tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9460000035808414022024-03-05T22:42:43.129-05:00Experience NatureJenn Sinasachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01483977646977191025noreply@blogger.comBlogger49125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-946000003580841402.post-57500568102798415002014-09-26T22:40:00.000-05:002014-09-26T22:40:20.486-05:00A Harpy Eagle Story<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Every so often a moment comes along that makes past efforts feel so rewarding. I was just getting settled in at work at the </span><a href="http://www.canopytower.com/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;" target="_blank">Canopy Tower</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"> the other day, and all of a sudden I hear my wonderful coworkers shouting "JENN! JENN!". It broke all tranquility of the morning and caught me off guard. I ran outside and looked up at the third floor, where Jorge and Aura were standing in the window yelling "HARPY EAGLE!!" We ran to grab binoculars, spotting scope, camera, phones etc and within moments we had the sight of a beautiful adult Harpy Eagle perched in the crown of an emergent tree beside the Tower. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlqRXoS2SsZdf2j15rnox0AcYlQXOaIDKXWzeKTUrOVzF-lrXGK-S8F7n7KHRK6zXnHQlVOzjS7Jz0I43M30xasgjNtPYi1RWUh4AlNwP5O8RVK6X2CocjyfZ3id3gwGXd-EtjrKi9KwY/s1600/20140924_05+LV.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Harpy Eagle Panama" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlqRXoS2SsZdf2j15rnox0AcYlQXOaIDKXWzeKTUrOVzF-lrXGK-S8F7n7KHRK6zXnHQlVOzjS7Jz0I43M30xasgjNtPYi1RWUh4AlNwP5O8RVK6X2CocjyfZ3id3gwGXd-EtjrKi9KwY/s1600/20140924_05+LV.jpg" height="320" title="Harpy Eagle Panama" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Harpy Eagle at the Canopy Tower</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was one of those moments, to see a Harpy Eagle in the wild, it doesn't get much better than that. However, for me, it did. The immense eagle perched comfortably with her back to us; once I saw her in the scope, I could see that this bird had an antenna on its back, extending from a radio transmitter. I immediately knew she was a bird released by the <a href="http://www.peregrinefund.org/projects/harpy-eagle" target="_blank">Harpy Eagle Conservation and Research project</a> operated by the <a href="http://www.peregrinefund.org/index.php" target="_blank">Peregrine Fund</a>. I first came to Panama in November of 2008 to volunteer on this project, a very rewarding experience for me, and had the privilege to track several Harpy Eagles in Soberania National Park and learn about their behaviour and conservation. The question was, who was it??</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Trying my best not to startle the bird, I slowly found a good spot to hopefully see her identification band. Persistence paid off and from a narrow angle looking up, I could see a faint "LV" on the blue band around its leg. It was LV! I couldn't believe it. LV is a very special bird. Here is her story. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 2008, a young Harpy Eagle was shot in Darien. Likely still in her nest tree, and being tended to by devoted parents who had spent over a year and a half devotedly feeding and nurturing the eaglet. Luckily, in her injured state, she was reported to officials in Panama and was rescued and brought to Panama City. In the excellent hands of Peregrine Fund biologists and veterinarians, she had a surgery to repair her right wing, which sustained the injury. When she gained enough strength, it was determined that she was a possible candidate for release. To ensure her well-being, she was fitted with a VHF radio transmitter and PTT satellite transmitter, so the staff and volunteers could keep a close eye on her. They also placed a sturdy metal band around her right leg, with the initials "LV". She was released into Soberania National Park on March 9, 2009. She was an estimated 2 years of age at her time of release.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaMdwJ-V3sG9eAQIy1vMhAk0a1r3f11-6aYOklBuSA804KVLP5McPOrGcUD33HGlh5GZIQc9lPYMS7pFT0-mdDqZ-BEBCSdQIjQZI4_NWwu_gjZD08VzM2esTC-aayptGBNIY46-cQQGI/s1600/20090309_05+Releasing+LV.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Harpy Eagle Panama" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaMdwJ-V3sG9eAQIy1vMhAk0a1r3f11-6aYOklBuSA804KVLP5McPOrGcUD33HGlh5GZIQc9lPYMS7pFT0-mdDqZ-BEBCSdQIjQZI4_NWwu_gjZD08VzM2esTC-aayptGBNIY46-cQQGI/s1600/20090309_05+Releasing+LV.JPG" height="266" title="Harpy Eagle Panama" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">LV being released along Pipeline Road</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was volunteering on the project at the time and was there for her release. Her release was surreal for me, she was the only bird I saw released during my 7 months on the project, and I had the pure joy of following her and tracking her progress for 4 months of my time here. When she was released, she had a rather shaky first flight to a low branch along Pipeline Road. But she grew stronger and stronger every day. Unsure if she had even started catching her own prey in the wild at her estimated age, we fed her every week, week after week. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We affectionately called her "Love". </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And then on April 26, 2009, another milestone happened with LV. We found her, along a beautiful ravine deep in the national park, with a freshly-killed Hoffmann's Two-toed Sloth strung over a branch. I will never forget the excitement and accomplishment I felt for her (and us!) that day. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghyphenhyphenwjpHw6OJS9VHif36udNo1oele_8qyWG4s9-mJLFL2zmkzwMYohpKpKUNPgu_SVJWOhWqAKCMkeROb58Dz8lq9syUCQoe3hrcyQA0xujl6umxfQKsQbAUDYi991deeFRlGUyKDr7-Co/s1600/20090418_13+LV.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Harpy Eagle Panama" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghyphenhyphenwjpHw6OJS9VHif36udNo1oele_8qyWG4s9-mJLFL2zmkzwMYohpKpKUNPgu_SVJWOhWqAKCMkeROb58Dz8lq9syUCQoe3hrcyQA0xujl6umxfQKsQbAUDYi991deeFRlGUyKDr7-Co/s1600/20090418_13+LV.JPG" height="300" title="Harpy Eagle Panama" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">LV on April 18, 2009</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I left Panama in June 2009 after my time volunteering on the project, I said goodbye to LV for what I thought was the last time. But on September 24, 2014, beyond all expectations, there she was standing in front of me, </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5½ years after her release, now </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">in full adult plumage, incredibly beautiful, with every feather in perfect condition and no indication of ever having a wing injury. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK_LV7LQqlaiPnr7KK3VSYcTSwWpBMymOujuxDCYIub75ePPLRDzpJ8mEAUtPg_S3DaqipygzMg_n7aHsE1AfVF_7Kjj7lrGQSPQR9hG6dkVLH8jGWN3rQmtDtHCjWJSgLe_S3gXfWzTI/s1600/20140924_39+LV+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Harpy Eagle Panama" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK_LV7LQqlaiPnr7KK3VSYcTSwWpBMymOujuxDCYIub75ePPLRDzpJ8mEAUtPg_S3DaqipygzMg_n7aHsE1AfVF_7Kjj7lrGQSPQR9hG6dkVLH8jGWN3rQmtDtHCjWJSgLe_S3gXfWzTI/s1600/20140924_39+LV+1.jpg" height="400" title="Harpy Eagle Panama" width="288" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">LV, as beautiful as ever in 2014</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">During the two hours she perched beside the Canopy Tower, we watched her movements--her floppy crest bouncing around with every head movement, brief preening sessions, and she was well aware of our presence as she looked down at us on occasion. Then, she shifted her weight and opened her broad wings and flew down into the valley, out of sight. We were amazed at her immense size when she flew. We continued to hear her occasionally throughout the morning, she let us know that she wasn't far. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I like to think that she came back for a visit, to let us know she is doing well in the lowland forests of Soberania National Park. It is a great testament to the forest here, to be able to sustain a large forest eagle. We hope the very best for her. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">~ Jenn </span></div>
Jenn Sinasachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01483977646977191025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-946000003580841402.post-45074357114120734132014-07-23T09:38:00.000-05:002014-07-23T09:38:05.887-05:00It's been a while...<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It has been a busy year in Panama to say the least. I haven't had much time to write, but have so much inspiration over the past several months to do so. Where do I start?? Now that its the low season I am determined, kind of as a "mid-year resolution" to post more here. For the time being, I invite you to visit my <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jennsinasac/" target="_blank">Flickr page</a>, where have posted my best nature photo over the past several months. Here are a few of my favourites from July. Enjoy!</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy6FMAL-VpWWuFJPf9tmSEnzzCDdkvBRK52rTahVFRJKyrJZFGMgdgGtQAcAmNTTKyXa75omZmVo1vr9YhTzp6Wa52e0R_8UUVhtdqWNG2hfnIioC-m-CIh49sQiFFMmklqzGF5qBvdGk/s1600/20140706_04+Collared+Forest-Falcon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Collared Forest-Falcon" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy6FMAL-VpWWuFJPf9tmSEnzzCDdkvBRK52rTahVFRJKyrJZFGMgdgGtQAcAmNTTKyXa75omZmVo1vr9YhTzp6Wa52e0R_8UUVhtdqWNG2hfnIioC-m-CIh49sQiFFMmklqzGF5qBvdGk/s1600/20140706_04+Collared+Forest-Falcon.jpg" height="400" title="Collared Forest-Falcon " width="308" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Immature Collared Forest-Falcon (<i>Micrastur semitorquatus</i>), Metropolitan Natural Park</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-aWyOdmDg13bfNBhF721IHGBs7NYRQeV3V1LSikjl1HlysvZ5JG14dBAZZUMqSS1O3roBE7y_lwj5y5X9pqEvBNyWF_jBlRoTJsTVBK-qiOvCL6EuMhAxOrJxDzsiy5hSV-EDHWfLwY4/s1600/20140706_11+Tropical+Checkered-Skipper+Pyrgus+oileus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Tropical Checkered-Skipper" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-aWyOdmDg13bfNBhF721IHGBs7NYRQeV3V1LSikjl1HlysvZ5JG14dBAZZUMqSS1O3roBE7y_lwj5y5X9pqEvBNyWF_jBlRoTJsTVBK-qiOvCL6EuMhAxOrJxDzsiy5hSV-EDHWfLwY4/s1600/20140706_11+Tropical+Checkered-Skipper+Pyrgus+oileus.jpg" height="300" title="Tropical Checkered-Skipper" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tropical Checkered-Skipper (<i>Pyrgus oileus</i>), Metropolitan Natural Park</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisRh0nFPUvaMoxQ2ulRrbZJhyphenhyphenhGn_SNfJsVBMJgOUIUECBFk2CPJcHas876Winn305jpD7iT-ufVFF72zYp8znkBGUhiPO-UtfNw6sbSoes23BC0_7NcwZrI9pedVRyCtxXaTjhOP-F8g/s1600/20140706_13+Gold-bordered+Hairstreak+Rekoa+palegon+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Gold-bordered Hairstreak" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisRh0nFPUvaMoxQ2ulRrbZJhyphenhyphenhGn_SNfJsVBMJgOUIUECBFk2CPJcHas876Winn305jpD7iT-ufVFF72zYp8znkBGUhiPO-UtfNw6sbSoes23BC0_7NcwZrI9pedVRyCtxXaTjhOP-F8g/s1600/20140706_13+Gold-bordered+Hairstreak+Rekoa+palegon+1.jpg" height="256" title="Gold-bordered Hairstreak" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gold-bordered Hairstreak (<i>Rekoa palegon</i>), Punta Culebra</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeJeuVNiUDaVY1c265TsmxGvfwUb2LoH3qhyLCTFoGObeL8s_suTWG5nvLKvKAK_OV6DBzyOPVBIDN12zDbjVKTjiiwVyO7Zi3PbdztoJnuwTLkSRl4CJLDDGS0GwLVa1W7_2iEKMGy1k/s1600/20140709_20+Black+Ctenosaur.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Black Spiny-tailed Iguana" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeJeuVNiUDaVY1c265TsmxGvfwUb2LoH3qhyLCTFoGObeL8s_suTWG5nvLKvKAK_OV6DBzyOPVBIDN12zDbjVKTjiiwVyO7Zi3PbdztoJnuwTLkSRl4CJLDDGS0GwLVa1W7_2iEKMGy1k/s1600/20140709_20+Black+Ctenosaur.jpg" height="300" title="Black Spiny-tailed Iguana" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Black Spiny-tailed Iguana (<i>Ctenosaura similis</i>), Gatun</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">~ Jenn </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Jenn Sinasachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01483977646977191025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-946000003580841402.post-12192829628478822662014-01-12T23:27:00.000-05:002014-01-12T23:27:47.013-05:00Nature's Freak Show<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Following
my ever-freaky blog entry about <a href="http://jennsinasac.blogspot.com/2013/10/killer-fungi.html" target="_blank">killer fungi (Cordyceps)</a>, I recently had the
opportunity to see a fully-developed larvae of a Botfly, another one of
nature's freaky creatures that will creep out just about anyone! So of
course, I have to write about it (if you think about it, it’s fascinating as
well). <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What’s
so freaky about this fly? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The
botfly (family Oestridae) is a parasitic fly in which its larvae require a
soft, protective “home” in order to develop.
Botflies, however, choose the skin of animal hosts, including humans, as
the perfect place to for their maggots to develop. Female bot flies lay their eggs on their
vector, most often mosquitos but also other species of flies and a species of tick. When the vector bites the host, the egg or
hatched larvae is transferred onto the skin of the host, which then attaches
and buries itself into the skin. There
it creates a home for the next several weeks as it grows. Botfly maggots anchor themselves in their
“home” with rows of hooks around its body, and two fang-like mandibles. They feed on the blood and tissue of their
hosts. They require air through a
breathing hole in the skin, and their chamber is maintained and cleaned by an
antiseptic secretion. Botflies do not
kill their hosts, and after the larval development, the maggot will drop from
the skin of its animal host and pupate in the ground. Botflies are particularly common in mammalian
hosts in warm, tropical regions, but temperate regions are not out of the
question either, as deer, caribou and livestock are often used as hosts. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wait,
it gets freakier… there is a human botfly!
<i>Dermatobia hominis</i> is a
species that will seek out human hosts.
