Hola everybody!
My posts are going to be a little sporadic on this trip. I didn't want to use my computer in the last location we were at because of the humidity. But it was so gorgeous!
My posts are going to be a little sporadic on this trip. I didn't want to use my computer in the last location we were at because of the humidity. But it was so gorgeous!
First Full Day
December 29, 2015
We stayed the night at Guayabo Lodge. We couldn't see anything the night before when we arrived because it was pitch black outside. I had a wake up call I did not ask for from two birds outside our window. But, I think they were telling me to get up and see the view outside. It was incredible. I continued to stay out there until breakfast and bird watch. We saw so many different kinds! We even saw some birds that live in Ohio!
Later in the day, we traveled to CATIE. We saw the botanical gardens, international coffee collection, and seed bank. The seed bank has over 7,000 different varieties of species! I really appreciate their mission and what they're doing. (CATIE's mission: "Sustainable and inclusive human being in Latin America and the Caribbean, promoting education, research and outreach for sustainable management of agriculture and conservation of natural resources.") When you think about it they are changing everyone's lives without many people knowing that they exist.
That first day I got to see so many amazing things. Some of the species include: bird eating snake, Jesus Christ lizard, vialacious trogan, eyelash viper, gallanule, red-eyed tree frog, jacana, orapendula, caimen, duck billed heron, and a rufus tailed hummingbird.
We stayed the night at Guayabo Lodge. We couldn't see anything the night before when we arrived because it was pitch black outside. I had a wake up call I did not ask for from two birds outside our window. But, I think they were telling me to get up and see the view outside. It was incredible. I continued to stay out there until breakfast and bird watch. We saw so many different kinds! We even saw some birds that live in Ohio!
Later in the day, we traveled to CATIE. We saw the botanical gardens, international coffee collection, and seed bank. The seed bank has over 7,000 different varieties of species! I really appreciate their mission and what they're doing. (CATIE's mission: "Sustainable and inclusive human being in Latin America and the Caribbean, promoting education, research and outreach for sustainable management of agriculture and conservation of natural resources.") When you think about it they are changing everyone's lives without many people knowing that they exist.
That first day I got to see so many amazing things. Some of the species include: bird eating snake, Jesus Christ lizard, vialacious trogan, eyelash viper, gallanule, red-eyed tree frog, jacana, orapendula, caimen, duck billed heron, and a rufus tailed hummingbird.
Almonds and Corals
After we visited CATIE, we went to our next location, which was Almonds and Corals (our tour guide, Marco actually owns this eco-resort!). It was in the rainforest and right next to the Atlantic Ocean. We practically got to live in tree houses while we were there!
December 30, 2015
The first morning we were at Almonds and Corals, we woke up early to go walk along the beach. On the path, we got to see our first sights of howler monkeys and sloths in the wild! Right along the beach there were red mangrove trees which are super rare in that type of habitat. There is also a riptide and Marco explained how they work. The plan for that day was to visit an indigenous population, the Bri Bris. We had to take an hour boat ride to get to the village. The Bri Bri people are all about keeping their culture, that’s the main reason people come to their village. There was one woman, Bernarda, that began an organization 25 years ago to reintroduce the culture. She focused on forest conservation, gender equality, and economy for the village. We got to see how they traditionally make chocolate (my favorite thing while we were there, you know me and my sweet tooth!), took a tour of the village and schools, had a swim in the river, learned how they thatch rooves, and archery! The children in their village go to school through high school, which is an amazing thing compared to most indigenous peoples around the world. At the end of the night, we got to go on a night hike which was super fun!
December 31, 2015
Yesterday morning, we took a walk to the beach and saw howler monkeys feeding. It was cool to see them use their prehensile tails to hang onto the branches! Then we had class and began our research projects. I am working with pollinators. We are looking at whether or not the color, size, and shape of the flower effects the variety and quantity of the pollinators that visit it. Once we decide our categories, methods, and hypothesis, we did a test run in the field. We still have a few kinks to work out, but I think it will be an interesting project overall with lots of usable data. After lunch, we had a 4 hour bus ride to our location now, La Selva Biological Station. (But before we left, I got to see a two-toed sloth climbing all over a tree!) We passed plantations on the way and I saw a pineapple farm. The station is used by researchers and educational groups from around the world studying tropical rainforests.
Well anyways, I have to get up in about 4 ½ hours! I just wanted to give you a little update of life in Costa Rica right now! Talk to you soon!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Kirsten
P.S. As always, overlook any mistakes please!
P.S.S. I'm going to put all of my pictures on Facebook! It takes too long to upload them onto Weebly!
December 30, 2015
The first morning we were at Almonds and Corals, we woke up early to go walk along the beach. On the path, we got to see our first sights of howler monkeys and sloths in the wild! Right along the beach there were red mangrove trees which are super rare in that type of habitat. There is also a riptide and Marco explained how they work. The plan for that day was to visit an indigenous population, the Bri Bris. We had to take an hour boat ride to get to the village. The Bri Bri people are all about keeping their culture, that’s the main reason people come to their village. There was one woman, Bernarda, that began an organization 25 years ago to reintroduce the culture. She focused on forest conservation, gender equality, and economy for the village. We got to see how they traditionally make chocolate (my favorite thing while we were there, you know me and my sweet tooth!), took a tour of the village and schools, had a swim in the river, learned how they thatch rooves, and archery! The children in their village go to school through high school, which is an amazing thing compared to most indigenous peoples around the world. At the end of the night, we got to go on a night hike which was super fun!
December 31, 2015
Yesterday morning, we took a walk to the beach and saw howler monkeys feeding. It was cool to see them use their prehensile tails to hang onto the branches! Then we had class and began our research projects. I am working with pollinators. We are looking at whether or not the color, size, and shape of the flower effects the variety and quantity of the pollinators that visit it. Once we decide our categories, methods, and hypothesis, we did a test run in the field. We still have a few kinks to work out, but I think it will be an interesting project overall with lots of usable data. After lunch, we had a 4 hour bus ride to our location now, La Selva Biological Station. (But before we left, I got to see a two-toed sloth climbing all over a tree!) We passed plantations on the way and I saw a pineapple farm. The station is used by researchers and educational groups from around the world studying tropical rainforests.
Well anyways, I have to get up in about 4 ½ hours! I just wanted to give you a little update of life in Costa Rica right now! Talk to you soon!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Kirsten
P.S. As always, overlook any mistakes please!
P.S.S. I'm going to put all of my pictures on Facebook! It takes too long to upload them onto Weebly!