Presentations

Presentations were excellent   Didn't realize there were so many projects. Students rose to the challenge.  Really enjoyed seeing all these students do so well,. and that this research station and CRIRE can open young minds to scientific research.  projects ranged  ----on water quality using macroinvertebrates,  our bird strata habitat project, pioneer species coming in openings in forest,  bat tents using leaves.  I am so happy I did the bird project -- identifying 96 species---so many exquisite tanagers----silver throated, scarlet rumped, blue grey,  palm, and the dimorphic turquoise colored green honey creeper and yellow green female.  Lesson's motmot with all the colors of the rainbow is my favorite, but every day and every hour I would see new species----crimson fronted parakeets screaming overhead to just dive into a palm and disappear,  seeing the young of the caracara in the nest and then loudly fledging,  finding a  blue-headed parrot camouflaged in a tree;  seeing several woodcreepers going up trunks; and of course the yellow throated toucan calling every morning and evening.  All amazing
It was too much in this short time to tie birds with feeding of certain trees-----but I would like doing studies relating to this, or looking at specific trees and identifying the birds using those trees and how. Also not enough time to tie to climate change, but the visitor center has a poster showing 8 species of birds which have moved north  and talking to Rhoda he said they have found a plant which is normally found in lowlands,  and some trees flower earlier and drop their leaves earlier--so more research relating to climate change needs to occur.


   Little rain now and hearing the toucan again calling its late afternoon call.   Swifts falling out of the sky again going to their nesting.   People packing now  getting ready to leave early tomorrow when we'll drive coast route and stop for lunch along the coast and see a beach although not able to get in water due to riptides.
Many thanks to Jessica, Scott, and Steve for keeping this program going   So important   This is the way science should be learned.   Also many thanks to Jason the naturalist, who went out with our group to document the trees which birds use---flowers and fruits----and Rhoda, the Nobe for their TEK knowledge,  as well as kitchen staff for preparing such healthy meals.   I have been spoiled----and will miss being here.  .