I have a number of friends that have had botflies during their field
seasons here in the Neotropics. Most
people try to remove them early on in their development stages, as they can
cause significant pain with those hooks and mouthparts as they get larger. Generally, only hard core entomologists are willing
to try to let a larval botfly grow to full term. </span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSDFRvnPNFmcthB4l2ErIcMN_TThoLfWQhOI-rzWh1dB7dFP8l9la2AJGFRoBR-ZvKLyyPFyRxzKMTdx3BtsQk9ke5yAErJtZjD6gcd2ECRnAQGSVQGs7qqinR6P49LCe1A3szCsbfaR8/s1600/20140111_03+Bot+fly.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Botfly" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSDFRvnPNFmcthB4l2ErIcMN_TThoLfWQhOI-rzWh1dB7dFP8l9la2AJGFRoBR-ZvKLyyPFyRxzKMTdx3BtsQk9ke5yAErJtZjD6gcd2ECRnAQGSVQGs7qqinR6P49LCe1A3szCsbfaR8/s400/20140111_03+Bot+fly.JPG" title="Botfly" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Craig's botfly</span></td></tr>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This
week, I met a man with a human botfly in his scalp. When he told me that it had been there for
over 70 days, I was surprised, this creature must have been huge and getting
ready to pupate. I had to see it! By this point in its development, they can
cause extreme pain to the host, and Craig could attest to that. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span><br /><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So the night before, we treated it with an herbal
compound paste, which essentially blocks its breathing hole and causes it to
relax its muscles. The next morning,
they squeezed the maggot out. It was
huge, about the size of a peanut. It
must have been just days away from leaving its human “home”. The intact maggot was placed in a jar of
alcohol—a rather interesting souvenir to take home from the tropics!</span></span></div>
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Jenn Sinasachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01483977646977191025noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-946000003580841402.post-7211477372546528612013-12-08T20:20:00.002-05:002013-12-08T20:22:16.054-05:00Sloth Rescue<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's been a busy month! During my little hiatus from posting to my blog (and believe me, I have a lot to catch up on), I have had a great visit from my Dad (his first time in Panama), moved houses, and picked up the pace at work.. including spending much more time in the field! Which means, more natural encounters! I have so much to say, had a lot of great sightings in the last month, but I'll start with this one.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Bbh0XosdbIKFlroOeK-ut-vj8JI7YqphQ2tm_PSz44kvcp3iwq47Z4s1Vn3V4f-yoVA4WoEvUC5chQxQJjzMyshPfJhyQnAZCMZplwdFgeMGyqXEXFJlNv7Dy3e0ypGM2yMqb1B0QEw/s1600/20131207_13+Three-toed+Sloth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Brown-throated Three-toed Sloth" border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Bbh0XosdbIKFlroOeK-ut-vj8JI7YqphQ2tm_PSz44kvcp3iwq47Z4s1Vn3V4f-yoVA4WoEvUC5chQxQJjzMyshPfJhyQnAZCMZplwdFgeMGyqXEXFJlNv7Dy3e0ypGM2yMqb1B0QEw/s320/20131207_13+Three-toed+Sloth.jpg" title="Brown-throated Three-toed Sloth" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Three-toed Sloth crossing the road</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yesterday we were on our way back to the <a href="http://www.canopytower.com/" target="_blank">Canopy Tower</a> from Gamboa after a morning of birding along Pipeline Road, and saw a Brown-throated Three-toed Sloth crossing the highway. We pulled over to get a closer look and help her across the road. Traffic flies down this highway, and unfortunately a lot of animals<span style="line-height: 107%;">—</span>from snakes to anteaters to vultures, and everything in between<span style="line-height: 107%;">—</span>get hit regularly. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As we took a closer look at her, we could see a small arm wrapped around her side</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;">—this mama had a baby holding on tight to her chest! We slowed traffic to ensure they made it to the other side, and to make sure she didn't try crossing back again, Alexis picked her up and placed her and her baby on the trunk of a tree. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkkXeq1P6yPZgsadnns7mex_Ze9DMvv2_99ty0VnOamxDNutiO4CoaNGYNK95HkTVC3l0RKc2zPir7FKNqpNhoP4jSrqn6axyI6gucVAGUjyMDkQiKM4D8aRjQHb9O8W_xvHAdetJpZBA/s1600/20131207_14+Alexis+rescuing+sloth+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Brown-throated Three-toed Sloth" border="0" height="332" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkkXeq1P6yPZgsadnns7mex_Ze9DMvv2_99ty0VnOamxDNutiO4CoaNGYNK95HkTVC3l0RKc2zPir7FKNqpNhoP4jSrqn6axyI6gucVAGUjyMDkQiKM4D8aRjQHb9O8W_xvHAdetJpZBA/s400/20131207_14+Alexis+rescuing+sloth+1.jpg" title="Brown-throated Three-toed Sloth" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mama and baby Three-toed Sloth</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW6EcN1-_OcawXJ027ZXNcHqq_IR-0d0l0emFzNPAc9n2nudyyJup1QEov2-tgtvhT4JB0rvdknqHd5ueEzrj4aqISZYFs97EZdDVzpyuuagDc2yHzA4CjUGXefJhWcHDx5aov7_sFQ80/s1600/20131207_15+Three-toed+Sloth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Brown-throated Three-toed Sloth" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW6EcN1-_OcawXJ027ZXNcHqq_IR-0d0l0emFzNPAc9n2nudyyJup1QEov2-tgtvhT4JB0rvdknqHd5ueEzrj4aqISZYFs97EZdDVzpyuuagDc2yHzA4CjUGXefJhWcHDx5aov7_sFQ80/s320/20131207_15+Three-toed+Sloth.jpg" title="Brown-throated Three-toed Sloth" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mama sloth on tree</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brown-throated_sloth" target="_blank">Brown-throated Three-toed Sloths</a> are one of six species of sloths, classified into two families, <i>Megalonychidae</i> (two-toed sloths) and <i>Bradypodidae</i> (three-toed sloths). They are slow-moving, arboreal mammals; they spend almost all their time in the treetops. They come down to the ground only once a week, to go to the bathroom! Sloths have long, coarse fur, which is often home to a variety of other organisms, including moths, beetles and fungi. They often appear greenish, due to the presence of algae in their fur. They eat leaves, shoots and buds, and are particularly fond of Cecropia trees, making them easy to spot. Due to their folivorous diet, they receive very little energy from their food, and have lower metabolic rates and body temperatures than other mammals. They are generally very slow moving, and spend a lot of time sleeping. In fact, the Spanish name for sloth is "perezoso", meaning lazy! In central Panama, two species of sloth</span><span style="line-height: 107%;">—Brown-throated Three-toed Sloth and Hoffmann's Two-toed Sloth</span><span style="line-height: 107%;">—are common, and once you get your sloth-spotting eyes attuned, you may see them on a regular basis in Soberania National Park and other forested areas. They are truly a unique animal. </span><span style="line-height: 107%;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">~ Jenn </span>Jenn Sinasachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01483977646977191025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-946000003580841402.post-19977067795627644242013-10-20T17:39:00.000-05:002013-10-21T14:42:20.259-05:00Cordyceps: killer fungi<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Most of the time, we see what's beautiful, enticing and admirable in the natural world. However, we are all well aware that there are many challenges to the struggle for live of any living organism—predators, climate change, natural disasters, human activity</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">—as we tend to see more and more of in the media, documentaries, and witness in person in our daily lives. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFcXWojuNVevrn0ip-1B8PpzTDkhgLP1QUTSH-oke-45Jpb8Kc3rIZblDuZDv8zCzsCECkU6hJ1LGXT25OlwK_e8CmmCNzR9pWExJa6pFoAc0dR4DtcHmqzRmEuvZk_gkQwOT6f4lwIYI/s1600/20130928_05+Cordiceps+wasp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Cordyceps wasp" border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFcXWojuNVevrn0ip-1B8PpzTDkhgLP1QUTSH-oke-45Jpb8Kc3rIZblDuZDv8zCzsCECkU6hJ1LGXT25OlwK_e8CmmCNzR9pWExJa6pFoAc0dR4DtcHmqzRmEuvZk_gkQwOT6f4lwIYI/s320/20130928_05+Cordiceps+wasp.jpg" title="Cordyceps wasp" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wasp killed by <i>Cordyceps</i> fungus in Panama</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A few weeks ago during a visit to the <a href="http://www.canopytower.com/canopy-lodge" target="_blank">Canopy Lodge</a> in El Valle, I was walking around the gardens and spotted this unusual creature on a low palm frond. Upon closer examination, I saw that it was a wasp - but something wasn't right. This wasp had two large, white projections emerging out of its thorax, and white spines over its legs and other parts of its body. It was motionless. I knew exactly what had happened.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In tropical regions, there are some rather unlikely predators, and they kill in rather gruesome ways. Aside from large cats, raptors, and many other predators out there, there exists the strange and ruthless world of <i>Cordyceps</i></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">—an endoparasitoid fungi that attacks insect and arthropod hosts. When this fungus attacks a host, it releases mycelium, which replaces the host tissues. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">t also causes a change in behaviour of the host, perhaps an ant or wasp, causing it (if a social insect) to leave its colony and climb up a branch or shrub and attach there before they die. T</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">his change in behaviour ensures that the spores of the fungus will be released in the optimal surroundings to maximize distribution.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Once the host is in position, the mycelium then forms a fruiting body</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">—usually a cylindrical, branched or complex projection</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">—</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">which emerges through the exoskeleton of the host. Spores are released through this fruiting body. <i>Cordyceps</i> means "club head", referring to the shape of the fruiting bodies. The spores are very potent, and this killer fungus can wipe out entire colonies of insects. Check out this <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XuKjBIBBAL8" target="_blank">video</a> from Planet Earth. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoco_095BS91Q3EWYrjxhII3MnbWE8IGHLsHOxO8N7GO24TX0QXRq4reSx6B3uaK0JAQKGLs_PnBe0KGWBxq4rXyibXa90n7OA3PWbcDlJ49ANlp9K6EkIqobTGesB022sD5Y62mchHns/s1600/20100705_01+Cordyceps+fungus+moth.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Cordyceps moth" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoco_095BS91Q3EWYrjxhII3MnbWE8IGHLsHOxO8N7GO24TX0QXRq4reSx6B3uaK0JAQKGLs_PnBe0KGWBxq4rXyibXa90n7OA3PWbcDlJ49ANlp9K6EkIqobTGesB022sD5Y62mchHns/s400/20100705_01+Cordyceps+fungus+moth.JPG" title="Cordyceps moth" width="306" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Moth showing small <i>Cordyceps</i> fruiting bodies in Ecuador, 2010</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIyQ0jvmlaV__jUrx4EvAEJ1g01gcdQq2DoP19ui-Qg9TtY7sI94XGIBsQQ17nWD7dkdA97CwIlbpOH0b5NVz0uXZ-9w26wMjrZWwxmVmSJrF3r2LslotbSuG4ulESLSrLyCGMLfiF9Lo/s1600/20100803_02+Cordyceps+Cricket.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Cordyceps cricket" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIyQ0jvmlaV__jUrx4EvAEJ1g01gcdQq2DoP19ui-Qg9TtY7sI94XGIBsQQ17nWD7dkdA97CwIlbpOH0b5NVz0uXZ-9w26wMjrZWwxmVmSJrF3r2LslotbSuG4ulESLSrLyCGMLfiF9Lo/s400/20100803_02+Cordyceps+Cricket.JPG" title="Cordyceps cricket" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cricket killed by <i>Cordyceps</i> fungus in Ecuador, 2010</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSsdwa5VplviCt6gUEF7PR8bl3Go6uWnlkHRlIVjdyqKNzygYcXZhEMiS_P5LMb3PAzG4vhSrPApSJE3CcckWkm3L-zNiXyX0PRd2COAz8EXv4e78AL1MapoErS9EA2yKyuEoT_FfRNiU/s1600/20101201_01+Cordyceps+Bullet+Ant.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Cordyceps Bullet Ant" border="0" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSsdwa5VplviCt6gUEF7PR8bl3Go6uWnlkHRlIVjdyqKNzygYcXZhEMiS_P5LMb3PAzG4vhSrPApSJE3CcckWkm3L-zNiXyX0PRd2COAz8EXv4e78AL1MapoErS9EA2yKyuEoT_FfRNiU/s400/20101201_01+Cordyceps+Bullet+Ant.JPG" title="Cordyceps Bullet Ant" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bullet Ant<i> </i>- note the elongated fruiting body extending from back of head. Ecuador, 2010</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It sounds (and looks!) like something out of a grotesque sci-fi movie, but this is real. In the time I have spent living and working in tropical humid environments, I have come across this several times. I have seen moths, crickets, bullet ants, and other insects parasitized by these unusual killers. Here are a few photos I have taken in recent years of various <i>Cordyceps</i> attacks. The fruiting bodies take on different forms and colours, depending on the species of <i>Cordyceps</i> (there are approximately 400 described species and many more remain undescribed), and I have never seen two alike. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So its not just some mammals, birds, reptiles and other animals, even plants that have mastered their roles as predators, but an entire world of predatory and parasitic fungi, which continues to show us the complexity and diversity of the world we live in. Incredible!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">~ Jenn </span></div>
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Jenn Sinasachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01483977646977191025noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-946000003580841402.post-26498560504876456402013-10-14T19:16:00.000-05:002013-10-14T19:33:42.186-05:00Great Curassows on Pipeline Road<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It had been a little while since I had been to Pipeline Road and the <a href="http://www.pipelineroad.org/" target="_blank">Panama Rainforest Discovery Center</a>, but when a friend called me up to go for a walk I was more than happy to head out to one of my favourite places on this planet. We left early on the morning of October 11, and arrived at the entrance of Pipeline Road around 6:30 am, and the bird activity had just started. We watched the hummingbirds at the Visitors Center, walked a short trail and spent some time on the tower before the rains started before mid-morning. Highlights included a Great Black-Hawk and over 100 migrating Common Nighthawks seen from the tower. Here is an <a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/camerica/view/checklist?subID=S15383015" target="_blank">e-bird checklist</a> of the morning. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We didn't have a lot of time in the morning, but managed to get out before the heavy rains started and continued through the rest of the day. As we were driving out on Pipeline Road, we spotted three large birds walking down the road ahead. I quickly picked up my binoculars and saw that they were Great Curassows, the largest member of the Cracidae family in Central America. Great Curassows are rare on Pipeline Road, due to years of over-hunting in the area. In 2009, I had two sightings of Great Curassows on Pipeline Road, but far in, well past 15 km from the entrance. Recently, there have been occasional sightings closer to the entrance, and this trio was less than a kilometre from the gate. They were all in female plumage, but it was not determined whether one or more were young males. We watched the trio for 10-15 minutes, until they moved off the road into the forest when a car came along, and were seen feeding on fruits under a <i>Ficus</i> tree not far from the road. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Great Curassow</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The <a href="http://neotropical.birds.cornell.edu/portal/species/overview?p_p_spp=81671" target="_blank">Great Curassow</a> (<i>Crax rubra</i>) is a large, turkey-like bird of the lowland humid forests of Central America and northwestern South America. Males are stark black with a yellow knob at the base of its beak and white undertail coverts. Females generally have a reddish-brown body and dark grey neck and head, sometimes with barring in the wings, and have a heavily barred tail. Both sexes have a curled crest. Their diet consists mostly of fruit, but they will also feed on small invertebrates and sometimes vertebrates as well. They are often found feeding on the ground, and also spend time feeding and roosting in the mid-story and even the upper levels of the forest. Due to over-hunting and habitat loss in many parts of its range, the Great Curassow is considered vulnerable by IUCN, and their populations are decreasing. Hopefully with the extent of protected areas in Panama and throughout the Neotropics, their populations will stabilize and we will begin to enjoy regular sightings of these beautiful birds. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We were going to carry on for a walk at Metropolitan Park in Panama City, but the heavy rain forced us to reschedule, that will be saved for drier day. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">~ Jenn </span></div>
