Submitted by Samantha Fino on the 2013 winter session study abroad program in Costa Rica sponsored by the Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology…
At each location we did bird point counts and recorded the species of birds we saw in the area. We also discussed issues in conservation throughout the trip, such as what problems exist in the environment and possible solutions to these conflicts.
Location 1 (during week 1): Santa Rosa/Nancite, Tropical Dry Forest. For the first handful of days in Costa Rica, we went to the Santa Rosa National Reserve. Here we went on short hikes to explore the environment and the wildlife. We saw agautis and anteaters, as well as a variety of birds and arthropods. We hiked 10 miles to Playa Nancite. On this hike we climbed a very difficult mountain, but the view from the top was worth it. This was also the first time I saw the Pacific Ocean, so that was pretty cool. Early the following morning, we found an arribada on the beach. There were over 300 turtles coming on shore to lay their eggs on the beach. The site was incredible.
Location 2 (during weeks 1 and 2): Altos San Luis, Premontane Moist Forest. Here, in addition to hiking the local trails and seeing amazing wildlife, such as white faced capuchins, keel-billed toucans and leaf cutter ants, we explored a nearby waterfall, went to the cloud forest (Monteverde), learned about a sustainable coffee farm and experienced the culture in a local town called Santa Elena.
Location 3 (Week 2): Tiskita, Tropical Wet Forest. Along with local hikes and explorations, we saw wildlife such as kinkajous and fer de lances, we surfed at the beach, went horseback riding, and swam in waterfall pools. We also went snorkeling.
Location 4 (during weeks 2 and 3): Premontane Rainforest. In addition to local hikes and seeing wildlife, such as the resplendent quetzal, we visited a sustainable fish farm and a quetzal research station. We also played a game of soccer with the locals and climbed a mountain called Cerro del Muerte, mountain of death, to the continental divide.
Location 5 (week 3 and 4): Selva Bananito in San Gerardo de Dota, Tropical Moist Forest. At this location we saw the highest natural biodiversity of bird species, ranging from a great kiskidee to a montezuma oropendola. We also caught a puma on a camera trap. In addition to local hikes, we repelled up and down large trees, went horseback riding, and had a bonfire.
Location 6 (week 4) La Selva in Limon Province. Here we took local hikes and went rafting down a river. Here we mainly compiled our data from our bird counts, created powerpoint presentations on our information, and drew conclusions based our results. All of this information on tropical biodiversity mainly stressed the importance we need to put on nature and the environment through governmental protection and conservation.
The group we went with was honestly one of a kind and could not have been better. We all bonded so well which made the trip even more enjoyable.