News + Stories

Written by: Adam Parr Black-cheeked Ant-Tanagers (Habia atrimaxillaris) may not be most glamorous bird on the Osa Peninsula.  They lack the striking colors of a Scarlet Macaw, or Fiery-billed Araçari, and are mostly dull black, with just a splash of salmon in the throat and breast.  Their vocalizations won’t send a chill down your spine like the eerie pan flute-like songs of a Common Potoo, and consist instead of a slurred two or three note whistle of a song.  However, these superficially lackluster attributes belie a truly fascinating species, and...

Happy International Day of Forests!! Although we didn’t really need an excuse to talk about forest conservation, the fact that today is dedicated to forests seemed like a good opportunity to remind everyone why forests are so incredibly important! Why are forests so important you ask? Well there are many reasons ranging from habitat protection to climate change. One of the most important global contributions a forest can provide, is their ability to absorb and store carbon. Trees use energy from the sun and carbon dioxide from our atmosphere to produce...

Written by: Alex Rudee The stars overhead were fading into the pale blue dawn as we entered the jungle. Under the thick cover of the canopy, darkness had not yet given way to sunrise, so we relied on the beams of our headlamps to illuminate our path along the Ajo trail. I hiked behind Tabea, who manages the wildcat monitoring program in one of her many hats at Osa Conservation. Just a few minutes down the trail, Tabea stopped short, her light trained on the blanket of fallen leaves underfoot. "There," she pointed to...

Written by : Emily Deanne Walking into Osa Conservation's DC Office on a sunny day in August I did not realize I was embarking on a new chapter of my life. I was certainly excited to see what the office would look like. I sincerely wondered if the goals of the organization would be reflected in the office's atmosphere. I was not disappointed as I entered a warm and cozy floor filled with bright colors and images of the rainforest and its breathtaking wildlife. My personal favorite would have to be either the picture...

By Jane Hamilton: When I left the Osa Peninsula in the summer of 2014, I thought I might never return. The trip had been a life changing experience for me and the peninsula was the most wonderful and exciting place I had ever been. Unfortunately, it is not the easiest place to get to from Scotland. I assumed life would lead me down other paths. Last June I graduated from university with a degree in zoology and little idea of what to do next. All I had was a vague notion that I wanted...

By Beatriz Lopez Last week, here at Piro Biological Station, we celebrated the Carbon Sequestration and Restoration in the Lowland Tropical Forests Workshop organized by Osa Conservation and sponsored by the Bobolink Foundation. All of the sudden, Piro Station was buzzing with local and international scientist and researchers from whom participants, volunteers, and members of the staff, like me, had the privilege to learn, to exchange ideas, and also to connect and foster future collaborations. The workshop brought together leaders in Carbon and Restoration Research, for example: Dr. Thomas E. Lovely whose contribution to Environmental Policy...

By: Kelly Haggerty Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.- Margaret Mead Margaret Mead, a famous anthropologist who received a lot of criticism for her work,became a legacy. She experienced discouragement and doubt on her beliefs and points, but continued to do what she loved and felt a purpose in. Believe it or not, I feel the same way. As an Anthropology major and Geography minor with a concentration in conservation at Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania; many people don’t...