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Jenn Sinasachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01483977646977191025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-946000003580841402.post-74661845671038483952013-10-02T21:23:00.000-05:002013-10-02T21:23:33.515-05:00Little-known Manatees of Panama<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Finding Neotropical mammals is always a rewarding challenge. There is a great diversity of mammals in Panama, over 230 species are found in this small country, in a wide variety of habitats. It is the best place I know to see sloths, <i>two</i> species, in all of the Americas. In certain places, common forest mammals such as Central American Agoutis and White-nosed Coatis are common. Lesser Capybaras live along the banks of the mighty Chagres River, which feeds into the Panama Canal. Panama is a wonderful place to search for mammals, but it is not as easy as it may seem. Many Neotropical mammals by nature are nocturnal, which means spending time in the deep darkness of the forests to find them. Certain species, like cats, are incredibly elusive. Finding these animals requires patience and at times, may seem like a near-impossible task. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I had heard rumors of a population of West Indian Manatees, one of Panama's rarest mammals, living in Lake Gatun. Odd reports show up here and there, many of them are unfortunately of carcasses that float to the surface. Manatees are fully aquatic, and live in tranquil, dark waters of shallow lakes, thus are rarely encountered. Aerial surveys may be the best way to see these large mammals in quiet bays from above, other than that, a sighting of a manatee in Panama is a very rare occasion. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On September 12, I guided a jungle boat tour along the Panama Canal and Lake Gatun. We had perfect weather, and as we cruised around the waters and scanned the banks, we came across an abundance of animals - Snail Kites, American Crocodiles, Iguanas, White-headed Capuchins, Mantled Howlers, Limpkins, Proboscis Bats, and so much more. About halfway through the tour (around 4:00 pm), as we glided in our little motor boat through the calm waters along the edges of Lake Gatun, I started to think about manatees, remembering that there are occasional sightings. Not even two minutes later, we saw the large, rounded back emerge above the water surface, followed by the unique, round tail of a manatee. We couldn't believe our eyes... a manatee! Only metres from our boat! We all saw it in great view. Its true, they do exist in the dark waters of Lake Gatun. Among many great wildlife sighting moments I have had, this is one of the most memorable.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Em7D6zCji5TrZDU6u51Cx_Oq0XNaf4wRXmYOX2dMBkc1YSfZwNujoOPxePx-zRSGlE3pWzNgvICoAn5dH7yjBGSW9G9MOF9sryg8P2bzsDd7BZFVE63sMBd-Ui1v32Cl6WaatLlRr1s/s1600/20130912_05+Gatun+Lake.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Lake Gatun" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Em7D6zCji5TrZDU6u51Cx_Oq0XNaf4wRXmYOX2dMBkc1YSfZwNujoOPxePx-zRSGlE3pWzNgvICoAn5dH7yjBGSW9G9MOF9sryg8P2bzsDd7BZFVE63sMBd-Ui1v32Cl6WaatLlRr1s/s400/20130912_05+Gatun+Lake.JPG" title="Lake Gatun" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The calm waters of Lake Gatun</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, what are manatees doing in the Panama Canal? Information about the populations of manatees in Panama is not well-known, and there have been very little studies done to learn about their existence here. In 1964, nine West Indian Manatees from Bocas del Toro and one Amazonian Manatee from Peru were introduced into Lake Gatun by the former Panama Canal Commission as a part of an aquatic vegetation control program. The program was abandoned a few years later, and the manatees were left to live in the lake. It is difficult to say how many manatees are here, but its not many; a study in 1980 estimated approximately 25 individuals, and a more recent study in 2008 resulted in 16 individuals seen in an aerial survey, this being the highest number ever recorded in Lake Gatun. However, calves were seen so this population, although small, seems to be sustaining itself. Hopefully the manatees of Panama will continue to live and reproduce in the waters of Lake Gatun. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">~ Jenn </span></div>
Jenn Sinasachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01483977646977191025noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-946000003580841402.post-27699852079136617382013-09-08T11:38:00.001-05:002013-09-08T11:38:31.424-05:00A Big Boa in Gamboa<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You never know what you're going to find here, Gamboa is full of surprises. Being surrounded by Soberania National Park, the Panama Canal and Chagres River, the wildlife here is abundant. Even right in town, where it is not difficult to find frogs, lizards, birds, interesting insects and more. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are many snakes around town, but aren't encountered as frequently as a lot of the other animals, not by me anyways. However, the other day, I was heading out of town with a friend when we passed a truck pulled over on the side of the road and two men with cameras pointed at the grass. Then I took a quick glance, and saw a large Boa Constrictor! So we pulled over and got out to take a look. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIBkPo688YbFRsoFDYAndbDYh6dioK8lQllKJIUI9Rqdt4P-LXsEVRXQdWqPZ-y7YrovM7oZW0hakKU06snb5WVy32XryWjVya7CZhy9NhAq1nW6ZJiNKffIsx-RwWRFydGrwCfFkSdHY/s1600/20130905_03+Boa+Constrictor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Boa Constrictor" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIBkPo688YbFRsoFDYAndbDYh6dioK8lQllKJIUI9Rqdt4P-LXsEVRXQdWqPZ-y7YrovM7oZW0hakKU06snb5WVy32XryWjVya7CZhy9NhAq1nW6ZJiNKffIsx-RwWRFydGrwCfFkSdHY/s400/20130905_03+Boa+Constrictor.jpg" title="Boa Constrictor" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boa Constrictor </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Boa Constrictors are a well-known snake native to the lowland tropical forests of Central and South America. They are a large, heavy-bodied snake that can reach up to 4 metres in length and can weigh more than 100 lbs. As their name suggests, they are "constrictors", killing their prey by wrapping their strong, muscular body around their prey, slowly squeezing them to death. They hunt just about anything they can catch, such as monkeys, otters, birds and peccaries. Boa Constrictors are hunted for their ornately-patterned skin and due to other pressures including habitat loss, they are considered an endangered species in many countries. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This snake looked like it had just eaten a good meal, perhaps an agouti it found in town. As it sat on the grass, this boa was being pestered by people and dogs, at which it defended itself well. Eventually, with a rainstorm around mid-day, the snake retreated out of sight, back into the woodlot. To me and a lot of other people I know, snake sightings are always exciting. We have to give these graceful, capable reptiles more credit as they play an important role in their environment. I'm always looking forward to the next snake I see...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">~ Jenn </span></div>
Jenn Sinasachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01483977646977191025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-946000003580841402.post-74933035219848632352013-08-31T20:36:00.001-05:002013-08-31T20:38:29.549-05:00Boquete: A Breath of Fresh Air<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After leaving Coiba Island and Santa Catalina, we decided to make a spontaneous trip up to Boquete, in the highlands of western Panama. Although it was still a fair ways further west toward Costa Rica, we thought we would take the opportunity to cool ourselves off before heading back to Gamboa. I had yet to visit Boquete, so I was looking forward to getting to know a new part of Panama. We arrived late, around 11 pm, and checked into a hostel near the main square in town. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWzfv0lXVocxxX0Yp68df3e98KaSW8cvi7iAcniBkwMUFDqUHCErLCRQEdTeVCbdGWeVCUuKO2DAoAOdIvKGvrCJyGLlxcOGyTmGQywQDO2mYITZAXLB0Nx9M_FX8bCF1094Zsh_jIZQs/s1600/20130827_01+River+through+Boquete.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Boquete" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWzfv0lXVocxxX0Yp68df3e98KaSW8cvi7iAcniBkwMUFDqUHCErLCRQEdTeVCbdGWeVCUuKO2DAoAOdIvKGvrCJyGLlxcOGyTmGQywQDO2mYITZAXLB0Nx9M_FX8bCF1094Zsh_jIZQs/s400/20130827_01+River+through+Boquete.jpg" title="Boquete" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">River through Boquete town</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Boquete is situated at an elevation of 1200 metres, and is a popular little tourist town, full of ex-pats who have settled in the bustling town. Not far from Boquete is Volcan Baru, Panama's highest peak and only volcano. The town is surrounded by beautiful cloud forest, rivers, Friendship International Park (Parque Internacional La Amistad, shared with Costa Rica) and plenty of opportunities for tourism and exploration. Tour operators in Boquete offer river rafting and kayaking, volcano excursions, hiking, waterfalls, horseback riding, strawberry tours, hot springs and more. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We just planned to have the day in Boquete, and wanted to make the most of it. In the morning, we walked around town, took some photos, and arranged a tour to visit the "Lost Waterfalls" in the afternoon. We were not prepared for cooler weather, so I bought a sweater from a lovely little Ecuadorian shop in town. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuzichyphenhyphenESvyt3lo7kaOJgsYic-H71pyo6_GwdxXjsf8jfSyB4aNl6DbcCllg1zkytqdeixw6Wds4bAOP7e8tNPIQ9qxDlWtyrRnnMGXJTmlneJKPaiUQXiM1Xx1PzQBrD4mUZOWZLYTbo/s1600/20130827_30+Cloud+forest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Cloud forest" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuzichyphenhyphenESvyt3lo7kaOJgsYic-H71pyo6_GwdxXjsf8jfSyB4aNl6DbcCllg1zkytqdeixw6Wds4bAOP7e8tNPIQ9qxDlWtyrRnnMGXJTmlneJKPaiUQXiM1Xx1PzQBrD4mUZOWZLYTbo/s320/20130827_30+Cloud+forest.jpg" title="Cloud forest " width="240" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Unfortunately, it started to rain just before our tour, on and off, at times heavy. When David, our guide, arrived, we talked about possibilities for the afternoon - visit the hot springs instead, or postpone the tour until tomorrow morning. But at that point it wasn't raining, so he suggested we drive to the trail head to see if the weather clears up. As we headed out of Boquete and up into higher elevation, it did brighten up and the rain stopped, so we started on our walk to see the waterfalls. We hiked up and up into beautiful cloud forest, draped with epiphytes and moss. Cloud forest is laden with mist, as its name suggests. It is a cool, humid environment, and receives a lot of rain throughout the year. Therefore, it is very lush and green, and supports a great diversity of wildlife. I find cloud forests incredibly refreshing, and the cool air was such a nice change to the hot, humid, sticky climate of Gamboa. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After a short hike, we arrived at a beautiful waterfall, ending in a pool of fresh mountain water. David said that we could swim here, but we felt that we had spent enough time in the water on the coast and preferred to stay dry; furthermore, the water is very, very cold! Not for me :) David showed us into a small cave beside the waterfall which contained a base of clay. There was also a nest of a species of swift, well-fastened to the wall of the cave, very cool! When we emerged from the cave, it started to rain. So we decided to head back. We took a different trail back, which brought us by another waterfall, taller than the first. Even though it was raining pretty hard, we still took advantage to eat our lunch, take photos and chat with David. Despite the rain, we really enjoyed our tour; although still learning, David was knowledgeable about the forest and key wildlife, and he even picked us some mountain blackberries on the way back to the truck. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDYUy_TlDi5gtxMrNXBowdjqFhqaUVRypfjprJLI2rD4ueSquOXFAp5vxqCYWVJoOrVZlSVP8c44EbdzsrvME30T06Hgxrxy8J4207hmtIorXpgY4Y1qtLV9uFXWtEKp-uFAJqAqnZ-vQ/s1600/20130827_35+Waterfall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Waterfall" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDYUy_TlDi5gtxMrNXBowdjqFhqaUVRypfjprJLI2rD4ueSquOXFAp5vxqCYWVJoOrVZlSVP8c44EbdzsrvME30T06Hgxrxy8J4207hmtIorXpgY4Y1qtLV9uFXWtEKp-uFAJqAqnZ-vQ/s400/20130827_35+Waterfall.jpg" title="Waterfall" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Boquete waterfall</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was a short trip to Boquete, but that breath of fresh air we received was exactly what we needed before heading back to the hot lowlands of central Panama. It is a beautiful place, situated in the shadows of Volcan Baru, and I am already looking forward to going back. Refreshed and ready to get back home, we boarded a night bus back to Panama City. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">~ Jenn </span></div>
Jenn Sinasachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01483977646977191025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-946000003580841402.post-25381925217128495292013-08-31T18:29:00.000-05:002013-08-31T18:29:02.525-05:00More Coiba Island Photos<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here are some of my favourite photos from Coiba Island; please check out my <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jennsinasac/" target="_blank">Flickr page</a> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">for more photos from Coiba. Enjoy! ~ Jenn</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jennsinasac/" target="_blank"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjykSYhGVNSX178cYSnFXTE6PAMFCWySef-wHCRbTxrenvM3pLr-ji4HLKi30DWJHWG-Td7Zrzw1L50vNXgzkk8jqttqcrBOoUDq749MHWIWF9hY44bTegzv-18cQu_jBHKkPkkNoTz4ng/s1600/20130825_26+Isla+Granito+del+Oro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Isla Granito del Oro" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjykSYhGVNSX178cYSnFXTE6PAMFCWySef-wHCRbTxrenvM3pLr-ji4HLKi30DWJHWG-Td7Zrzw1L50vNXgzkk8jqttqcrBOoUDq749MHWIWF9hY44bTegzv-18cQu_jBHKkPkkNoTz4ng/s400/20130825_26+Isla+Granito+del+Oro.jpg" title="Isla Granito del Oro" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Isla Granito del Oro</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix5c5CkH2iV-IbhhNXbrluH2CdpjulRL6cPNQWvuNQGXLx4mbFutHA52pKLXZB2tuxuDFFyujXYq5onAAZ_nExN7vaaoRJ6X-fU9NTW_SbPa5DBovC6BhC4oH0RCSOMEd_JM-dahb9ZXk/s1600/20130825_29+Hermit+Crabs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Hermit crabs" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix5c5CkH2iV-IbhhNXbrluH2CdpjulRL6cPNQWvuNQGXLx4mbFutHA52pKLXZB2tuxuDFFyujXYq5onAAZ_nExN7vaaoRJ6X-fU9NTW_SbPa5DBovC6BhC4oH0RCSOMEd_JM-dahb9ZXk/s400/20130825_29+Hermit+Crabs.jpg" title="Hermit crabs" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hermit crabs attacking a coconut, Isla Granito del Oro</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVG_eIAXMSZHW2zGRDv-Z4thoeFM8FAXxAMRewz4GerYG1PcpTjaIoiAFCSpQPfiUaueY_DDPPBI84zb_K9h8955QEMHs7zY8fps8Qc2sobFALhSoESE460WeKP-kctcOxpnwcJN4b0rg/s1600/20130825_48+Hermit+Crab.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Hermit crab" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVG_eIAXMSZHW2zGRDv-Z4thoeFM8FAXxAMRewz4GerYG1PcpTjaIoiAFCSpQPfiUaueY_DDPPBI84zb_K9h8955QEMHs7zY8fps8Qc2sobFALhSoESE460WeKP-kctcOxpnwcJN4b0rg/s400/20130825_48+Hermit+Crab.jpg" title="Hermit crab" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hermit crab</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieFt3JyZkfiCHZD1tG1PAGdVO8021sgiPj4IHAeXFnu85UUv_26Je5L_8lHOCLzC3PJZ22P5VTDlpP9fdahB4_KTLmfBneP4VTNwmr60VsDNLB-2lyoPK6bfQMgKVM7aoUHoradW8xJAI/s1600/20130825_75+Bare-throated+Tiger-Heron.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Bare-throated Tiger-Heron" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieFt3JyZkfiCHZD1tG1PAGdVO8021sgiPj4IHAeXFnu85UUv_26Je5L_8lHOCLzC3PJZ22P5VTDlpP9fdahB4_KTLmfBneP4VTNwmr60VsDNLB-2lyoPK6bfQMgKVM7aoUHoradW8xJAI/s400/20130825_75+Bare-throated+Tiger-Heron.jpg" title="Bare-throated Tiger-Heron" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bare-throated Tiger-Heron, <i>Tigrisoma mexicanum</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNUiyaVCSHW8_6cfSGjYEpQefwOFasJZRv6SdzadKAJCpnEwjBJGOho4BMOvRDbyY9Vl0nOnEqWSqB2bWinbG3eccc_Ywj7-3-pR-XpxEGEt3xTB5uk3hfMUHZTTcRLWJQ45cKwE1vDyE/s1600/20130825_83+Scenic+view.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Coiba Island" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNUiyaVCSHW8_6cfSGjYEpQefwOFasJZRv6SdzadKAJCpnEwjBJGOho4BMOvRDbyY9Vl0nOnEqWSqB2bWinbG3eccc_Ywj7-3-pR-XpxEGEt3xTB5uk3hfMUHZTTcRLWJQ45cKwE1vDyE/s400/20130825_83+Scenic+view.jpg" title="Coiba Island" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from lookout on Coiba Island, with ranger station below</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC-Nrsc2anx5x8VWKXleGARufEOy7sS8DF9ec5k9n8tH023dpnmCsktRak1RbhV6pRkSrq_RChG2jw591bsOkrrx6v66R0MMM0KTD-mowBa6NsGicA7kfIWO1nCNR9B452Vc1hAlSq_ls/s1600/20130825_131+Ranger+station+beach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Coiba Island Ranger Station" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC-Nrsc2anx5x8VWKXleGARufEOy7sS8DF9ec5k9n8tH023dpnmCsktRak1RbhV6pRkSrq_RChG2jw591bsOkrrx6v66R0MMM0KTD-mowBa6NsGicA7kfIWO1nCNR9B452Vc1hAlSq_ls/s400/20130825_131+Ranger+station+beach.jpg" title="Coiba Island Ranger Station" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beach at the ranger station, Coiba Island</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNRrWfy1whabI-hMsVxWld27VOeIlFSpkq3Ezbqc52PQrxUqQLwG8NBFWgcS9H9P9dXMjQOBx3QEGIcZPUaWB_3Bj8wsHANZVF4NLvzTylgiLdotRHn-GzlZeWVgelxNA4IRnnS80MKqA/s1600/20130826_02+Coiba+sunrise.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Coiba Island Sunrise" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNRrWfy1whabI-hMsVxWld27VOeIlFSpkq3Ezbqc52PQrxUqQLwG8NBFWgcS9H9P9dXMjQOBx3QEGIcZPUaWB_3Bj8wsHANZVF4NLvzTylgiLdotRHn-GzlZeWVgelxNA4IRnnS80MKqA/s400/20130826_02+Coiba+sunrise.jpg" title="Coiba Island Sunrise" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunrise on Coiba Island</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjedtTNODkqnsF8cOO2yyp4VqvgXgQl11JfYU9QdMToq4R1_fn9iESoKsgWotdrzc7YYVwUf4j5eAn0LVSwdjeNn6sMvDClllTiyN8srIiPkM-p3FCrRlcqfpf4ur1qqiJEUGdnVPJTB5A/s1600/20130826_10+Coiba+beach+&+ranger+station.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Coiba Island Ranger Station" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjedtTNODkqnsF8cOO2yyp4VqvgXgQl11JfYU9QdMToq4R1_fn9iESoKsgWotdrzc7YYVwUf4j5eAn0LVSwdjeNn6sMvDClllTiyN8srIiPkM-p3FCrRlcqfpf4ur1qqiJEUGdnVPJTB5A/s400/20130826_10+Coiba+beach+&+ranger+station.jpg" title="Coiba Island Ranger Station" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coiba Island Ranger Station</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdzG2pa_ID6O1FzqaM9RWPZARiHkPyFz27cWAy-9Wel8YUAgCXTxt72kpoI1cGOb9lA1Ub1oTRf-KpOYFYNgycdm_HZIV8aNLsoGg0_FwjCsR4xGlmFtceggN6LCuKJkGEVPRt8riNE7g/s1600/20130826_66+Palms.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Palm trees" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdzG2pa_ID6O1FzqaM9RWPZARiHkPyFz27cWAy-9Wel8YUAgCXTxt72kpoI1cGOb9lA1Ub1oTRf-KpOYFYNgycdm_HZIV8aNLsoGg0_FwjCsR4xGlmFtceggN6LCuKJkGEVPRt8riNE7g/s400/20130826_66+Palms.jpg" title="Palm trees" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Palm trees on Isla Rancheria</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj2QH5anNyMJIyjogqnKP-KrgV5qWMgQIfB6tVvumz6utW-IXxPiuPTVUhU9OaZGivLZPI6y7Tgty5RmjhSVD3ta2zCYPcy1VmhoJW398ys8YFewaRot4krFc1Eha1md2wqWZn9UHUc30/s1600/20130826_79+Isla+Rancheria+beach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Isla Rancheria" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj2QH5anNyMJIyjogqnKP-KrgV5qWMgQIfB6tVvumz6utW-IXxPiuPTVUhU9OaZGivLZPI6y7Tgty5RmjhSVD3ta2zCYPcy1VmhoJW398ys8YFewaRot4krFc1Eha1md2wqWZn9UHUc30/s400/20130826_79+Isla+Rancheria+beach.jpg" title="Isla Rancheria" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Isla Rancheria</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTKndHiCAPpg5s8m6m-gP_kuAVqD-TKwoF4Rpe1ko_gvuI9q0lxo9tk1K9D2JVUByvIfXG1KfLQ1K5_7KGVRCTCXiZn3iD7rub8eyBbpQUSlYcDCaYxvFxbkewyCY4Leo2YJPwZZOOOiM/s1600/20130826_91+Boat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Coiba Island" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTKndHiCAPpg5s8m6m-gP_kuAVqD-TKwoF4Rpe1ko_gvuI9q0lxo9tk1K9D2JVUByvIfXG1KfLQ1K5_7KGVRCTCXiZn3iD7rub8eyBbpQUSlYcDCaYxvFxbkewyCY4Leo2YJPwZZOOOiM/s400/20130826_91+Boat.jpg" title="Coiba Island" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our boat at Coiba Island</td></tr>
