 km south of Capivari do Sil, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil Molina’s hog-nosed skunk (Conepatus chinga) roadkill, BR-101, 5.4 km south of Capivari do Sil, Rio Grande do Sul, BrazilMolina’s hog-nosed skunk (Conepatus chinga) roadkill, BR-101, 5.4 km south of Capivari do Sil, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil Molina’s hog-nosed skunk (Conepatus chinga) roadkill, BR-101, 5.4 km south of Capivari do Sil, Rio Grande do Sul, BrazilMolina’s hog-nosed skunk (Conepatus chinga) roadkill, BR-101, 5.4 km south of Capivari do Sil, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil Molina’s hog-nosed skunk (Conepatus chinga) roadkill, BR-101, 5.4 km south of Capivari do Sil, Rio Grande do Sul, BrazilMolina’s hog-nosed skunk (Conepatus chinga) roadkill, BR-101, 5.4 km south of Capivari do Sil, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Brazilian birds: Chilean flamingo (Phoenicopterus chilensis), Lagoa do Peixe, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Near threatened (IUCN, 2015).

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Chilean flamingo (Phoenicopterus chilensis), Lagoa do Peixe, Rio Grande do Sul, BrazilChilean flamingo (Phoenicopterus chilensis), Lagoa do Peixe, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Near threatened (IUCN, 2015)

Road ecology blog: Giant wood-rail (Aramides ypecaha) roadkill, RS-040, near Capivari do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.

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Giant wood-rail (Aramides ypecaha) roadkill, RS-040, near Capivari do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, BrazilGiant wood-rail (Aramides ypecaha) roadkill, RS-040, near Capivari do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil Giant wood-rail (Aramides ypecaha) roadkill, RS-040, near Capivari do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, BrazilGiant wood-rail (Aramides ypecaha) roadkill, RS-040, near Capivari do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Birding near Mostardas, in and around Lagoa do Peixe National Park, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.

Image below: right to left: Diogenes Borges Machado, Fernanda Zimmermann Teixeira, Bethanie Walder, Paula Pinheiro, Larissa Oliveira Gonçalves, and Gabriela Shuck.

Birding near Mostardas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil (right to left Diogenes Borges Machado, Fernanda Zimmermann Teixeira, Bethanie Walder, Paula Pinheiro, Larissa Oliveira Gonçalves, and Gabriela ShuckBirding near Mostardas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil (right to left Diogenes Borges Machado, Fernanda Zimmermann Teixeira, Bethanie Walder, Paula Pinheiro, Larissa Oliveira Gonçalves, and Gabriela Shuck

Image below: Maguari stork (Ciconia maguari), Lagoa do Peixe, near Mostardas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.

Maguari stork (Ciconia maguari), Lagoa do Peixe, near Mostardas, Rio Grande do Sul, BrazilMaguari stork (Ciconia maguari), Lagoa do Peixe, near Mostardas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Image below: Southern screamer (Chauna torquata), Lagoa do Peixe, near Mostardas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.

Southern screamer (Chauna torquata), Lagoa do Peixe, near Mostardas, Rio Grande do Sul, BrazilSouthern screamer (Chauna torquata), Lagoa do Peixe, near Mostardas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Images below: American oystercatcher (Haematopus palliatus), coast at Lagoa do Peixe, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.

American oystercatcher (Haematopus palliatus), coast at Lagoa do Peixe, Rio Grande do Sul, BrazilAmerican oystercatcher (Haematopus palliatus), coast at Lagoa do Peixe, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil American oystercatcher (Haematopus palliatus), coast at Lagoa do Peixe, Rio Grande do Sul, BrazilAmerican oystercatcher (Haematopus palliatus), coast at Lagoa do Peixe, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Image below: Limpkin (Aramus guarauna), near Mostardas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Limpkin (Aramus guarauna), near Mostardas, Rio Grande do Sul, BrazilLimpkin (Aramus guarauna), near Mostardas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Images below: Long-winged harrier (Circus buffoni), Lagoa do Peixe, near Mostardas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Long-winged harrier (Circus buffoni), Lagoa do Peixe, near Mostardas, Rio Grande do Sul, BrazilLong-winged harrier (Circus buffoni), Lagoa do Peixe, near Mostardas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil Long-winged harrier (Circus buffoni), Lagoa do Peixe, near Mostardas, Rio Grande do Sul, BrazilLong-winged harrier (Circus buffoni), Lagoa do Peixe, near Mostardas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Image below: Southern lapwing (Vanellus chilensis), Lagoa de Peixe, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.

