THE BIRDS' HOUSE

In a 20 has. jungle area near Puerto Iguazú ( National Motorway 12, km6), and next to the Iguazú National Park, you can find the Birds ´  Recovery and Breeding Center GÜIRÁ OGÁ, which means The House of Birds in Guaraní.  

It was founded on August 23^rd, 1997 and its goal is to rescue, recover, rehabilitate, breed and return birds species of our jungle, in danger of extinction. 

The project is directed by Jorge Eugenio Anfuso  y Silvia Marta Elsegood, specialists in birds of pray rehabilitation; the technical advice corresponds to Juan Carlos Chebez, distinguished environmentalist and the veterinary assistance is in charge of Wanderlei de Moraes, a wild fauna specialist.

Aves Argentinas AOP( Asociación Ornitológica del Plata) with its 85 years working in this field, offers institutional support , and the Ministry of Renewable Resources of Misiones government donates the property.

The Misiones or Paranaense ( from Paraná) jungle, is one of the most threatened environment of Argentina and at the same time the one with vastest biodiversity. At the beginning of the 20^th century, this jungle covered an important part of Brazil, Paraguay and almost all  Misiones.

Nowadays, there is 5% in Brazil, 15% in Paraguay and 45% in Misiones left. However, thanks to a vast net of National and Provincial Parks as well as protected areas, a Green Corridor – as it is called to the jungle portion which goes from Iguazú to Moconá falls- shelters the last remnants of this environment. It contains more than 1.400.000 has. of jungle and Misiones has the responsibility to preserve it for future generations.

Birds which take part of the project

There are four groups of birds in a difficult situation and in need of urgent assistance.

The big forest eagles from Misiones have adapted to live in jungle denseness. Undoubtedly, the winged queen is the Harpy, the strongest and more powerful bird of pray in the world.

The Harpy, proud hunter, is the protagonist among the depredators which act in a higher level than the emergent canopy of the jungle.

Together with the harpy, other smaller though powerful eagles, as the Ornate Hawk-Eagle, the Black Hawk-Eagle, the Black and White Hawk Eagle and the Crested Eagle, form part of the biggest group included in the project.

There are also parrots, among which the Red Macaw is the biggest and most attractive,  nowadays extinguished in Misiones.

The Vinaceous- Breasted Parrot, the Golden Collared Macaw, the Red Spectacled Parrot and others also formed part of the project. Due to the easiness they have to learn to talk and their attractive colors, the commercial hunting reduced their population and nowadays they are on the edge of extinction.

The guans family includes the Bare-Faced Curassow ( extinguished in Misiones), the Rusty Margined Guan and the Black-Fronted Piping- Guan. All of them, except the first one were abundant in our jungle. At present, they only survive in the Iguazú National Park, Urugua- í  Provincial Park and other protected areas.

The Macuco is the biggest member of the partridges and its height can reach almost ½ a meter.

The Macuco, more often heard than seen, is the unique partridge which use to sleep on tree branches. It has been hunted for its craved meat, and nowadays only survives in natural protected areas.

A great number of wild species- which are confiscated by customs and security forces- are assisted in Güirá Ogá, due to its location within the three borders and the traffic of fauna from neighboring countries to Argentina. 

There are also animals which are knocked down in the access road to the Iguazú National Park and  are derived to this center for assistance.

Due to the lack of a wild fauna  rehabilitation center in the region, Güirá Ogá has to deal with all injured animals. They receive veterinary treatment, are rehabilitated and subsequently released to their natural habitat.

Those animals which have suffered irreparable injuries and cannot be returned to the jungle are derived to zoos or institutions determined by the Ministry of Ecology.

In this way, without being apart from the original project which is to assist threatened birds, Güirá Ogá looks after all those animals which have suffered the unfortunate experience of crossing man´ s path.

Sparrow Hawks, Owls, Toucans, Squirrel Cuckoo, Giant Anteaters, Crab- eating Raccoons, Lesser Anteaters- Collared, Alligators, etc., are some of the 220 animals been assisted in these three years of work and that nowadays, thanks to all the people who work in Güirá Ogá, 150 of them have been able to return to their unique home: The Jungle of Misiones.

Undoubtedly, the jungle which surrounds this center is also outstanding.

Habitually, whenever a project is carried out within this environment, the removed surface turn out to be bigger than the needed one.

Güirá Ogá, has been built in the middle of the jungle, taking advantage of spaces left by trees which have fallen down due to winds, storms or intense rain. 
This means that no one tree has been cut, and try to demonstrate to mankind that all of us can live in harmony with nature, without any need of destroying the ecosystem.

ASK YOUR TRAVEL AGENT TO VISIT THE BIRDS' HOUSE WHILE VISITING THE IGUASSU FALLS, ARGENTINEAN SIDE.