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</a></span></div>
Jenn Sinasachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01483977646977191025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-946000003580841402.post-67351519616751416472013-08-31T18:07:00.000-05:002013-08-31T18:07:13.361-05:00Coiba National Park: A Nature Lover's Paradise<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmnJ8HOYf-C4m21V68gQlHYnaZcAeyYv6vA5TrlcorTmzsLf0PyOxs3t1veB0ofjl7kiW-w6K72arvK_T7bF_FUGJ7qIR8UVv4whhJk9TO1ENsa9aQ4fH5Si055NbQotbY1Sm1XTPtrns/s1600/20130826_65+Palms.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Isla Rancheria" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmnJ8HOYf-C4m21V68gQlHYnaZcAeyYv6vA5TrlcorTmzsLf0PyOxs3t1veB0ofjl7kiW-w6K72arvK_T7bF_FUGJ7qIR8UVv4whhJk9TO1ENsa9aQ4fH5Si055NbQotbY1Sm1XTPtrns/s320/20130826_65+Palms.jpg" title="Isla Rancheria" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Isla Rancheria (Isla Coibita)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well, I think Coiba Island could be considered a paradise for just about anyone. Located 22 kilometres off the Pacific coast of Panama, Coiba Island is home to a wide diversity of wildlife, including may endemic species and subspecies, as well as endangered species including 4 species of sea turtles and is the only place where Scarlet Macaws can be found in Panama. The island is surrounded by warm waters, ideal for coral reefs and an abundance of marine wildlife. On the island, several endemic species of birds and mammals, including the Coiban Agouti, Coiba Island Howler Monkey, Coiba Honeybee and Coiba Spinetail. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Coiba Island is the 2nd largest island in the Americas, aside from the Caribbean (1st is Vancouver Island). It was believed to be formed from volcanic origins in the region of the Galapagos Islands, 70 million years ago, which over millions of years, drifted to the Pacific side of Central America. Approximately 12 000 years ago, Coiba Island was a part of the mainland; eventually, the sea level rose again and Coiba was once again isolated. This explains why the wildlife on the island is similar to that of mainland Panama. The entire island and its surrounding waters were designated a national park in 1991 in order to protect the unique flora and fauna that live there and migrate through - including the annual migration of Humpback Whales. Coiba National Park expands over 270,000 hectares, with only 20% land contained in that area. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Coiba Island has remained relatively untouched, with very little human settlement over the course of its history. The island still has the remains of a penal colony that operated from 1919 to 2004, which largely took part in keeping people away. Since the designation of the national park, Coiba Island now has a ranger station and a few biological stations operated by the Smithsonian Institute on the main island and surrounding islands. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For years now I had heard so many good things about visiting Coiba Island, yet had not visited in previous trips to Panama. So, for my 30th birthday, we decided a trip to Coiba would be the best way to celebrate! Our Coiba adventure started the morning of August 24th, my birthday; we packed our bags for a few days and headed to Panama City. From there we traveled by bus to Sona, then to Santa Catalina in the province of Veraguas, on the Pacific coast of Panama. Happy to arrive and starving from the long drive, we settled into Cabanas Rolo, a decent hostel in town. We were both craving seafood, and found a small restaurant that made us excellent fried corvina (seabass) loaded with a generous side of patacones - the perfect birthday meal! Then we started asking around for tours to Coiba. We were told that to stay overnight on the island we would need a group of 6 people. Luckily, we came across 3 Spanish travelers seeking more people to stay overnight on the island as well, which worked out perfectly. We arranged our tour for the next 2 days, enjoyed a few cold beers along the beach, and had a good night sleep after a long travel day!</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUe8vf8_uxL53Kor_Bh0_CJV_O0ONisJxHFcJgeXdRaCCnxfNtlBbLo1AufFRuKFpICq8j0jp9SoVv9_tFG8nu4cA_4fVCKq68E6-vVZ7s0uVfr_3rcKHTk6RsgzntoT_UFCiocy2sG7I/s1600/20130825_06+Humpback+Whales.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Humpback Whales" border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUe8vf8_uxL53Kor_Bh0_CJV_O0ONisJxHFcJgeXdRaCCnxfNtlBbLo1AufFRuKFpICq8j0jp9SoVv9_tFG8nu4cA_4fVCKq68E6-vVZ7s0uVfr_3rcKHTk6RsgzntoT_UFCiocy2sG7I/s320/20130825_06+Humpback+Whales.jpg" title="Humpback Whales" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Humpback Whales</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The next morning we were up early and met our guide, Victor, and the rest of our group. There are no restaurants on Coiba and you cook for yourself at the ranger station, so we bought food for the trip and headed out to sea shortly after 8 am. Dark stormy sky didn't keep us from enjoying the boat trip; not far from the mainland, we spotted a trio of Humpback Whales - which is what I really wanted to see this trip, I had never seen whales before. It is whale migration season right now, and the waters surrounding Coiba are one of the best places to see these gigantic beauties. Carrying on to Coiba Island, the weather improved and we saw dolphins and flying fish as we approached the island. The boat trip to Coiba from Santa Catalina is approximately 1.5 hours. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8uFMvt1xu-y2vdpXON04H_5JpXBAODQ222CweMQlUC6sEyIzSLQLoCfVPiuDPbcEmsODOG1ACuALi1UjBZEtxH3jxCZkoBU2YlntAqtYNTHq8sWHbqZf2mzBFln4THqw0v8Rn5umUqm4/s1600/20130826_08+Coiba+National+Park+sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Coiba Island Ranger Station" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8uFMvt1xu-y2vdpXON04H_5JpXBAODQ222CweMQlUC6sEyIzSLQLoCfVPiuDPbcEmsODOG1ACuALi1UjBZEtxH3jxCZkoBU2YlntAqtYNTHq8sWHbqZf2mzBFln4THqw0v8Rn5umUqm4/s400/20130826_08+Coiba+National+Park+sign.jpg" title="Coiba Island Ranger Station" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ranger station on Coiba Island</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We arrived at the ranger station in good time and got settled into our cabin. Situated right along the water's edge, with a beautiful white sand beach and palm trees, this is truly a paradise! Compared to other ANAM ranger stations I have stayed at in Panama, this one was by far the best. It is a decent size, comfortable beds, sheets provided and has private bathrooms in the cabins. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgbbn0dqlwijRlN64MP0Zb2mYecH80MisQzpC4B1Cc_IBzEFRNAwfW6NfxT5N6HFOqKU9nOqRVltNMIaSKPY0B-6XqAVEHRJGq7yUO85NeEfGeqArTHR1vgL-cBpcxOGiG56fUDHy6aRI/s1600/20130825_53+Hermit+Crabs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Hermit crabs" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgbbn0dqlwijRlN64MP0Zb2mYecH80MisQzpC4B1Cc_IBzEFRNAwfW6NfxT5N6HFOqKU9nOqRVltNMIaSKPY0B-6XqAVEHRJGq7yUO85NeEfGeqArTHR1vgL-cBpcxOGiG56fUDHy6aRI/s400/20130825_53+Hermit+Crabs.jpg" title="Hermit crabs" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">An invasion of hermit crabs</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The main activity we did for the 2 days was snorkeling - Coiba is a wonderful location for scuba diving and snorkeling. After dropping off our bags at the ranger station, we eagerly headed to Isla Granito del Oro. This tiny island is surrounded by tropical coral reefs and was a great start to our snorkeling adventure. Here we saw an abundance of tropical fish - parrot fish, trigger fish, puffers and blennies, and dozens of different species, big and small - I wish I had an underwater camera to remember them all. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The most memorable moment on Isla Granito del Oro, however, were the hermit crabs. We found a coconut and opened it up. Moments later, dozens of hermit crabs emerged, seemingly from nowhere yet from every which direction! Worse, we decided to eat our sandwiches here. As it turns out, hermit crabs are very fond of coconut, and ham sandwiches. Within minutes we were encroached upon by hundreds of hermit crabs, all wanting a bite of our lunch! </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our two days at Coiba offered us plenty of snorkeling, a little bit of hiking, and time to relax and enjoy the beaches. Further underwater sightings included White-tipped Reef Sharks, Green Sea Turtle, Southern Ray, Reef Manta Ray, coronetfish, moray eels, prawns, 15-point starfish, clams, and much more. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl5cTatIVxUjfVGTT4eJxoPjyLkxzg0VUXMIwNkpEU_-ZySijxmzumhpt11Rn1LEV5h05ouz1XQ3taLLa6RLPp9KE4n7d0767SSbTEVPTYk_N6S3BWCaxgslaxJ_gtaqRH7iHCNH-n6Ek/s1600/20130826_54+Isla+Rancheria.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Isla Rancheria" border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl5cTatIVxUjfVGTT4eJxoPjyLkxzg0VUXMIwNkpEU_-ZySijxmzumhpt11Rn1LEV5h05ouz1XQ3taLLa6RLPp9KE4n7d0767SSbTEVPTYk_N6S3BWCaxgslaxJ_gtaqRH7iHCNH-n6Ek/s320/20130826_54+Isla+Rancheria.jpg" title="Isla Rancheria" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Isla Rancheria</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The next morning, Victor took us over to Isla Rancheria (also called Isla Coibita), not far from Coiba Island. The beach, with beautiful white sand and layered with palm trees, surrounded by pristine crystal blue waters and reef, seemed as if it's out of a travel magazine. While eating fresh coconut, we spoke to the island ranger, who gave us permission to visit the Smithsonian Institute biological station located on the island and we spoke to a staff member about the work they do in the islands.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After our two days exploring the northern part of Coiba Island, we headed back to Santa Catalina. Just before reaching the mainland, Victor stopped us on a tiny island, surrounded by black sand beach. We had a small lunch here, and explored the island, looking at beautiful shells and (more) hermit crabs. There was no other boat or person in sight. It seemed to good to be true. Our Coiba adventure had come to a close, but memories will stay strong for years, as this is truly one of the most incredible environments I have visited. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1RMGSpbKKy-7ryxuy6B3smd-sOAAprLbpc9L7Rc7p72u20zsX0bjmdUcjnPY93Uhf7-UgjYSVnee9EEoXxKMPMWZrFIkRjEhUSLX6HkdJnPFADYfh2oRSbIsUEyCYU8sBsDc6qBFGnqI/s1600/20130826_98+Small+island.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1RMGSpbKKy-7ryxuy6B3smd-sOAAprLbpc9L7Rc7p72u20zsX0bjmdUcjnPY93Uhf7-UgjYSVnee9EEoXxKMPMWZrFIkRjEhUSLX6HkdJnPFADYfh2oRSbIsUEyCYU8sBsDc6qBFGnqI/s400/20130826_98+Small+island.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">~ Jenn </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Jenn Sinasachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01483977646977191025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-946000003580841402.post-38298048488666101202013-08-07T14:29:00.000-05:002013-08-09T15:10:47.842-05:00Cool Caterpillars and their Defenses<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Next to birds, insects are a very fascinating group of animals to me. Especially lepidopterans - butterflies and moths. I don't know what it is I like about them so much - their beauty, diversity, adaptations, an interest to follow their classification, and I really enjoy the challenges of identification. Furthermore, they have changes in their life cycle that make it all the more fun to identify. They undergo complete metamorphosis and their larvae, better known to us as caterpillars, are physically diverse with a wide variety of adaptations and defenses themselves. So needless to say, wherever I am, coming across caterpillars is always entertaining for me. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We recently went for a walk in Gamboa on a nice breezy afternoon after a rain. As I now always try to have my camera with me, we stopped to photograph a sedge, of all things! There is a species of sedge here, superficially resembling a grass, that appears to have been spray-painted the tops, which spread out in 3-6 blades, with the colour white. Plants are not my strong point, so if anyone can help me with its identification, it would be much appreciated! They are particularly pretty, so worth a stop to snap a few photos. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHwkV1uiH4dwBM9D1YB5CsU2fjq58evh5d1SntsJ1k42b5S1k7QRCQGtZbqT9Tny9qkX33DcwHCj1pz99iHFKVrrO0S7WG1F60WPZuoTrHUjGUKkhAzzuvLIONcjGuM1GO8X-s1Rh5tDc/s1600/20130729_02+Grass+1.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img alt="Grass" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHwkV1uiH4dwBM9D1YB5CsU2fjq58evh5d1SntsJ1k42b5S1k7QRCQGtZbqT9Tny9qkX33DcwHCj1pz99iHFKVrrO0S7WG1F60WPZuoTrHUjGUKkhAzzuvLIONcjGuM1GO8X-s1Rh5tDc/s400/20130729_02+Grass+1.jpg" title="Grass" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After I got some photos, we noticed something hanging off a small papaya tree planted in the boulevard. Upon closer investigation, it was a caterpillar, hanging off one of the papaya leaves. At the base of the tree, there were two more. These caterpillars were large, up to 10 cm long, and had a "horn" protruding from the back of its abdomen, a characteristic of "hornworms" or Sphinx moth caterpillars, in the family Sphingidae. This is the larva of Alope Sphinx, </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Erinnyis alope. </i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This widespread species ranges from extreme southern United States through the tropical regions of Central and South America and the Caribbean, and even has a subspecies endemic to the Galapagos Islands! The caterpillars feed on papaya, which was a nice confirmation of its species. When in its dark phase, it is similar in appearance to </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Errynis ello</i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, which rather feeds on pointsettia. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsd32l3USZVJjSagA4Qmx1iJGuMoVsJf_c7jzT1aTxF2QfGWAbMIwpSYFLmgAq_3FtRczOXqeut5aoqesaSMw10Cm1UPA778F2uDIQ4Wt4ISZdJ55Cc4ztgUVUOUoqHDPlik-YjDPb9bE/s1600/20130729_08+Erinnyis+alope.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Alope Sphinx Caterpillar (Errinyis alope)" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsd32l3USZVJjSagA4Qmx1iJGuMoVsJf_c7jzT1aTxF2QfGWAbMIwpSYFLmgAq_3FtRczOXqeut5aoqesaSMw10Cm1UPA778F2uDIQ4Wt4ISZdJ55Cc4ztgUVUOUoqHDPlik-YjDPb9bE/s400/20130729_08+Erinnyis+alope.jpg" title="Alope Sphinx Caterpillar (Errinyis alope)" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Alope Sphinx caterpillar, <i>Errinyis alope</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEictEDQKeJMt-htL5vHfHqdj9xA6oIJf32BN80KvO9za07U7b0j6HdJxpfMZySaRnHdZnoXQt1KOt0mFbB71v9Y1-5iGVoYTES0OQPFwI7f75mdQIum90B4gJs7QSlUc5ToQ1hQY71N89A/s1600/20130729_12+Erinnyis+alope.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Alope Sphinx Caterpillar (Errinyis alope)" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEictEDQKeJMt-htL5vHfHqdj9xA6oIJf32BN80KvO9za07U7b0j6HdJxpfMZySaRnHdZnoXQt1KOt0mFbB71v9Y1-5iGVoYTES0OQPFwI7f75mdQIum90B4gJs7QSlUc5ToQ1hQY71N89A/s400/20130729_12+Erinnyis+alope.jpg" title="Alope Sphinx Caterpillar (Errinyis alope)" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Alope Sphinx caterpillar, </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Errinyis alope</i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Furthermore, to get a closer look at these larvae, we moved the leaf around and the caterpillar, alarmed, widened its thorax, which was a darker color than the rest of its body, and had a unique, white "starburst" marking, perhaps even resembling an eye. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It protruded its thorax, and reminded me of a caterpillar I saw posted on Facebook a few months ago of an Elephant Hawk-moth Caterpillar (<i>Deilephila elpenor</i>) from Europe & Asia that, when startled, can change its thorax to resemble the head of a pit-viper. Its head is actually tucked under its body when it is in this defense position. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRABpzo39zx_fWo7GIOa6LI6ltMmiBosMA9N0fC8cdIxzN6BOK_esexPs6hGd5egw4WN7gtOzAFZhuYKatiEmXFOVf1xqJqG1Tndu3FcFTfBOrNXoAvnRV0Evb2PtM0RqBRl2y2XeQPZk/s1600/20130729_23+Erinnyis+alope+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Alope Sphinx Caterpillar (Errinyis alope)" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRABpzo39zx_fWo7GIOa6LI6ltMmiBosMA9N0fC8cdIxzN6BOK_esexPs6hGd5egw4WN7gtOzAFZhuYKatiEmXFOVf1xqJqG1Tndu3FcFTfBOrNXoAvnRV0Evb2PtM0RqBRl2y2XeQPZk/s400/20130729_23+Erinnyis+alope+1.jpg" title="Alope Sphinx Caterpillar (Errinyis alope)" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Alope Sphinx caterpillar, </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Errinyis alope</i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While watching the caterpillars on the small papaya tree, we couldn't help but worry about their conspicuous appearance (being so big they were not difficult to see), and that they would be particularly appetizing to a passing thrush or antshrike. Caterpillars evade predation in a number of ways, and depending on the species, have a variey of effective defenses, from resembling snakes and bird poop, to either exposed or concealed stinging spines containing potent toxins, toxic urticating hairs, aposematic (warning) coloration to announce to any potential predator that it would not be a tasty snack. Check out this <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2254257/The-caterpillars-mimic-snakes-grow-spiky-spines-eat-toxic-flowers--predators-away.html" target="_blank">article</a> for more examples of caterpillar defenses (and good photos). By rearing up and showing off that large 'eye', perhaps this is how <i>Errinyis alope</i> avoids being eaten. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>A Caterpillar Warning: </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When growing up, I remember playing with caterpillars in my backyard. Down here in Tropical America, I think twice about every caterpillar I see, and as a general rule, <i>do not touch!</i> On more than one occasion, I have suffered stings from tropical caterpillars </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(however, stinging caterpillars are not restricted to the tropics, and can be found in temperate regions as well)</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, and it is not a pleasant experience. Caterpillars that sting and have urticating hairs can be quite toxic, and reported cases of human deaths due to caterpillar stings are not unheard of. Just a word of advice and worth keeping in mind if traveling to the tropics, its a wild world down here, and creatures like caterpillars may not always be as friendly as they seem. That being said, they are still cool to come across! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">~ Jenn </span></div>
