Birds / 22.05.2010

This little golden chatterbox is endemic to Costa Rica and Panama.  It is found in the southern Pacific slope from Carara down through the Osa Peninsula.  Like most birds it is reliant on the remaining intact forests and begins to disappear where forests become fragmented.  This is why large tracks of forest found on the Osa Peninsula and those of Friends of the Osa for example are so important to this species. [caption id="attachment_831" align="alignright" width="280" caption="Golden-naped Woodpecker "][/caption] In the Golden-naped Woodpecker (Melanerpes chrysauchen) the female lacks...

Miscellaneous / 18.05.2010

[caption id="attachment_798" align="alignleft" width="300"] Recording a Stream Soundscape: Jeff Woodman, Luis Vargas & Leo Garrigues[/caption] By Karen Leavelle & Jeff Woodman The Osa Peninsula is known for its high level of biodiversity and is one of the most “biologically intense” places on earth according to National Geographic. The Osa has over half of all species found in Costa Rica. This is evident in the over 400 bird species found here. That’s quite a few birds for such a small area. Well, its time then to make them heard; to record...

Birds / 15.05.2010

[caption id="attachment_764" align="alignleft" width="181" caption="Black-hooded Antshrike Male"][/caption] If you want to see a Black-hooded Antshrike (Thamnophilus bridgesi) then Friends of the Osa's Osa Biodiversity Center is the place to come.  They often love living on the edge, forest edges that is, and for those us who live at or visit the Center they are an easy species to enjoy and tick off your life list. The Black-hood Antshrike is a common resident of the southern pacific slope of Costa Rica and Western Panama.  The adult male is distinguished...

Birds / 08.05.2010

Also known as the Beryl-crowned Hummingbird the Charming Hummingbird (Amazilia decora) is regionally endemic to the Southern Pacific lowlands and coastal areas of Costa Rica north to Carara and Panama.  It is sometimes considered conspecific with the Blue-chested Hummingbird found on the Caribbean slope as they are nearly identical.  You will often see them in coffee plantations, gardens, forest edges and along streams and open clearings feeding on Inga, Hamelia, Satryia and Heliconia.  Like many tropical species Charming Hummingbirds form courtship assemblies or “leks” of up to 12...

Birds / 01.05.2010

Of the 22 species of wrens found in Costa Rica, 6 are found here on the Osa Peninsula.  The Riverside wren, a common resident on the Osa, is only found in the southern pacific lowlands of Costa Rica and western Panama up to ~1,200 m.  Wrens as a whole belong to an interesting family of songbirds.  The sexes are alike and the tropical species often remain with their mate throughout the year.  They roam amongst the dense vegetation singing duets with each other in alternating phrases and one...

Birds / 24.04.2010

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 docile temperament and are considered to be the gentle giants of the amazon parrots. They are found from South Mexico down through Ecuador, Bolivia and Brazil, but its population has declined in its range...

Uncategorized / 22.04.2010

Como preparación para el 22 de Mayo, Día Internacional de la Diversidad Biológica, los estudiantes de la Escuela Saturnino Cedeño Cedeño y el Colegio Técnico Profesional de Puerto Jiménez, estarán recibiendo charlas y realizando actividades educativas en diversos temas. Esta semana, con la colaboración de expositores de la Coalición Ambiental de Puerto Jiménez, el Programa de Educación Ambiental de Amigos de Osa ha motivado a los estudiantes a despertar el interés por la gran biodiversidad de la Península de Osa, con un especial énfasis en especies en vía de...

Environmental Education, Science and Research / 22.04.2010

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 the darker side of the ecosystem.  Don’t worry, I’m not talking about the force – I’m talking about the soil!  For an ecosystem ecologist, one of the most fascinating aspects of tropical ecology concerns how tropical...

Birds / 06.04.2010

The largest and possibly the most raucous of the five toucan species found in Costa Rica the Chestnut-mandibled Toucan is a common inhabitant of the Osa Peninsula.  Its characteristic calls and large yellow and chestnut colored bill are unique to this bird and is only one of two toucan species found on the peninsula.   You can usually find them in forested and semi-open areas and trees in clearings feeding mainly on fruit and an occasional insect, lizard, snake or bird nestling.  Toucans will commonly feed their mate. It...

Uncategorized / 24.03.2010

El Programa de Educación Ambiental de Amigos de Osa, junto con la Coalición Ambiental de Puerto Jiménez, están llevando a cabo la actividad: Investigadores de la Biodiversidad de Osa, para celebrar el Año Internacional de la Diversidad Biológica, declarado por la UNESCO. Cada grado de la Escuela Saturnino Cedeño Cedeño y una sección de cada grado de 7, 8 y 9 del Colegio Técnico de Puerto Jiménez, investigarán sobre un tema específico de la biodiversidad de Osa, y lo expondrán a la comunidad el día 22 de mayo en el Salón...