News + Stories

Environmental Education, Science and Research / 25.09.2013

by Jim Palmer, PhD [caption id="attachment_5412" align="alignnone" width="500"] Osa Conservation staff members Pilar Bernal, Juan Carlos Cruz Diaz and Manuel Sanchez add reagents to a dissolved oxygen test.[/caption]   Osa Conservation staff and volunteers ‘kicked around’ in Rio Piro to get a quick snapshot of stream health during a field workshop in the Osa Peninsula in June 2013.  The workshop was led by biologist Jim Palmer, Director of Creek Connections, a watershed education program based at Allegheny College in Meadville, PA.   Staff and volunteers used field water chemical tests and macro-invertebrate kick-net...

Uncategorized / 18.09.2013

Escrito por Juan Carlos Cruz Díaz, Gerente de cienca, y Brigid Prouse, Asistente del programa de ciencia [caption id="attachment_5395" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Brigid Prouse, Asistente del programa de ciencia[/caption] La educación ambiental es un elemento crucial para dar a conocer la importancia de la conservación a comunidades y personas. Teniendo un programa sólido de educación ambiental y de acercamiento a las comunidades se puede promover el respeto, la importancia y las necesidades de nuestro medio ambiente. Por esta razón, hace algunos meses como parte del programa de ciencia e investigación de...

Community Outreach, Environmental Education, Uncategorized, Wildcats / 18.09.2013

by Juan Carlos Cruz Díaz, Science Manager, and Brigid Prouse, Science Program Assistant [caption id="attachment_5395" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Brigid Prouse, Science Program Assistant[/caption] Environmental education is a crucial element for promoting and teaching the importance of conservation to communities and individuals. By having a solid environmental education and outreach program, we can promote long term appreciation, awareness and respect for our environment. For this reason, a few months ago, as part of the Science Program at Osa Conservation, we started delivering a series of talks to locals, schools and tourists in...

Aves, Birds, Land Conservation and Forest Restoration, Uncategorized, Volunteers and Visitors / 13.09.2013

[caption id="attachment_5363" align="aligncenter" width="500"] A pair of Vermiculated Screech Owls. Photo by Alan Dahl[/caption]   Fall is fast approaching, and the change of seasons signals something particularly exciting for the Osa Peninsula – the return of migrating birds! The Osa is home to almost 500 resident bird species and many more who migrate to the peninsula from boreal forests in the US and Canada. Now in the middle of September, the migratory bird season is well under way, with species such as the Golden-winged warbler, Olive-Sided Flycatcher, and the Baltimore...

Land Conservation and Forest Restoration, Science and Research, Wildcats / 20.08.2013

by Lauren Lipuma Capturing a photo of an animal in its natural habitat is difficult at best, so for the past hundred-odd years camera traps have provided a distinct advantage to ecologists – allowing researchers to capture an image with minimal disturbance to the animal and without risking bodily harm. The first camera traps, pioneered by wildlife photographer George Shiras III in the late 1890s, consisted of a large camera and a trip wire connected to a car battery. When an animal tripped the wire, the battery would ignite...

Land Conservation and Forest Restoration, Marine Conservation, Science and Research / 12.08.2013

Taking advantage of a socio-environmental opportunity, Osa Conservation launches new Wetlands Program in the Terraba Sierpe wetlands by Andrés Jimenez [caption id="attachment_5289" align="alignnone" width="300"] Terraba Sierpe wetlands, Costa Rica. Photo credit: Cavu[/caption]   Wetlands have become a focus of interest worldwide recently, not only because of their ecological importance but also because the climate crisis has reminded us of these ecosystems’ capabilities for mitigation and adaptation to climate change. But why should we all turn our eyes to these wet, swampy, mosquito-infested areas? The answer is simple: protecting wetlands is a very...

Community Outreach, Environmental Education / 06.08.2013

  By: Pilar Bernal This past July 30, 16 students from Carbonera, Rio Oro and Piro schools toured the “Discovering the Rainforest” interpretive trail accompanied by two teachers and two persons familiar with the trail. During the tour, the students enjoyed a morning in the forest learning about the ecology of rainforests at each station on the path.   We had an opportunity to observe spider monkeys, Baird’s Trogon, snakes, and to observe and admire giant forest trees like the Ajo, Reseco, Baco, and Ojoche trees. This portion of the interpretive trail “Discovering...

Uncategorized / 06.08.2013

Por: Pilar Bernal El pasado 30 de Julio, 16 estudiantes de las escuelas Carbonera, Rio Oro y Piro realizaron el recorrido del sendero interpretativo “Descubriendo el Bosque Lluvioso” acompañados por dos maestros y dos familiares. Durante el recorrido los estudiantes disfrutaron de una mañana en el bosque,  aprendiendo en cada una de las estaciones del sendero sobre la ecología de los Bosques húmedos tropicales. Tuvimos la oportunidad de observar los monos araña, el trogón de baird, la culebra guardacaminos, observar y admirar los árboles gigantes del bosque como el ajo,...

Uncategorized / 25.07.2013

Home to dozens of marine species, including the four turtles known to nest in the Osa, two species of dolphins, and even Whale Sharks, Gulfo Dulce is an incredible addition to the biodiverse rainforest that surrounds it (Bessesen, 2011). An inlet, protected from the rough waters of the Pacific, and with waters as deep as 300 meters, it is the perfect birthing spot for many animals, especially the majestic Humpback Whale (Golfo Dulce). This calm water paradise is also a beautiful and popular boating spot for locals and tourists, and...

Uncategorized / 22.07.2013

[gallery columns="2"] Hansel Herrera Vargas   La temporada de voluntariado 2013 ya dio inicio en el mes de Julio y al parecer buenos tiempos están por venir… Con muchos voluntarios en el calendario, decenas de tortugas marinas llegando a nuestras playas, y el trabajo arduo de los asistentes de campo y pasantes, Conservación Osa abre sus puertas y da inicio a la temporada de voluntariado 2013. Los primeros voluntarios arribaron el viernes pasado y tuvieron la gran suerte de encontrar en uno de sus patrullajes uno de los visitantes mas preciados de...