Jenn Sinasachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01483977646977191025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-946000003580841402.post-69118437171579781482013-07-21T17:44:00.001-05:002013-07-21T17:44:46.486-05:00Up close with Fiery-billed Aracaris<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Prior to arriving in Costa Rica, I looked over the bird list for the San Vito area, to see what I should be pursuing in the area that I had not yet seen. Among a few others, the bird I really wanted to see was the Fiery-billed Aracari, a medium-sized relative of a toucan that has a very limited range in western Panama and southern Costa Rica. Upon arriving in San Vito, Monique and Alison told me that they see them regularly and I should be able to see them on my visit. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_4ZDUmHhBNYJHRSp1AocArCefN0zqmr9LzzzMDDmclbEk7db3OJ8e_f4s26r8v4TNEHFRrEkYL8IhYanPMUNwxLDgInc9LFNx_8IPIDH1FDMz_hywOJODawSTYuv602Q52iu8z-4MA3g/s1600/20130713_12+Fiery-billed+Aracari+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Fiery-billed Aracari" border="0" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_4ZDUmHhBNYJHRSp1AocArCefN0zqmr9LzzzMDDmclbEk7db3OJ8e_f4s26r8v4TNEHFRrEkYL8IhYanPMUNwxLDgInc9LFNx_8IPIDH1FDMz_hywOJODawSTYuv602Q52iu8z-4MA3g/s400/20130713_12+Fiery-billed+Aracari+1.jpg" title="Fiery-billed Aracari" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fiery-billed Aracari (<i>Pteroglossus frantzii</i>) at Wilson Botanical Garden</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On my first afternoon at Wilson Botanical Garden/Las Cruces Biological Station, I went for a walk to a small mirador overlooking the valley. Not much was moving around, and it was pretty quiet. Just before I turned around to walk back, movement in the bushes below caught my eye, and I saw a large flash of red - the bill of a Fiery-billed Aracari! This young bird sat in a little clearing in the shrubby vegetation, and I watched it for a while. Not far away, 3 more aracaris were hopping through the trees, not far from me and easily visible. As I continued on my walk, I saw a few more aracaris on the property that day as well. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlKw-Q2FK9rGIP3T_jnr4PqULbjEeiq0hmUaoomiNXDHkoP2lpweeDyHGtQbQxqVxkK4NN4dAaS0Ou9HCITCkYKAGXFe10BPNDRyPAdCDXbfgH668RhgHaPJevhSWF_u2iEuQX2vJ-8nM/s1600/20130717_11+Fiery-billed+Aracari.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Fiery-billed Aracari" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlKw-Q2FK9rGIP3T_jnr4PqULbjEeiq0hmUaoomiNXDHkoP2lpweeDyHGtQbQxqVxkK4NN4dAaS0Ou9HCITCkYKAGXFe10BPNDRyPAdCDXbfgH668RhgHaPJevhSWF_u2iEuQX2vJ-8nM/s400/20130717_11+Fiery-billed+Aracari.jpg" title="Fiery-billed Aracari" width="300" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A few days later, while the nets were open at Finca Cantaros and we had a group of students visiting from the biological station. Chespi and I, birds in hand, had our attention focused on processing birds, while the students asked questions and took photos. Then Alison popped around the corner, with a Fiery-billed Aracari in her hands! She had just gone on a net run and managed to grab this bird as it was running through a tramel of one of the nets (they are too big to get tangled in the gauge of the nets used). Everyone grabbed cameras for photos, and Chespi carefully processed the bird. Even though their bill is hollow, they can do a lot of damage, so Alison and Chespi took good care to keep its beak in control. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiery-billed_Aracari" target="_blank">Fiery-billed Aracari</a>, <i>Pteroglossus frantzii</i>, is a medium-sized member of the Toucan family, Ramphastidae. They are similar to the widespread Collared Aracari, but have a red-orange upper mandible and a red band across their belly, not black as in the Collared Aracari. Even though that bill looks big and heavy, it is actually hollow, and is used for reaching fruits and berries, their main diet. It is also believed to be used in temperature regulation. It is found only in southern Costa Rica (on the Pacific side) and in extreme western Panama. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">~ Jenn </span></div>
Jenn Sinasachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01483977646977191025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-946000003580841402.post-58703248588504846012013-07-21T14:33:00.003-05:002013-07-21T14:35:47.846-05:00Bird Banding Bonanza in Costa Rica<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A week on the avian monitoring project with the <a href="http://sanvitobirdclub.org/" target="_blank">San Vito Bird Club</a> was fantastic! We caught hundreds of of birds in 6 days, at 3 different sites, and here are some of the highlights. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuzjPvCDnVXBCnhLIwp2Bb-hfRpNyni5R8P-pXnTPYfhwjqQkz5DLvOf5Lm1KvnO0F0AUgrlgkWRYu4BDrEtLYgDTKtJnmfE5XYVhd3pzqIvB6SCFzny1Kctg8U1F7rt10zznXQDfoESQ/s1600/20130715_11+White-ruffed+Manakin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="White-ruffed Manakin" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuzjPvCDnVXBCnhLIwp2Bb-hfRpNyni5R8P-pXnTPYfhwjqQkz5DLvOf5Lm1KvnO0F0AUgrlgkWRYu4BDrEtLYgDTKtJnmfE5XYVhd3pzqIvB6SCFzny1Kctg8U1F7rt10zznXQDfoESQ/s400/20130715_11+White-ruffed+Manakin.jpg" title="White-ruffed Manakin" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3yE9-9mLed7Wo-aTvwDIkVCkqDu-JqxamGhX-2KfxSsa7LNRCOp9bdBy5hplHu0A-mZCgjC6P1HamdR1CPhcRjOWZY5dwIUPFlU5dDmbkfzkWKLJWCE4XQPXJe2MFdOCbb5kqWVar6Tc/s1600/20130714_07+Tropical+Parula.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Tropical Parula" border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3yE9-9mLed7Wo-aTvwDIkVCkqDu-JqxamGhX-2KfxSsa7LNRCOp9bdBy5hplHu0A-mZCgjC6P1HamdR1CPhcRjOWZY5dwIUPFlU5dDmbkfzkWKLJWCE4XQPXJe2MFdOCbb5kqWVar6Tc/s320/20130714_07+Tropical+Parula.jpg" title="Tropical Parula" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tropical Parula (<i>Setophaga pitioyumi</i>)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The first day of mist-netting at Finca Sofia was our busiest day - we caught 72 individuals of 25 species - half of them were hummingbirds, mainly Green Hermits and Rufous-tailed Hummingbirds. Other highlights from the heavily reforested Finca Sofia for the first two days were Smoky-brown Woodpecker, Slaty Antwren, Olivaceous Woodcreeper, Ruddy Foliage-Gleaner, Slate-headed Tody-Flycatcher, Orange-collared, White-ruffed and Blue-crowned Manakins, White-breasted Wood-Wrens, Clay-colored and White-throated Thrushes, a stunning Tropical Parula, Slate-throated Redstart, Rufous-capped Warbler, Cherrie's, Silver-throated and Bay-headed Tanagers, an Orange-billed Sparrow, 4 beautiful Chestnut-capped Brush-Finches and 2 less-common Costa Rican (Stripe-headed) Brush-Finches!</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2z3cKKM6ngO0LBrJgSFW0GJ4zfXWFojFAPtNqSg_Zt7jMXY_6Xg4TxGyNCdFoB7Oez9hY43AiDB4TMJHLFo2Dy6ovpY74jE6ZTBCumEXmRDsn1tjN0ss4g1bj2w_I5RtoqzHhIEWO5Xk/s1600/20130714_15+Orange-billed+Sparrow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Orange-billed Sparrow" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2z3cKKM6ngO0LBrJgSFW0GJ4zfXWFojFAPtNqSg_Zt7jMXY_6Xg4TxGyNCdFoB7Oez9hY43AiDB4TMJHLFo2Dy6ovpY74jE6ZTBCumEXmRDsn1tjN0ss4g1bj2w_I5RtoqzHhIEWO5Xk/s400/20130714_15+Orange-billed+Sparrow.jpg" title="Orange-billed Sparrow" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Orange-billed Sparrow (<i>Arremon aurantiirostris</i>)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Saltators proved to be the most challenging because of a horrible bite, and we caught both Streaked and Buff-throated Saltators. Other hummingbirds included the tiny White-tailed Emerald, Scaly-breasted Hummingbird and Long-billed Starthroat. Over the 2 days we caught 3 Blue-crowned Motmots, which despite an intimidating serrated bill, are incredibly calm! Another highlight was a subtly beautiful Scaly-breasted Wren, a new capture for the San Vito Bird Club!</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVUIKhcmrmcOaLFOnm6LumUDdPu2BO2E9KD57yRD9WO0HH8CVi2HwTc-jPxQBZt1ZieYKDnyAKCfincfzx7iXUIefdcyDBO8ZW77zdwIxR4ffBG5o3kQwwYVy9SDKUCHga-K6P5CewlKI/s1600/20130715_57+Blue-crowned+Motmot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Blue-crowned Motmot" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVUIKhcmrmcOaLFOnm6LumUDdPu2BO2E9KD57yRD9WO0HH8CVi2HwTc-jPxQBZt1ZieYKDnyAKCfincfzx7iXUIefdcyDBO8ZW77zdwIxR4ffBG5o3kQwwYVy9SDKUCHga-K6P5CewlKI/s400/20130715_57+Blue-crowned+Motmot.jpg" title="Blue-crowned Motmot" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Blue-crowned Motmot (<i>Momotus momota</i>)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For the next two days, we moved the nets over to Finca Cantaros, a private property open daily to the public, who can come to walk the trails, see the gardens, enjoy picnic lunches and a lovely gift shop. Here, there is a variety of habitats, including roadside, open areas, woodland, and a small lake. In addition to a number of the forest birds we caught at Finca Sofia, we caught Violet Sabrewing, the tiny Stripe-throated Hermit, Olivaceous Piculet, Black-tailed and Sulphur-rumped Flycatchers, Gray-capped Flycatcher (4 in 1 net!), a pair of White-winged Becards nesting on the property, Rufous-breasted Wren, Buff-rumped Warblers, Gray-headed, Blue-gray and Golden-hooded Tanagers, Bananaquits, Variable Seedeaters, a stunning male Thick-billed Seed-Finch, Yellow-faced Grassquits, and a few Spot-crowned Euphonias! The highlight of the day though, was a Fiery-billed Aracari that Alison grabbed as it ran through the tramels of the net (more to come on the aracari)!!</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWEp0XOaC1N7uwCupDy_lt89vC-qEGW4V293QwuOtPQosf-OvFrCcMVZw355K4QHVkquNOdlyZiLPVWRWn3treV9-EnQ7oF9QeHoJryHPCvzMH1ELOxRPajVcPRZ11iTCAlehfOpOcw2s/s1600/20130716_09+Olivaceous+Piculet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Olivaceous Piculet" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWEp0XOaC1N7uwCupDy_lt89vC-qEGW4V293QwuOtPQosf-OvFrCcMVZw355K4QHVkquNOdlyZiLPVWRWn3treV9-EnQ7oF9QeHoJryHPCvzMH1ELOxRPajVcPRZ11iTCAlehfOpOcw2s/s400/20130716_09+Olivaceous+Piculet.jpg" title="Olivaceous Piculet" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Olivaceous Piculet (<i>Picumnus olivaceus</i>)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As Alison and I were opening the nets on the first day at Finca Cantaros, I looked across the pond and saw a white animal, which first struck me as a heron perched on an exposed log. Then it moved its body and we could see a tail and a head, and it dove into the water, bobbed up and down a couple times and disappeared. As it turns out, a leucistic Neotropical Otter has been infrequently seen in this pond, and we were lucky to see it! </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi866PWA8iFy4qlA3kcsPo5CAXHvq44csROt_Kjs1HlZB36aNAbo8itEBS4il-0iBRnEv72kggkRaej4sy-xF3weEVHntjioPZ0XMk0zPkYL-aTESR7Bo_DYdO9AzxoJdOvqw1A73PvuQs/s1600/20130719_11+White-throated+Spadebill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="White-throated Spadebill" border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi866PWA8iFy4qlA3kcsPo5CAXHvq44csROt_Kjs1HlZB36aNAbo8itEBS4il-0iBRnEv72kggkRaej4sy-xF3weEVHntjioPZ0XMk0zPkYL-aTESR7Bo_DYdO9AzxoJdOvqw1A73PvuQs/s320/20130719_11+White-throated+Spadebill.jpg" title="White-throated Spadebill" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">White-throated Spadebill (<i>Platyrinchus mystaceus</i>)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our final station was at Alison's finca, Finca Cortesa. Here the habitat hasn't been touched and this small property supports a lot of bird life! The first morning here kept us busy with a constant stream of birds, including a family of Thick-billed Euphonias in the nets which provided a great identification challenge as we dealt with all ages and sexes! This finca was also full of juvenile thrushes, both Clay-colored and White-throated. On our last day, we recaptured a previously banded White-throated Spadebill, a wonderful little bird to see up close! </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqd36WIM_IHl3GaRvidzxk9Qrz0oEvKUQcqd4cSrdif43zrhz5OzaKTbaNFE4T9zLK_NU3aKudLSHPhaDhAhDMW3xkR_RzUJctgPMhNVMNxi1NTbN4irkriulHDd8Unhf7Cee1UAucBmk/s1600/20130718_03+Thick-billed+Euphonia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Thick-billed Euphonia" border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqd36WIM_IHl3GaRvidzxk9Qrz0oEvKUQcqd4cSrdif43zrhz5OzaKTbaNFE4T9zLK_NU3aKudLSHPhaDhAhDMW3xkR_RzUJctgPMhNVMNxi1NTbN4irkriulHDd8Unhf7Cee1UAucBmk/s320/20130718_03+Thick-billed+Euphonia.jpg" title="Thick-billed Euphonia" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of 8 Thick-billed Euphonias (<i>Euphonia laniirostris</i>)<br />caught at Finca Cortesa</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Overall it was a very successful session, everyone was very happy with the finds and we had a lot of fun! I'm already looking forward to visiting the San Vito Bird Club again and hope to join another mist-netting session in the near future. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">~ Jenn </span></div>
Jenn Sinasachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01483977646977191025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-946000003580841402.post-84122600178842191482013-07-21T13:26:00.000-05:002013-07-21T17:48:15.989-05:00Avian Monitoring with the San Vito Bird Club in Costa Rica<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I feel fortunate to have had some great field experience in Latin America. From tracking Harpy Eagles and Orange-breasted Falcons in Central America, to conducting various surveys for birds, reptiles, amphibians, butterflies and more in Ecuador, I have gained a wide range of experience dealing with a variety of taxa, and I feel it leaves doors open for more opportunities.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In February, I was on the Panama Rainforest Discovery Center tower, and I met Alison Olivieri, the president of the <a href="http://sanvitobirdclub.org/" target="_blank">San Vito Bird Club</a> in southern Costa Rica. We chatted for a while on the tower, and she asked me if I had any experience in mist-netting and bird banding, because they were in need of volunteers for their control monitoring session in July. We swapped contact information and were in touch immediately. She contacted me in May with the set dates for the session, and I accepted. It worked out perfectly, since it was to the date of when I needed to exit Panama for my visa purposes as well. So on July 11, I boarded the night bus to David, en route to Costa Rica. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIlRD7xHWbuyZPavia1FnD9-uGVQQ5DAHXMkjx5Fz8LAgNtTiuoKlb5KsJ-rdTh17Gqcv7_dJI5Km9x-uMewsV2YlILra26rKqzk4UTzOgoCKRRTx-LZb8ZUtPeqpBTLCk-GzWCZjzyjY/s1600/20130712_21+Yellow-headed+Caracara+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Yellow-headed Caracara" border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIlRD7xHWbuyZPavia1FnD9-uGVQQ5DAHXMkjx5Fz8LAgNtTiuoKlb5KsJ-rdTh17Gqcv7_dJI5Km9x-uMewsV2YlILra26rKqzk4UTzOgoCKRRTx-LZb8ZUtPeqpBTLCk-GzWCZjzyjY/s400/20130712_21+Yellow-headed+Caracara+1.jpg" title="Yellow-headed Caracara" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yellow-headed Caracaras (<i>Milvago chimachima</i>) in San Vito</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Four buses and a border crossing later, I arrived in San Vito, a small town set in a picturesque valley in the foothills of the Talamanca Mountain Range in southern Costa Rica, not far from the Panama border. The fresh air was a welcomed break from the heat and humidity of Gamboa, and I got settled in for my week in Costa Rica. I was met by Monique and Marcel Girard, a Canadian couple from Quebec who moved to San Vito 19 years ago. Since I arrived a day before the project was to start, they offered me one of their beautiful cabins for my first night there for a very reasonable rate. They were so lovely - they made me feel like family, offered me lunch (and breakfast the following day), took me on a driving tour of scenic San Vito and the surrounding area, and showed me their beautiful property, where I immediately started birding! An Orange-billed Nightingale-Thrush, Rufous-breasted Wrens, Cherrie's, Silver-throated Tanagers, and Gray-capped Flycatchers foraged in the trees and shrubs, while Swallow-tailed Kites and Yellow-headed Caracaras soared overhead. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The next day, I met Alison to help set up the mist nets at the first site. With a good crew, we set up 15 nets in an hour, and we were ready for the next day. Alison dropped me off at Wilson Botanical Garden and Las Cruces Biological Station in time for lunch, where I stayed during the session days. The combination of a botanical garden and biological station makes for the most beautiful biological station I have ever seen. Manicured gardens full of native and international flora, and beautiful trails through primary and secondary forest, attracts a great diversity of wildlife. That evening, our banding expert - Pablo "Chespi" Elizondo and intern Isabel Martin arrived for the session as well. We got acquainted and prepared for the next several days of bird banding.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The <a href="http://sanvitobirdclub.org/avian-monitoring-project/" target="_blank">San Vito Avian Monitoring Project</a> is a 10-year long-term monitoring project that focuses on resident and migrant species. They run 4 sessions a year, at 3 locations near San Vito. This session is the control session, in July/August, when there are no migrants present. What we did expect was young birds hatched this year, and some breeding birds, which take advantage of a high food supply to raise their young when no migrants are there to compete. The project is in its 9th year. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Za8nA_1kRxz-4CDMBtj8NvQA7C-MQGUhlxOrB2Aig4Wy1UkBakuiS74leYMCicAye4JPhvPzWS-6diw5xtELlViWxs09JDUSxrYTbc-0HEW0jlXMk_Qy1VD_c-amyip_tJHdPVTsMXE/s1600/20130717_13+San+Vito.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="San Vito" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Za8nA_1kRxz-4CDMBtj8NvQA7C-MQGUhlxOrB2Aig4Wy1UkBakuiS74leYMCicAye4JPhvPzWS-6diw5xtELlViWxs09JDUSxrYTbc-0HEW0jlXMk_Qy1VD_c-amyip_tJHdPVTsMXE/s400/20130717_13+San+Vito.jpg" title="San Vito" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">View of San Vito from Finca Cantaros</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our first morning at Finca Sofia was fantastic, our best of the 6 mornings and 3 locations - we netted 72 individuals of 25 species, and 35 individuals of those were hummingbirds, mainly Green Hermits and Rufous-tailed Hummingbirds (stay tuned for more highlights). The other mornings followed with a constant stream of birds as well, and the last morning was the quietest, where we were actually able to stop in between net rounds and eat some breakfast. We banded 2 mornings at each of the 3 locations (Finca Sofia, Finca Cantaros and Finca Cortesa), and lucked out with the weather, thankfully for the "San Juan Veranillo" we managed to avoid rain every morning. At Finca Cantaros, a public-use garden, we welcomed a 5th-grade class of "Detectivos de Pajaros" for an up-close experience with the mist-netting project, which challenged our small team in terms of continuing with the bird banding in the morning, as we ran the hour-long program for the kids. It was a big hurdle for me, as it was the first time I had conducted an education program in Spanish! I can now check that one off the list and I look forward to more! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Please <a href="http://jennsinasac.blogspot.com/2013/07/bird-banding-bonanza-in-costa-rica.html" target="_blank">read more</a> for bird and other wildlife highlights, and photos!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">~ Jenn </span></div>
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Jenn Sinasachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01483977646977191025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-946000003580841402.post-66414373552485641902013-07-21T11:28:00.000-05:002013-07-21T17:49:08.327-05:00Lesson Learned - Always Bring a Camera!<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I enjoy bird-watching, wildlife-watching and finding fascinating creatures and plants. Furthermore, I enjoy documenting what I find through taking pictures. I don't have a big, fancy, high-quality camera, but my compact Nikon Coolpix S9100 with 18x zoom does a pretty good job sometimes, and I try to have it with me at all times in case I come across something of interest, which often happens here. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Two weeks ago, I went for a walk on a gloomy Sunday morning in Gamboa before heading to work. It's the rainy season, and the sky was heavy with dark clouds and mist. I didn't want to risk damaging my camera with imminent rain, so I left it at home this time - big mistake! As I was walking behind the Gamboa Rainforest Resort, a large white bird flushed up out of the marsh into a Cecropia tree. It was a beautiful adult <a href="http://neotropical.birds.cornell.edu/portal/species/overview?p_p_spp=114876" target="_blank">Capped Heron</a>, a rare species that occasionally presents itself in central Panama. The clouds had started to lift, and this shy bird sat in good view, in good light, for approximately 5 minutes. I considered running back home to grab my camera to grab some photos of this stunning heron, but I realized that even better, I could spend valuable time enjoying watching the bird. Although I really enjoyed watching this bird, my favourite heron, of which I have not seen in years since volunteering in Amazonia Peru in 2007, I still wished I could have gotten some photos!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yesterday, while out for another short walk on a gloomy rainy day, I decided to leave my camera at home, again. The bird life was surprising quiet after the heavy rain, but I continued to enjoy the walk. As I passed a streetlight along the road, I looked up on the lamp and a leaf-like shape caught my attention on the other side. I took a second look, and it wasn't a leaf stuck there after the rain but a beautiful Rothschild's Moth (<i>Rothschilidia</i> <i>sp.</i>), one of the largest silk moths in the Americas, and resembles the Atlas Moth (<i>Attacus atlas</i>) of southeast Asia. I was mad at myself for not having my camera, again! Figuring it would be resting there for a while, I walked home, grabbed my camera and went back to grab some photos. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidjLDia3st39Zm56j8nhEz71AS4RkKHGgvdER4P3jl3R6wS2PbmSMeVUUty2UKTOh48RfTntTb1KeqWxOnV8A4aM8lDfHSy4u9UWK-Xd0Da5N9hswhndfO-6ReMCWcJfLWHasR_41jLG4/s1600/20130720_07+Rothschild's+Moth.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Rothschild's Moth" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidjLDia3st39Zm56j8nhEz71AS4RkKHGgvdER4P3jl3R6wS2PbmSMeVUUty2UKTOh48RfTntTb1KeqWxOnV8A4aM8lDfHSy4u9UWK-Xd0Da5N9hswhndfO-6ReMCWcJfLWHasR_41jLG4/s400/20130720_07+Rothschild's+Moth.JPG" title="Rothschild's Moth" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rothschild's Moth (<i>Rothschilidia</i> <i>sp.</i>)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Maybe I tend to find the coolest things when I do not have my camera with me; regardless, I do not want to miss future opportunities, as here, you never know what will show up! I have learned my lesson, and even in the wet season, I will always try to have my camera with me (and some plastic bags to keep it dry if it rains!). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">More to come on my week of <a href="http://jennsinasac.blogspot.com/2013/07/avian-monitoring-with-san-vito-bird.html" target="_blank">bird banding in Costa Rica</a>!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">~ Jenn </span></div>
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Jenn Sinasachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01483977646977191025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-946000003580841402.post-44973744990348005262013-07-03T11:35:00.002-05:002013-07-03T11:36:22.179-05:00Guests for lunch<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yesterday I spent some time at the </span><a href="http://www.canopytower.com/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Canopy Tower</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, to do some work and some birding along Old Gamboa Road in the afternoon with my friends from </span><a href="http://www.cheepersbirding.com/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Cheepers! Birding on a Budget</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. Everyone is enjoying their time on their tour in Panama, and have seen some exciting birds and animals so far. While sitting down for a delicious lunch at the tower, this Collared Aracari perched outside the window of the dining room, looking rather interested in what was on the menu! Of course, a majority of the group abandoned their food at points to take advantage of the photo op, including myself! </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBrmM4tLu9zOY74Y8cUIAAzBjvEhrwHlQYFot-f_fIYqFuhCy3gkZTm6JG9Vfb_dvjkvYKJJVWYkq5Jq_fayfLrmGJS7olMCwEyeZe7fRTFdnyn7Xhs8l6bJDSR8ijVJDnwLIhGYKqaSg/s1600/20130702_03+Collared+Aracari+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="Collared Aracari" border="0" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBrmM4tLu9zOY74Y8cUIAAzBjvEhrwHlQYFot-f_fIYqFuhCy3gkZTm6JG9Vfb_dvjkvYKJJVWYkq5Jq_fayfLrmGJS7olMCwEyeZe7fRTFdnyn7Xhs8l6bJDSR8ijVJDnwLIhGYKqaSg/s400/20130702_03+Collared+Aracari+1.jpg" title="Collared Aracari" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Collared Aracari, <i>Pteroglossus torquatus</i>, at the Canopy Tower</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioSTAseMQt3o15qEhEjzMyH0zV9qdgQSB_umAw85fMnxOj2v0gh7f-o7t226Qr84GLk19nDIoqYwdG40aYHxCrTMOTv9jIpaBnXAnX5TGf6uZ3a_p0aJgwhizrE_eZMqaorLV4TeV1sGk/s1444/20130702_06+Collared+Aracari+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="Collared Aracari" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioSTAseMQt3o15qEhEjzMyH0zV9qdgQSB_umAw85fMnxOj2v0gh7f-o7t226Qr84GLk19nDIoqYwdG40aYHxCrTMOTv9jIpaBnXAnX5TGf6uZ3a_p0aJgwhizrE_eZMqaorLV4TeV1sGk/s400/20130702_06+Collared+Aracari+1.jpg" title="Collared Aracari " width="301" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Collared Aracari, <i>Pteroglossus torquatus</i>, at the Canopy Tower</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Old Gamboa Road extends through scrub and dry forest, and is a great place to find wrens, raptors, Lance-tailed Manakins (which we heard) and roosting Spectacled Owls right along the road! Our quiet presence did not disturb this one and everyone in the group got fantastic views and photos (I have yet to get a good Spectacled Owl photo but this one will suffice for now). </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib5oFg7O1pU05VchPCicqSmx9358srPvAxLPZ_aNhSj1Sh3HQg52_FpfuQ-K6bjnIGbazGmwvOyj0lVk9lWwi_HH-1OlqNgNEiOqjwzfLVkF_KRSHYEWLzUlmxlRK7Ii4GL40h_oHEz28/s1600/20130702_18+Spectacled+Owl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="Spectacled Owl" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib5oFg7O1pU05VchPCicqSmx9358srPvAxLPZ_aNhSj1Sh3HQg52_FpfuQ-K6bjnIGbazGmwvOyj0lVk9lWwi_HH-1OlqNgNEiOqjwzfLVkF_KRSHYEWLzUlmxlRK7Ii4GL40h_oHEz28/s400/20130702_18+Spectacled+Owl.jpg" title="Spectacled Owl" width="300" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Spectacled Owl, <i>Pulsatrix perspicillata</i>, roosting along Old Gamboa Road</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Happy Birding! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">~ Jenn</span> </div>
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Jenn Sinasachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01483977646977191025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-946000003580841402.post-17105083458891964792013-07-01T10:27:00.002-05:002013-07-21T17:46:55.141-05:00Sunny Days in the Rainy Season<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now that the rainy season has started here, we have enjoyed dozens of great storms, warm tropical rains and lush greenery just about everywhere you look. Bird and animal activity continues to increase as frogs and other water-loving wildlife have reached their peak season. The forests are full of life. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It had been a while, so yesterday we packed some water & snacks, grabbed the camera and binoculars and headed out to Pipeline Road for a walk. We fully anticipated getting rained on, so we were sure to bring a plastic bag to protect the camera, and with that, rain was welcome! Even though there was rumbling in the distance throughout the afternoon, and dark skies approached as we headed back home, the day proved to be as beautiful a sunny day as ever! </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBxKSnsXbMKoAETaMqqmxY0mvCCgYG3LP_oYZYsmu7fDnJGTo4ZUPF61xWMlmbmEF86_nOGIvDpAIxFQIJhyRbqRtugicw7_JeMP4Faq9rFw-D3-EdcVK8y6qts6f0W_Ar74DpNHj9f7w/s1600/20130630_105+Cecropia.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cecropia" border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBxKSnsXbMKoAETaMqqmxY0mvCCgYG3LP_oYZYsmu7fDnJGTo4ZUPF61xWMlmbmEF86_nOGIvDpAIxFQIJhyRbqRtugicw7_JeMP4Faq9rFw-D3-EdcVK8y6qts6f0W_Ar74DpNHj9f7w/s320/20130630_105+Cecropia.JPG" title="Cecropia" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was a hot walk to the entrance of Pipeline Road, but once inside the forest, we enjoyed the cool breeze and cooling effect of the canopy above. We came across troops of White-headed Capuchins and Mantled Howler monkeys, a sleeping Hoffman's Two-toed Sloth and the bird activity picked up while we were out there too, as we ran into mixed flocks of Song Wrens, Western Slaty-Antshrikes, Dot-winged Antwrens and more. A lone Black-capped Pygmy-Tyrant, the world's smallest passerine, was singing along the roadside as well. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We reached a sunny spot along the road where a group of Scarlet-rumped Caciques, a Black-striped Woodcreeper and a pair of Slaty-tailed Trogons were quite active. The female trogon caught our attention as she perched in the full sun, flared her tail and wings, opened her beak and sat there, motionless, and sunbathed! They look rather strange at times, but she seemed to be enjoying the sun, as were we! </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH5EBEl-2WaHGG8IRd7Im-tNBT6SPmRaebaXtIDO-KqBOMhUjU7mI07fKXY4s4zo1L7YhOeWEXMmEHaN2cY47aLaI9jdE_tURtrkrDBNV5qqXKAnzmfetnu-ZQASKSPH3fW13E6Jp0DVk/s1600/20130630_71+Slaty-tailed+Trogon+sunbathing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Slaty-tailed Trogon" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH5EBEl-2WaHGG8IRd7Im-tNBT6SPmRaebaXtIDO-KqBOMhUjU7mI07fKXY4s4zo1L7YhOeWEXMmEHaN2cY47aLaI9jdE_tURtrkrDBNV5qqXKAnzmfetnu-ZQASKSPH3fW13E6Jp0DVk/s400/20130630_71+Slaty-tailed+Trogon+sunbathing.jpg" title="Slaty-tailed Trogon" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sunbating Slaty-tailed Trogon, <i>Trogon massena</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A few years ago I was birding along Semaphore Hill and saw a Broad-billed Motmot do the same thing - it perched in a sunny spot, flared its wings and tail, threw its head backwards so that it touched its back and just sat and enjoyed the sun! </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr1g3scF7lCPytdoXH3pmfvM-VlU4xYZa1saKspvckNoR_dkdKjD_En-jrtJE054tF0zjp5fvbyz69MyesxJPXPY-MAQnptr2lbd4vA4s2o6O4qIwOXIayhVchKUrQcX_dT1-WANwwpqc/s1600/20090402_05+Broad-billed+Motmot+sunbathing.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Broad-billed Motmot" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr1g3scF7lCPytdoXH3pmfvM-VlU4xYZa1saKspvckNoR_dkdKjD_En-jrtJE054tF0zjp5fvbyz69MyesxJPXPY-MAQnptr2lbd4vA4s2o6O4qIwOXIayhVchKUrQcX_dT1-WANwwpqc/s400/20090402_05+Broad-billed+Motmot+sunbathing.JPG" title="Broad-billed Motmot" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Broad-billed Motmot, <i>Electron platyrhynchum, </i>sunbathing in 2009. </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Whether its sunny or raining, there's always something to enjoy. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We took almost 200 photos yesterday as the opportunities seemed endless. Check out more of my favourite photos on my <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jennsinasac/" target="_blank">Flickr page</a>, and happy birding</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">~ Jenn </span><br />
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<br />Jenn Sinasachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01483977646977191025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-946000003580841402.post-53020386908276857692013-06-14T11:26:00.000-05:002013-07-21T17:51:31.397-05:00Agoutis & Avocados<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of the many glorious things about living in Gamboa is the fruiting tropical trees. In any given garden in Gamboa, you may find papaya, mango, pineapple, coconut, maranon (cashew trees), avocados and more. Avocados are my favourite, and in June, the heavy fruits fall from the trees in mass quantities. There is one catch though, you must beat the agoutis to them. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKXg_UUMvV891yLKfHLheu7wPMxRMwYTLnETV03_y5CZ40p0DP1NGNqEVwWBc6Vs324AOPzlPeInBe7Gd1QYa0xqWlCUKcpAXMweMZCZKlKj7ZrWCKVkJTsLBEJscqbFpg6fB6y5R4Zbg/s1600/20130125_10+Agouti+edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="Central American Agouti" border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKXg_UUMvV891yLKfHLheu7wPMxRMwYTLnETV03_y5CZ40p0DP1NGNqEVwWBc6Vs324AOPzlPeInBe7Gd1QYa0xqWlCUKcpAXMweMZCZKlKj7ZrWCKVkJTsLBEJscqbFpg6fB6y5R4Zbg/s400/20130125_10+Agouti+edit.jpg" title="Central American Agouti" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Central American Agouti, <i>Dasyprocta punctata</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Agoutis are (normally) rather shy members of the rodent family, and several species are found throughout Central and South America. In other places I have been such as Peru and Ecuador, they are seldomly seen, quietly moving across the forest floor and eating seeds and fruits they seek out. They resemble a small Capybaras, with a rounded snout, short ears, short tail and thin peg-like legs. But here in Gamboa and central Panama, agoutis are very common and remind me more of our neighbourhood squirrels back at home in Canada. They graze in the gardens and sports fields. They chase each other around obstacle courses of trees and street signs. The sit on their haunches in the middle of the streets and eat fruits. They are quite the sight. They also are very good at seeking out fallen avocados. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiZYA3RNAgNayJ1pSKdr8WVTSIRAyiT1T0SnKM7mTkb9bwPJGruWuJgMr8koC8-GTf-x36OxATaH0goGDeiVEhVB-EWYtIcxscEIYWfKB-bd7wGrtZubZURkGWlRZGOfe4ZNv8oMbyVLU/s1600/20130614_01+Eaten+avocado.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="Avocado" border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiZYA3RNAgNayJ1pSKdr8WVTSIRAyiT1T0SnKM7mTkb9bwPJGruWuJgMr8koC8-GTf-x36OxATaH0goGDeiVEhVB-EWYtIcxscEIYWfKB-bd7wGrtZubZURkGWlRZGOfe4ZNv8oMbyVLU/s320/20130614_01+Eaten+avocado.JPG" title="Avocado" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So these days, as the avocados are dropping daily from the trees in my backyard, I am keeping a close ear open. As soon as I hear one fall, I must get to it before the agoutis do. If I'm tied up with something and can't make it out there right away, I will lose my chance. By the time I get out there, it may already be partially eaten by the cheeky agoutis! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">~ Jenn </span></div>
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Jenn Sinasachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01483977646977191025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-946000003580841402.post-70143975439310886512013-06-12T21:10:00.001-05:002013-07-21T17:52:59.641-05:00Night Creatures<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Its the start of the rainy season here in Gamboa. Throughout the year, there is usually a chorus of frogs and other nocturnal animals every night. When it rains during the day, most days during the wet season, the frog chorus can be at times, deafening. Dozens of species sing from the flooded fields across from my house, in nearby residential pools of water, and from the extensive rain forest 300 metres in front of my house. The rainy season feels even more full of life than the drier times of the year. After a good rain, its always fun and rewarding to look for frogs after dark, and this is exactly what we did a few nights ago. </span> </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1C4G5t55zrLwbzY9XImwBNS3RK_kM1Rl4jDliRQd8cCDBsxQh0Gv3W3rSulKHRqHfd1K7BNudkOnHm3_8V3NMwk48pqSbx8_vdtr8__cBt6nIei-CyMGvFBTDbMDgv4lBOQTHU6IuhQ4/s1600/20130609_02+Hypsiboas+sp..JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Tree Frog" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1C4G5t55zrLwbzY9XImwBNS3RK_kM1Rl4jDliRQd8cCDBsxQh0Gv3W3rSulKHRqHfd1K7BNudkOnHm3_8V3NMwk48pqSbx8_vdtr8__cBt6nIei-CyMGvFBTDbMDgv4lBOQTHU6IuhQ4/s400/20130609_02+Hypsiboas+sp..JPG" title="Tree Frog" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tree Frog (species unknown)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimc8RimM-3uAuqwzBuxmR5lismIs_jbOKOvco6f5ECLc3xpuHaqTf0ShqYOMdHSZfFbepM2vbTwCzo1BghODh3tIBtyEZTYyjS6IpT32okw61LZAwGtidrMXQNBMyYrPrgDEnx0lfuzFY/s1600/20130609_08+Hypsiboas+sp..JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Tree Frog" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimc8RimM-3uAuqwzBuxmR5lismIs_jbOKOvco6f5ECLc3xpuHaqTf0ShqYOMdHSZfFbepM2vbTwCzo1BghODh3tIBtyEZTYyjS6IpT32okw61LZAwGtidrMXQNBMyYrPrgDEnx0lfuzFY/s400/20130609_08+Hypsiboas+sp..JPG" title="Tree Frog" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tree Frog showing wide toe webbing</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">It was still fairly dry, despite a bit of rain, as the wet season needs time to saturate the soils after the dry season. We decided to go up to the tower in Gamboa, as it is a good place to find snakes, frogs and other night life. We didn't see a great abundance of frogs, but each frog we saw seemed to be a different species from the last. Several different species of tree frogs including </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Dendrosophus ebraccatus</i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">, a small </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Hypsiboas</i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"> species with large feet and toe webbing, </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Scinax</i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"> sp., </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Leptodactylus savagei</i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"> and more. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlXE6cjSD-kGout9zLV-OQCbSsd3yuzCNRtHbwl16NieA-HECzzt40LQkeQp68PYDYJZvYE4hGbxkZbm4ILl2fb0nqnXu3r-w-dwhx_fIM0RP2FZyMfFvrk5UziUx5zN1MtPe201XUV9U/s1600/20130609_11+Tarantula.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Panama Red-rumped Tarantula" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlXE6cjSD-kGout9zLV-OQCbSsd3yuzCNRtHbwl16NieA-HECzzt40LQkeQp68PYDYJZvYE4hGbxkZbm4ILl2fb0nqnXu3r-w-dwhx_fIM0RP2FZyMfFvrk5UziUx5zN1MtPe201XUV9U/s400/20130609_11+Tarantula.JPG" title="Panama Red-rumped Tarantula" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Panama Red-rumped Tarantula</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As we made our way up to the tower, we coaxed a rather aggressive Panama Red-rumped Tarantula, <i>Sericopelma rubronitens</i>, out of its burrow. We got a quick glimpse of it as it waited at the entrance of its burrow, but as we approached it scurried inside and out of view. By wiggling a stick at the entrance of its burrow, he came running out and attacked the twig, and was reluctant to let it go!</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQw48aRV7pn0iqvkeD8fQmQ54tITinEN4emTBkWOn7Eo3qtMLvSMaAdgYz5iXhTClUlAd6TzgcyNYLI5-ncJPDv_TS6DjKlcAIHujSPYHH8N4rRt_HIDZZEAfqpd_Nj8VjOvouQF4qcic/s1600/20130609_13+Thecadactylus+rapicauda.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Turnip-tailed Gecko" border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQw48aRV7pn0iqvkeD8fQmQ54tITinEN4emTBkWOn7Eo3qtMLvSMaAdgYz5iXhTClUlAd6TzgcyNYLI5-ncJPDv_TS6DjKlcAIHujSPYHH8N4rRt_HIDZZEAfqpd_Nj8VjOvouQF4qcic/s320/20130609_13+Thecadactylus+rapicauda.JPG" title="Turnip-tailed Gecko" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Turnip-tailed Gecko with no tail</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAdQsZUbdkfL6sN-up6SWuIzWegmEJVv2Jr03p-5Si-s0uVBaDaSOtPo0dyyqU5nuzH9zJvB5B2DXeLj99Gzj2vHOIgo_4eIx6cwUnStWuUjcujl1YA2dc6aqWnxQLkpbM-Kfuh3yCmXM/s1600/20130609_16+Thecadactylus+rapicauda.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Turnip-tailed Gecko" border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAdQsZUbdkfL6sN-up6SWuIzWegmEJVv2Jr03p-5Si-s0uVBaDaSOtPo0dyyqU5nuzH9zJvB5B2DXeLj99Gzj2vHOIgo_4eIx6cwUnStWuUjcujl1YA2dc6aqWnxQLkpbM-Kfuh3yCmXM/s320/20130609_16+Thecadactylus+rapicauda.JPG" title="Turnip-tailed Gecko" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Turnip-tailed Gecko</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As we made our way up the tower, we spotted a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turnip-tailed_Gecko" target="_blank">Turnip-tailed Gecko</a> (<i>Thecadactylus rapicauda</i>) along a railing. This large gecko is brown or tan in colour, and has the ability to change colour depending on its environment. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They have rather complex toe pads, equipped with microscopic ridges and filaments to be able to scale just about any surface. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It has a large, wide tail, giving it its name, which stores fat. On occasion, it can drop its tail to distract predators. Of the two Turnip-tailed Geckos we saw on the tower this evening, one was missing its tail! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our highlight of the night was seen when we reached the top of the tower. As we approached the top, we saw some motion in the canopy. I mentioned the possibility of night monkeys, but there are plenty of other nocturnal mammals like Kinkajous and possums in these lowland forests. We could not see what was making the motion, so we carried on. As we got to the top, Beatriz took another look and immediately called out "monkeys!!". Sure enough, a family of 5 Panamanian Night Monkeys (</span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Aotus zonalis</i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">) moved through the open branches of the canopy, right in front of us, not even 3 meters from the edge of the tower. One of them was carrying a baby on its back. Unfortunately, no photos! I knew my flash wouldn't make it, so I just enjoyed the sighting. </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panamanian_night_monkey" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Panamanian Night Monkeys</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> are a small to medium-sized monkey in the family Aotidae. They are a brown to reddish colour, rather stout legs and a short prehensile tail. They have a rather round face with white vertical lines, and large round eyes, no doubt with excellent night vision. As we watched them move through the treetops, we couldn't help but enjoy this rare sighting. They are likely not uncommon, but due to their nocturnal and arboreal nature, are not frequently seen. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thrilled with our finds at the tower, we made our way back home. Along the way, I spotted some eyeshine up high up in a tree, which upon further investigation with a flashlight, we saw the outline of a mammal-shaped animal, likely a woolly opossum, staring back at us with large eyes. Despite a lack of abundance of animals, what we did see was a good diversity and rewarding sightings. Night walks are a very enjoyable experience, and open our eyes to a world of creatures active after the daylight fades. Now that its the wet season, I look forward to doing some more evening exploring in Gamboa, who knows what will turn up!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">~ Jenn </span></div>
Jenn Sinasachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01483977646977191025noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-946000003580841402.post-15087504491432733252013-06-11T22:14:00.000-05:002013-07-21T17:53:40.508-05:00More big beetles!<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In April, I had come across a large male <a href="http://jennsinasac.blogspot.com/2013/04/tropical-longhorn-beetles.html" target="_blank">Harlequin Beetle</a>, <i>Acrocinus longimanus</i>, a beautiful longhorn beetle with ornate markings, at the <a href="http://www.canopytower.com/canopy-bed-and-breakfast/" target="_blank">Canopy Bed & Breakfast</a> in Gamboa. A few days ago, again at the B&B, I found another large beetle lying on its back under the house. This time, it was an Elephant Beetle! This was early in the morning and it had been attracted to the lights of the B&B at some point overnight. I helped the struggling beetle right itself, then, as I have learned not to go anywhere without my camera, placed it on a stick to take some photos. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj6-B3JZrEI5XFaHY5rQXxmzyyGB8iVgx2u8cANyrrfRgcdfg4E4GoC28NEOoRBFzw84Pwi1P3ET1JIJALtGTUK8FoWpj9S1cswocqrVMLzOGokYKETJtjLFsxQksd5cg4CsAN5l9I-Jg/s1600/20130607_04+Megasoma+elephas.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Elephant Beetle" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj6-B3JZrEI5XFaHY5rQXxmzyyGB8iVgx2u8cANyrrfRgcdfg4E4GoC28NEOoRBFzw84Pwi1P3ET1JIJALtGTUK8FoWpj9S1cswocqrVMLzOGokYKETJtjLFsxQksd5cg4CsAN5l9I-Jg/s400/20130607_04+Megasoma+elephas.JPG" title="Elephant Beetle" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Elephant Beetle</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Elephant Beetle, </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Megasoma elephas</i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, is a large, heavy-bodied beetle of Central and South America. It is a member of the Scarabaeidae family, a large family of beetles that includes the impressive Hercules Beetles, stag beetles, june beetles, dung beetles and many more. Both male and female Elephant Beetles are black with a thick layer of microscopic hairs that make it appear a yellow or tan colour. Males are 2-3 times larger than females, and have two prominent horns extending forward from their head and one from their prothorax, which are used for defense in competition for food and mates. Elephant beetles eat sap, fruit (and are particularly fond of pineapple) and bark. Their larvae are particularly large and live in decaying logs, taking up to 3 years to develop into adults! The larvae are very large, c-shape and white or yellowish in colour. Once the larvae pupate into adults, adults live for only one to three months. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP4HeXrwT4HeZzb_N9agMtQiPLB-VhLJH_dImMKA0t8jcbxEr2B36X9zXBq2xML9LmRv1yhpggRmmKBCnzlFLJc7znhoDSEQyyXwqrYUciht039NUCLS7lGlrWkeC3YmQ7Ng9PvNqa3MY/s1600/20130607_07+Megasoma+elephas.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Elephant Beetle" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP4HeXrwT4HeZzb_N9agMtQiPLB-VhLJH_dImMKA0t8jcbxEr2B36X9zXBq2xML9LmRv1yhpggRmmKBCnzlFLJc7znhoDSEQyyXwqrYUciht039NUCLS7lGlrWkeC3YmQ7Ng9PvNqa3MY/s400/20130607_07+Megasoma+elephas.JPG" title="Elephant Beetle" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Elephant Beetle</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Always something interesting to find here!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">~ Jenn </span></div>
Jenn Sinasachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01483977646977191025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-946000003580841402.post-61852355121664959632013-05-21T10:28:00.001-05:002013-07-21T17:59:19.789-05:00Gamboa Garden<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yesterday we enjoyed a beautiful Sunday afternoon watching the hummingbirds and other wildlife just outside our doorstep. A pair of Common Tody-Flycatchers (<i>Todirostrum cinereum</i>) have built a nest in the arbor outside the front door, and every day I've been watching these tiny birds tending to the nest. Hoping for fledglings soon! </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioy4bxKKzAHnRIF0TLNmTimHd0rfppf22YSa7OtbGskbjyBNvSgbnghbxTH9FBartM2d159yU19QU7oMPQSronfE8Gx_6bHAEbDeVcu4SPKNub_uBqsL8hty-EVBUiaQUI4gA7tRJvEEE/s1600/20130517_03+Common+Tody-Flycatcher+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="Common Tody-Flycatcher" border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioy4bxKKzAHnRIF0TLNmTimHd0rfppf22YSa7OtbGskbjyBNvSgbnghbxTH9FBartM2d159yU19QU7oMPQSronfE8Gx_6bHAEbDeVcu4SPKNub_uBqsL8hty-EVBUiaQUI4gA7tRJvEEE/s400/20130517_03+Common+Tody-Flycatcher+crop.jpg" title="Common Tody-Flycatcher" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Common Tody-Flycatcher, <i>Todirostrum cinereum</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3X4v2cCJJBUSFhlSV6V8IZdOKsSb9Wzyqiv6i5NKONa_Wk9hJ4qDAg2Me7bORy0prX1SzkfvrkEBhXkJW9k7H4poPdP6S18mOe4MveJoXxDwNWlX273xv9jEwVF2zYabH0H64XW3SXwk/s1600/20130517_06+Common+Tody-Flycatcher+nest+edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="Common Tody-Flycatcher nest" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3X4v2cCJJBUSFhlSV6V8IZdOKsSb9Wzyqiv6i5NKONa_Wk9hJ4qDAg2Me7bORy0prX1SzkfvrkEBhXkJW9k7H4poPdP6S18mOe4MveJoXxDwNWlX273xv9jEwVF2zYabH0H64XW3SXwk/s400/20130517_06+Common+Tody-Flycatcher+nest+edit.jpg" title="Common Tody-Flycatcher nest" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Common Tody-Flycatcher nest</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Two freshly-filled hummingbird feeders attracted dozens of hummingbirds, including White-necked Jacobins, Rufous-tailed Hummingbirds, Violet-bellied Hummingbirds, Blue-chested Hummingbirds and a beautiful male Violet-crowned Woodnymph. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt3ZUfYpjEiS6OJuQFO67391FTnAqx4fpTY2Y4UWIMNbjTNStDH5iCKHR9N1sww57plrQPLlJ1KN-vbwaUl2s1_nN9s_5Rlv9vDivjgRnQtSVxxlLPKKiMpojrGPjYaTOSRmdnSU4Nvao/s1600/20130519_07+Violet-bellied+Hummingbird+crop.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Violet-bellied Hummingbird" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt3ZUfYpjEiS6OJuQFO67391FTnAqx4fpTY2Y4UWIMNbjTNStDH5iCKHR9N1sww57plrQPLlJ1KN-vbwaUl2s1_nN9s_5Rlv9vDivjgRnQtSVxxlLPKKiMpojrGPjYaTOSRmdnSU4Nvao/s400/20130519_07+Violet-bellied+Hummingbird+crop.JPG" title="Violet-bellied Hummingbird" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Violet-bellied Hummingbird, <i>Damophila julie</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVJ-bdc9WnOMjWSk7D8CDst_mReWlX0sthsgUE68SUKlQJMDFqJPWzsERipWDffzVOLcg7O3Q2lVnLY3rtZ6XiJyM0bijg68cuIQmn7nGQ3_zus7nNA7YxaCtcAeR8bNgEFG6z9gC3hGk/s1600/20130519_15+White-necked+Jacobin+stretch+crop.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="White-necked Jacobin" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVJ-bdc9WnOMjWSk7D8CDst_mReWlX0sthsgUE68SUKlQJMDFqJPWzsERipWDffzVOLcg7O3Q2lVnLY3rtZ6XiJyM0bijg68cuIQmn7nGQ3_zus7nNA7YxaCtcAeR8bNgEFG6z9gC3hGk/s400/20130519_15+White-necked+Jacobin+stretch+crop.JPG" title="White-necked Jacobin" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Female White-necked Jacobin, <i>Florisuga mellivora</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgysJSkitZ6zxJnPPo1rBCYTJGJKH1XoF6xDCznDOanS15UFHoz5qQ99PiZXFraCyj777NGRDtULoft6rBDQr-g4m14yOgsMrHK1WfPkB2z97jkmSuGByDyO-BOSK4UNd5dNsWF0Qd7iqo/s1600/20130519_29+White-necked+Jacobin.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="White-necked Jacobin" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgysJSkitZ6zxJnPPo1rBCYTJGJKH1XoF6xDCznDOanS15UFHoz5qQ99PiZXFraCyj777NGRDtULoft6rBDQr-g4m14yOgsMrHK1WfPkB2z97jkmSuGByDyO-BOSK4UNd5dNsWF0Qd7iqo/s400/20130519_29+White-necked+Jacobin.JPG" title="White-necked Jacobin" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Male White-necked Jacobin, <i>Florisuga mellivora</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvC14r3uEFonJCj8bBAYO-LVF9XmRXscM9yasfEIC7wdC5YP6EgjwcpTaGb1lSc_X5r2H8EkGPfYD4X-zeeE56jjhwTmr6cRpB0LU460FJhh8QsdzpBpP5-6KZW5rXwIs-i5wK3O42R8k/s1600/20130519_33+Reduviid+young.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Reduviid nymphs" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvC14r3uEFonJCj8bBAYO-LVF9XmRXscM9yasfEIC7wdC5YP6EgjwcpTaGb1lSc_X5r2H8EkGPfYD4X-zeeE56jjhwTmr6cRpB0LU460FJhh8QsdzpBpP5-6KZW5rXwIs-i5wK3O42R8k/s400/20130519_33+Reduviid+young.JPG" title="Reduviid nymphs" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A cluster of young Reduviid bugs</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ5-Bk2h06R4nLUMmYraYPZLqXXlglrIRD0563LLz9H7mjwreQchuZUwBIEg0An4J3iZGVwqdShv17KnBZGvtyUr-gDWBPk8M4pn7WHA3at5rf1QpJ98lMcuCoxSFJjNVXTqss6FSgy04/s1600/20130519_45+Costus.