Osa Peninsula Chronicles

By Nicole Wallace Earth Day marks the start of another social-giving contest, the eBay Fundraising Tournament for the Environment. The competition is open to any nonprofit organization that focuses on conservation or environmental issues. Participating organizations are reaching out to their supporters via e-mail, Facebook, and Twitter to encourage them to vote for the charity [...]

Mealy parrots are the largest of the Amazonas (38 – 41cm in length) found on the Osa Peninsula of Costa Rica.  They are distinguished from the Red-lored parrots by the absence of the red markings on the forehead and their large white eye ring.  Most amazons can be aggressive but the mealy parrots have a [...]

By Samantha Weintraub PhD Student, University of Colorado, Boulder Ecology & Evolutionary Biology When most people wander through a tropical forest, they are awed by the diversity and abundance of plants, mammals and other members of the forest community they see.  While biodiversity is certainly a fantastic feature of tropical landscapes, my interests lie on [...]

Finding solutions and alternatives for human and feline coexistence Since mid 2006, Aída Bustamante and Ricardo Moreno, researchers of the Wildcat Conservation Program, have worked hand in hand with FOO on applied research, education and involvement with key actors (cattle ranchers, hunters, local children and youth, ecolodges, local authorities and NGOs). We recognize the need [...]

This common Osa Peninsula species is sometimes called the Velvety Manakin for the male’s black body, but it is distinguished from other Manakins by its sea-blue crown.  The female on the other hand is forest green with a buff yellow belly; colors a bit more inconspicuous for having to sit on a nest and keep [...]

We spotted this collared anteater (Tamandua mexicana) one morning rustling in some leaves behind the house on Cerro Osa.  Our presence scared it up into the bamboo, but it wasn’t able to climb very effectively as the smooth cane doesn’t offer purchase for the anteater’s large front claws. The collared anteater is a solitary creature [...]