Southern lapwing (Vanellus chilensis), Lagoa de Peixe, Rio Grande do Sul, BrazilSouthern lapwing (Vanellus chilensis), Lagoa de Peixe, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Image below: Snail kite (Rostrhamus sociabilis), near Mostardas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.

Snail kite (Rostrhamus sociabilis), near Mostardas, Rio Grande do Sul, BrazilSnail kite (Rostrhamus sociabilis), near Mostardas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Image below: Burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia) in sand dunes, Lagoa do Peixe, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.

Burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia) in sand dunes, Lagoa do Peixe, Rio Grande do Sul, BrazilBurrowing owl (Athene cunicularia) in sand dunes, Lagoa do Peixe, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

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With Larissa Oliveira Gonçalves, Fernanda Zimmermann Teixeira and Bethanie Walder.

Image below: All business

Larissa Oliveira Gonçalves, Fernanda Zimmermann Teixeira and Bethanie Walder at a canopy crossing, near Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, BrazilLarissa Oliveira Gonçalves, Fernanda Zimmermann Teixeira and Bethanie Walder at a canopy crossing, near Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Through the Urban Monkeys Program, six canopy crossings were installed in a neighborhood adjacent to the Lami José Lutzenberger Biological Reserve. The aim of the program is to reduce electric hazards associated with power lines and to reduce road-kills of brown howler monkeys (Alouatta guariba clamitans). The power company insulated the power lines in several places, specifically around the canopy crossings. The implementation and monitoring effort of the canopy crossings involved the local community. The following species have been observed using the structures: brown howler monkey (Alouatta guariba clamitans), white-eared opossum (Didelphis albiventris), and orange-spined hairy dwarf porcupine (Sphiggurus villosus).

Image below: Monkey business

Larissa Oliveira Gonçalves, Fernanda Zimmermann Teixeira and Bethanie Walder doing their monkey thing at a canopy crossing, near Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, BrazilLarissa Oliveira Gonçalves, Fernanda Zimmermann Teixeira and Bethanie Walder doing their monkey thing at a canopy crossing, near Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Through the Urban Monkeys Program, six canopy crossings were installed in a neighborhood adjacent to the Lami José Lutzenberger Biological Reserve. The aim of the program is to reduce electric hazards associated with power lines and to reduce road-kills of brown howler monkeys (Alouatta guariba clamitans). The power company insulated the power lines in several places, specifically around the canopy crossings. The implementation and monitoring effort of the canopy crossings involved the local community. The following species have been observed using the structures: brown howler monkey (Alouatta guariba clamitans), white-eared opossum (Didelphis albiventris), and orange-spined hairy dwarf porcupine (Sphiggurus villosus).

Brazilian birds: Cocoi heron (Ardea cocoi), South Atlantic Ocean coast at Lagoa do Peixe, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Interesting to see this heron foraging on the coast with waves crashing... I normally think of them foraging in calmer fresh water or brackish water...

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Cocoi heron (Ardea cocoi), South Atlantic Ocean coast at Lagoa do Peixe, Rio Grande do Sul, BrazilCocoi heron (Ardea cocoi), South Atlantic Ocean coast at Lagoa do Peixe, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil Cocoi heron (Ardea cocoi), South Atlantic Ocean coast at Lagoa do Peixe, Rio Grande do Sul, BrazilCocoi heron (Ardea cocoi), South Atlantic Ocean coast at Lagoa do Peixe, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil Cocoi heron (Ardea cocoi), South Atlantic Ocean coast at Lagoa do Peixe, Rio Grande do Sul, BrazilCocoi heron (Ardea cocoi), South Atlantic Ocean coast at Lagoa do Peixe, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Brazilian pine (Araucaria angustifolia) in fog, Parque Nacional de Aparados da Serra, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

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Brazilian pine (Araucaria angustifolia) in fog, Parque Nacional de Aparados da Serra, Rio Grande do Sul, BrazilBrazilian pine (Araucaria angustifolia) in fog, Parque Nacional de Aparados da Serra, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Brazilian pine (Araucaria angustifolia) in fog, Parque Nacional de Aparados da Serra, Rio Grande do Sul, BrazilBrazilian pine (Araucaria angustifolia) in fog, Parque Nacional de Aparados da Serra, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Brazilian birds: Many-colored rush tyrant (Tachuris rubrigastra), near Mostardas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.

Our friend Diogenes Borges Machado told me he knew a good place to see the many-colored rush tyrant.... he was not kidding! When we walked up to the rushes along the Lagao dos Patos we almost immediately heard and saw the bird! Absolutely spectacular colors!

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Many-colored rush tyrant (Tachuris rubrigastra), near Mostardas, Rio Grande do Sul, BrazilMany-colored rush tyrant (Tachuris rubrigastra), near Mostardas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil