Playa Langosta: Las Baulas National Park

Sea Turtle Egg Development Research
Ashley & Renee assisting Alejandro in data collection on sea turtle egg
development at Las Baulas National Park.

 

Darlene with Baby Leatherback Sea Turtle 
Sea turtle volunteers often get the opportunity to see baby sea turtles close-up when they are collected during the day and re-released at night to give them a better chance of survival. 

Introductory Sea Turtle Research Meeting 
 The 2007 group receiving instructions on research methods employed in conservation of sea turtles from Eddy, Coordinator of Las Baulas National Park, Playa Langosta Sector.

Baby Green Turtle 
One of a clutch of baby green turtles that was collected during the day and released
under the cover of night to improve their chances of survival.

Learning About Leatherback Sea Turtles
A presentation on the biology of Leatherback Sea Turtles prior to beginning
volunteering with research & data collection.

Rustic Playa Langosta Accomodations (at that time)
The rustic accomodations at Las Baulas National Park (Playa Langosta Sector). |
This camping shelter was available as an alternative to sleeping on the beach.

Cañas: Las Pumas Wildlife Rehabilitation Center

Jaguar
A jaguar in rehabilitation at the Las Pumas Rescue Center in Canas. 





Keel-Billed Toucan
 A toucan in recuperation at the Las Pumas Resue Center we visited enroute to
Guanacaste from the Central Valley.

Palmares: Madre Verde Reserve

Reforestation Activity: Carbon Sequestering & more.

Planting a tree during our visit to the Madre Verde watershed conservation project in Palmares.  The reserve forms part of the Montes de Aguacate biological cooridor, is a community watershed conservation project, & is involved in environmental education.

San Ramón: Alberto Brenes Biological Reserve

Pre-Montane Arboreal Frog
A rain forest tree frog we photographed (extensively!) at the Alberto Brenes Biological Reserve.
We'll have to ask Jeff for the exact species name!

Exploring 'Puddle Ecology'
Investigating life in a pre-montane rain forest puddle with Jeff Streicher
(GMU Faculty), a specialist in Costa Rican Frogs.

Insect Identification 
One of the night activities at the Alberto Brenes Biological Reserve:
Viewing a collection of insects. 

La Fortuna Area

Agriculture & Land Use: Casava (Yucca)
Miguel Karian (EEI Director) teaching about land use during a visit to a Casava (Yucca)
plantation in the Fortuna region.

Winter 2007 Group at Arenal Volcano
A visit to the Arenal National Park & volcano. 

San José: National Biodiversity Institute & Park

Tropical Diversity in Costa Rica Lecture
A presentation on tropical diveristy in Costa Rica at the National Biodiversity Institute by
Dr. Carlos Valerio G., Vice-President of the Board of Directors.

Quepos: Manuel Antonio National Park

 Manuel Antonio National Park

One of the prettiest beaches in Costa Rica.  It is also one of the most visited national parks.

 

Learning about Park Management
Receiving a presentation from a representative of the National Park
Ministry (MINAE) at Manuel Antonio.

Orotina: Turu Bari

 Orchid Garden Visit
Valerie, Adam, and Verla (left to right) during a visit to an orchid garden.

Iguana Farm
Carmen, Miguel, Gia, and Verla at an iguana farm in the 

Central Pacific region.

Trapiche

A traditional trapiche: Animal-powered sugar cane production facility.

Palmares: Madre Verde Reserve

 'Day of the Tree' Activity
Primary school students planting seedlings during a 'Day of the Tree' ceremony the group 

assisted with. Local schools planted trees as part of a reforestation project, 

and each participant became a godparent to a school's tree.

 

Visiting a Butterfly Garden

Gia and Valerie in the butterfly enclosure of the women's butterfly cooperative.

Butterfly Garden
Valerie and Miguel at a butterfly garden. This is the section where
butterfly pupae grow into caterpillars.

Carmen with a Blue Morpho Caterpillar

Carmen holding a Blue Morpho butterfly caterpillar during a visit to the
women's cooperative buttery farm. 

San Ramón: Finca Patriana Organic Coffee Farm

Organic Coffee Plantation
Learning about organic/bird-friendly coffee production at a coffee farm in San Ramon. 

Sampling Organic Coffee
The group tasting organic coffee after learning about production and touring the farm. 

From left to right are Valerie, Gia, Adam, Verla and Brack.