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Costus" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ5-Bk2h06R4nLUMmYraYPZLqXXlglrIRD0563LLz9H7mjwreQchuZUwBIEg0An4J3iZGVwqdShv17KnBZGvtyUr-gDWBPk8M4pn7WHA3at5rf1QpJ98lMcuCoxSFJjNVXTqss6FSgy04/s400/20130519_45+Costus.JPG" title="Costus" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Costus</i> Plant</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Looking forward to spending more time in the garden! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">~ Jenn </span>Jenn Sinasachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01483977646977191025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-946000003580841402.post-76108900775192142222013-05-10T11:32:00.001-05:002013-07-21T18:00:25.373-05:00Cerro Gaital Ssssurprises<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last weekend I visited El Valle de Anton, a picturesque town situated in the crater of an extinct volcano, 2 hours west of Panama City. El Valle is a popular tourist destination for many reasons; there is plenty there to do! Birding, hiking, buy local products at the artisan markets, take a dip in the hot springs or visit the zoo & amphibian rescue centre, among many other things. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizrUu2yTImkKIBA_4vh-xyRm9aQUF371mJ1vN0JyKQXLqZuoxJ2u2ZXXIIjcHBVXuZq8apguUQZVuq18TjegKT5C5bhS2Eh0xegr7aQ-kkKDcT3jlCfBUmi7akcVErdIeBKFOHd0Sy1QM/s1600/20130504_23+Cerro+Gaital+Trail.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Cerro Gaital Trail" border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizrUu2yTImkKIBA_4vh-xyRm9aQUF371mJ1vN0JyKQXLqZuoxJ2u2ZXXIIjcHBVXuZq8apguUQZVuq18TjegKT5C5bhS2Eh0xegr7aQ-kkKDcT3jlCfBUmi7akcVErdIeBKFOHd0Sy1QM/s320/20130504_23+Cerro+Gaital+Trail.JPG" title="Cerro Gaital Trail" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cerro Gaital Trail</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Whenever I am in El Valle, I always enjoy the fresh air, the breeze and the birds, as it is one of Panama's top birding destinations. Located in the western foothills of Panama at an elevation of approximately 650 meters, there are birds teeming from just about everywhere and plenty of birding hotspots in the area. This past weekend, among some work and time to enjoy the surroundings, we ventured up to the top of Cerro Gaital. We took a bus from the <a href="http://www.canopytower.com/canopy-lodge" target="_blank">Canopy Lodge</a> up the road leading to the top, past La Mesa and hopped off at the trail head. From here, we hiked up the trail and entered into foothills cloud forest, with its typical abundance of lush mossy trees, bromeliads and plants. Just 50 meters from the road, we could hear the distinct sound of a Green Hermit lek, where several males were displaying. As we headed along the trail, we found some nice foothills and higher-elevation species, including Plain Antvireo, Scale-crested Pygmy-Tyrant, Common Bush-Tanager and Gray-breasted Wood-Wren. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our highlight of the morning, however, was not a bird. As we walked up the trail, I spotted a small snake coiled up on the handrail along a section of the path. Immediately I knew it was a viper and within seconds I realized I was looking at a beautiful Eyelash Pit Viper! I had been wanting to see this species for years, and finally there was one in front of me. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO-HEXQ9chd85dvw88M7y_ezhTahex9Ywb6IYky15xG6k3N_FY7cRcoq8RMpgfzOOt7ZeG-rafiIj9_oVe0G8gv1U-TMhrmZAGZ1tKwfbA_KIwi_goSMI-ouFk9lJValh413lLjx_aR-U/s1600/20130504_28+Eyelash+Pit+Viper+crop+edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Eyelash Pit Viper" border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO-HEXQ9chd85dvw88M7y_ezhTahex9Ywb6IYky15xG6k3N_FY7cRcoq8RMpgfzOOt7ZeG-rafiIj9_oVe0G8gv1U-TMhrmZAGZ1tKwfbA_KIwi_goSMI-ouFk9lJValh413lLjx_aR-U/s400/20130504_28+Eyelash+Pit+Viper+crop+edit.jpg" title="Eyelash Pit Viper" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Eyelash Pit Viper, <i>Bothriechis schlegelii</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Eyelash Pit Vipers are a small to medium-sized snake of the humid forests of the Neotropics. They get their name from the enlarged scales above their eyes, which are thought to aid in camouflage, to break up the snake's profile among the vegetation. Eyelash Pit Vipers are quite variable in their appearance and can have a variety of colours and patterns - brown, banana yellow, and mottled green and red. They are arboreal and have a strong prehensile tail. Eyelash Pit Vipers are typical ambush predators; they sit and wait quietly, well-camouflaged, for their prey to be in close range and strike, impaling prey with large, needle-like fangs. They prey on small rodents, frogs, lizards and birds. They often sit at eye level, in palm trees and heliconia flowers, to sit and wait for birds and other visiting animals. They are even known to return to their favourite specific sites to sit and wait for migrating birds each spring. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinuptq0o8t9uu27Vrtrf11umrKZQASweAfbU8lxhsS7CtZziNgD5w744wWCENi-YeLQTzxzcTptBaiHoFB9cLzLP2d07J8ZwpD31Ymizm1ZPftABZdRQSycenYiLTMpqFqvIawLpN00tU/s1600/20130504_15+Eyelash+Pit+Viper+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Eyelash Pit Viper" border="0" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinuptq0o8t9uu27Vrtrf11umrKZQASweAfbU8lxhsS7CtZziNgD5w744wWCENi-YeLQTzxzcTptBaiHoFB9cLzLP2d07J8ZwpD31Ymizm1ZPftABZdRQSycenYiLTMpqFqvIawLpN00tU/s400/20130504_15+Eyelash+Pit+Viper+crop.jpg" title="Eyelash Pit Viper" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Eyelash Pit Viper showing its "eyelashes"</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh__Ec_yDHUXT0KlT7KooWdJN7c-mXTW2XwnIMB4D1lI0ERY3w1pW8rOcq7AdYhMyu9hUEdyHy1eU-gmGkBerOiwGBSo3QAyBH391sbT1o6y52iCYBobH3sAEKEa7buLr2qSbU2iwHJStc/s1600/20130504_11+El+Valle.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="El Valle de Anton" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh__Ec_yDHUXT0KlT7KooWdJN7c-mXTW2XwnIMB4D1lI0ERY3w1pW8rOcq7AdYhMyu9hUEdyHy1eU-gmGkBerOiwGBSo3QAyBH391sbT1o6y52iCYBobH3sAEKEa7buLr2qSbU2iwHJStc/s400/20130504_11+El+Valle.JPG" title="El Valle de Anton" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">El Valle de Anton, from Cerro Gaital</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After grabbing some photos of the viper, we carried on up to the top of Cerro Gaital, where we had great views of El Valle de Anton from above. On our way back down, we continued to find nice birds including Blue-throated Toucanet, Scarlet-thighed Dacnis and my lifer Chestnut-capped Brush-Finch. It was nice to do some exploring on Cerro Gaital again, it had been a few years since I had been there, and even though I enjoy every walk I take no matter what I see, this trip turned up some rewarding sightings!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">~ Jenn </span><br />
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Jenn Sinasachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01483977646977191025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-946000003580841402.post-67854290315733811402013-04-29T14:14:00.004-05:002013-07-21T18:01:32.848-05:00Up-close with Kestrels - 2013 KestrelCam<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf_g75FnlZeR5bvzoHOOPtKPsDiJnfvM_ugwC2F-3LxqPiqK6M5kX2jzkCKkGE13up-1lCikD53XJsYvpik2xOxZgK0rx8zzEDef843WuxLCD3IxCsOjWMYWOCx0XPqnyYrBKHYU0bKjM/s1600/American+Kestrel+Katy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Eyelash Pit Viper" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf_g75FnlZeR5bvzoHOOPtKPsDiJnfvM_ugwC2F-3LxqPiqK6M5kX2jzkCKkGE13up-1lCikD53XJsYvpik2xOxZgK0rx8zzEDef843WuxLCD3IxCsOjWMYWOCx0XPqnyYrBKHYU0bKjM/s400/American+Kestrel+Katy.jpg" title="American Kestrel" width="331" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Female American Kestrel "Katy", an education bird at Mountsberg Raptor Centre</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The American Kestrel one of the smallest falcons in the Americas; an attractive, colourful little raptor. When I was younger, kestrels were a common sight, frequently seen perched on high wires in open areas near home. Sadly, American Kestrels have been declining in North America for some time now, and now a kestrel sighting in southern Ontario is an infrequent occasion for me. They are also one of my all-time favourite birds!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-kgbH-X2gNS-z03SFAFAGXZnFybt23l3w2glnQwounlWX2GpNhWz-Qyhgd9oHFAt7JUPPt0JP844OPzSAgINauWntsH2v_MIioAAKyZ6CF2IbN2XJ5ccXQEM-MS-4IQ0rLfTSF1suawY/s1600/Kestrel+Partnership.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img alt="American Kestrel Partnership" border="0" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-kgbH-X2gNS-z03SFAFAGXZnFybt23l3w2glnQwounlWX2GpNhWz-Qyhgd9oHFAt7JUPPt0JP844OPzSAgINauWntsH2v_MIioAAKyZ6CF2IbN2XJ5ccXQEM-MS-4IQ0rLfTSF1suawY/s200/Kestrel+Partnership.jpg" title="American Kestrel Partnership" width="200" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last year, I spent a good deal of time watching the nesting process and development of a family of American Kestrels in a nest box in Boise, Idaho, at the World Center for Birds of Prey, the international headquarters for <a href="http://www.peregrinefund.org/" target="_blank">The Peregrine Fund</a>. <a href="http://kestrel.peregrinefund.org/index.php?action=home" target="_blank">The American Kestrel Partnership</a> is a project launched by The Peregrine Fund in order to advance the conservation of this species. This project uses professional and citizen scientists (you and me!) to study the breeding behaviours of this declining species. This year, the <a href="http://kestrel.peregrinefund.org/index.php?action=webcams" target="_blank">KestrelCams</a> are up and running again, with a high-quality infrared camera inside the nest box for 24-hour monitoring, and a <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 17px;">Bosch AutoDome 800 Series Pan-Tilt-Zoom Camera outside of the box to observe behaviour of food exchange, predator defense, and to watch the fledglings take their first flights. Cornell Lab of Ornithology sponsors this program by providing ad-free live streaming. </span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSo7Zh65jZO1dgmJplMb7b-PGZvOIbExVSQ27JHPVmjdj0uuv8Yw1LyoVXhxFXBPimYoQmmaGEXQT11pmQur_5h6zooi70bynx-09CaysQ1R5TyuKcF-Hb9771QOIJAuE8EvdDeu9litk/s1600/kestrel+31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="American Kestrel Nest Box" border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSo7Zh65jZO1dgmJplMb7b-PGZvOIbExVSQ27JHPVmjdj0uuv8Yw1LyoVXhxFXBPimYoQmmaGEXQT11pmQur_5h6zooi70bynx-09CaysQ1R5TyuKcF-Hb9771QOIJAuE8EvdDeu9litk/s400/kestrel+31.jpg" title="American Kestrel Nest Box" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Male American Kestrel on top of monitored nest box, 2012 </span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Furthermore, there are many ways to be involved with this project. You can easily submit your observations through the website, as events in and outside of the box are taking place! You are also welcome to aide the project through means of donations, become a member, place a nest box on your property, and many other ways. Please support American Kestrel research to further the conservation of this beautiful and important species!</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <a href="http://kestrel.peregrinefund.org/index.php?action=webcams" target="_blank">View the nesting kestrels here!</a></span> <span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 17px;">~ Jenn </span></span></div>
Jenn Sinasachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01483977646977191025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-946000003580841402.post-47504634182766842962013-04-20T10:03:00.003-05:002013-07-21T18:03:05.769-05:00A Visit to the Canopy Camp Darien<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWEM72mgmOi1iFH53FuwtTyx44aR_zN0KZmvXaB_b0QVBmPjzHPX7VxetmwX6Xod6zYHzlB5NiTEx0PBpJURHsgcxFie7hp4AimwjUbLQAEOFKuVsJ9ZTKmFQpptZ58shqB6hPdlTISWg/s1600/20130410_04+Darien+sign+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Darien Entrance" border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWEM72mgmOi1iFH53FuwtTyx44aR_zN0KZmvXaB_b0QVBmPjzHPX7VxetmwX6Xod6zYHzlB5NiTEx0PBpJURHsgcxFie7hp4AimwjUbLQAEOFKuVsJ9ZTKmFQpptZ58shqB6hPdlTISWg/s400/20130410_04+Darien+sign+1.jpg" title="Darien Entrance" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In January, I had the amazing opportunity to visit Darien National Park and Cerro Pirre in far eastern Panama, near the Colombian border. It is a magical place, where Harpy Eagles, Great Green Macaws, Great Curassows, critically endangered Colombian Spider Monkeys and several Panamanian endemic species can live in pristine lowland, foothill and highland forests. With its long winding rivers and small indigenous communities sprinkled throughout the province, it is reminiscent of the Amazon. It is truly a special place. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmhfsFY3c3A6U2c-8lSEWNAvCtr6C9DjxL8h-l2HlP9Y8J4IY1e04roHf8VhEe7lji0z4uhuzCSUHof3dMiXLn2lisf4KWXVpphZXKy0bGqxtfdREcDq-pfiBKGIh6eynS5Hm63M2HNCA/s1600/20130410_10+Canopy+Camp.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Canopy Camp Darien" border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmhfsFY3c3A6U2c-8lSEWNAvCtr6C9DjxL8h-l2HlP9Y8J4IY1e04roHf8VhEe7lji0z4uhuzCSUHof3dMiXLn2lisf4KWXVpphZXKy0bGqxtfdREcDq-pfiBKGIh6eynS5Hm63M2HNCA/s320/20130410_10+Canopy+Camp.JPG" title="Canopy Camp Darien" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Safari-style Tent at the Canopy Camp Darien</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This past week, I returned again to the Darien again with Carlos Bethancourt and Cesar Pinzon, to visit the <a href="http://www.canopytower.com/" target="_blank">Canopy Tower Family's</a> new birding eco lodge, the Canopy Camp Darien. The camp is situated along the border of a hydrological reserve, well into the Darien province beyond the town of Meteti. The camp is currently in its construction phase, as safari-style tents are being put in place on platforms, each with their own private bathroom that offers a stunning view of the surrounding forest from the shower! You can see more pictures of the construction of the Canopy Camp Darien on the <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/canopytowerfamily" target="_blank">Canopy Tower's Flickr page</a>. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdydOrIed_ePThMg2vEuhfGBIVAbWbRK2fMJCOpkQVVJL_gFOQa0X47WXGIxH6Lhtbhisdu7yfb0I46xDA-QjTlfsh5gKwPnfSz8UFjmsOTHryZVj5UfyoN3X5wQWluk5d_5JZyhz_Qns/s1600/20130412_28+Rufous-tailed+Jacamar+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Rufous-tailed Jacamar" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdydOrIed_ePThMg2vEuhfGBIVAbWbRK2fMJCOpkQVVJL_gFOQa0X47WXGIxH6Lhtbhisdu7yfb0I46xDA-QjTlfsh5gKwPnfSz8UFjmsOTHryZVj5UfyoN3X5wQWluk5d_5JZyhz_Qns/s320/20130412_28+Rufous-tailed+Jacamar+1.jpg" title="Rufous-tailed Jacamar" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rufous-tailed Jacamar</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The main purpose of the trip was to visit the Canopy Camp, as well as the nearby birding areas along the Pan-American highway to its very end in the town of Yaviza. Of course we took advantage and did as much birding as we could! The camp is surrounded by lowland tropical forests, with towering Cuipo trees in close range. The Cuipos are in seed at this time of the year, with bright orange and magenta-colored winged seeds. Around the camp, we frequently heard (and saw) Rufous-tailed Jacamars and White-headed Wrens as well as a Gray-cheeked Nunlet, nesting Black-capped Tody-Flycatcher, and a pair of Olivaceous Piculets. Golden-collared Manakins and Golden-headed Manakins lek in the forest a mere 150 metres from camp, right along a trail. Sapphire-throated Hummingbirds and Pale-bellied Hermits visit the Heliconia plants in the gardens to feed. The bird list for the Canopy Camp is growing and growing, and on this visit we had great views of Royal Flycatcher. At the adjacent birding sites, highlights included a gorgeous pair of Spot-breasted Woodpeckers, a Red-rumped Woodpecker, Plain-breasted Ground-Dove and many, many more. We also saw over 1000 migrating Mississippi Kites passing overhead right at the camp! </span> </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi5PW0fvwYNjPqRa_d-RSW601U36fLWbChstrDRP1g2GrZlY0ImBDlA3msItU7BiU7P4M2tuacNRby81JQjo9j3MI-WWKSCSM_8_JhtZuAFMMadInJXCcQAtP_malkccA88-PCxJdcyIY/s1600/20130410_16+Cuipos.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Cuipo" border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi5PW0fvwYNjPqRa_d-RSW601U36fLWbChstrDRP1g2GrZlY0ImBDlA3msItU7BiU7P4M2tuacNRby81JQjo9j3MI-WWKSCSM_8_JhtZuAFMMadInJXCcQAtP_malkccA88-PCxJdcyIY/s400/20130410_16+Cuipos.JPG" title="Cuipo" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cuipos towering over the forest canopy</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo1kOSNhWvmC7e1OEI25YgORB2ObYxJm-O7U3Z0wjk7NiuDStrSJ8pGok8SECG-7nkxAblx0ZH9L3Y98zaTYrchKqRGW0FGqlV6XAg1NDqKqeD-Mm20ZmjIOVOVq8CQ_1QzD2cWlYapKo/s1600/20130412_52+Assasin+Bug+with+Bee.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Assassin Bug" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo1kOSNhWvmC7e1OEI25YgORB2ObYxJm-O7U3Z0wjk7NiuDStrSJ8pGok8SECG-7nkxAblx0ZH9L3Y98zaTYrchKqRGW0FGqlV6XAg1NDqKqeD-Mm20ZmjIOVOVq8CQ_1QzD2cWlYapKo/s400/20130412_52+Assasin+Bug+with+Bee.JPG" title="Assassin Bug" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Assassin Bug and its prey, a honeybee</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On our last day, we stopped at Restaurant Arco Iris along the Pan-American Highway in the Darien for lunch - the best Corvina Frita in Panama! Yum!</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWJ_cSDxyMoOIOwkkgbqPLRTa1gmiWPnN41Z6Xk4bnkO7iJ_XOW2B6n1VRZCy36yJC_1mFww2Gg2uNATZ1btcXk4qgB8g-eNsgu9BkjenfUJHejDRuSldC0V1Lnjht4GKmWAJs1EJZgaY/s1600/20130412_64+Corvina+Frita.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWJ_cSDxyMoOIOwkkgbqPLRTa1gmiWPnN41Z6Xk4bnkO7iJ_XOW2B6n1VRZCy36yJC_1mFww2Gg2uNATZ1btcXk4qgB8g-eNsgu9BkjenfUJHejDRuSldC0V1Lnjht4GKmWAJs1EJZgaY/s400/20130412_64+Corvina+Frita.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Corvina Frita (Fried Seabass)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was a short yet productive trip to the Darien, I am already looking forward to going back!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">~ Jenn </span></div>
Jenn Sinasachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01483977646977191025noreply@blogger.com0