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
Featured Bird: Mealy Parrot (Amazona farinosa)
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...
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...
Lending Nature a Helping Hand The Cerro Osa Reforestation Project [caption id="attachment_301" align="alignleft" width="400"] The Tree Nursery at Cerro Osa Reforestation Project[/caption] Cerro Osa’s local staff, Juan and Agustín Mendoza, worked hard in 2009 to improve Friends of the Osa’s native tree nursery. We now have more than 4,000 seedlings of over 40 native species. Seeds are collected by hand from the mature forest of the Osa Biodiversity Center. The seeds that are easiest to find often come in a delicious fruit package, making these trees good candidates to stimulate natural forest...
Uncategorized / 27.01.2010
Amigos de la Osa – Protección de la Vida Silvestre de la Península de Osa
Bienvenido al nuevo weblog de Amigos de la Osa. Aquí vamos a publicar noticias y actualizaciones acerca de nuestros programas, actividades y acontecimientos importantes que afectan a la ecología y la fauna de la Península de Osa en Costa Rica, América Central. Amigos de la Osa, también conocida como Friends of the Osa (FOO), dirige una estación de investigación y programas de campo de trabajo para proteger la biodiversidad de importancia mundial se encuentra en la Península de Osa. En el Centro de la Biodiversidad de Osa, los trabajos se...
Science and Research, Sea Turtles / 19.01.2010
Friends of the Osa – Protecting the Wildlife of the Osa Peninsula
Welcome to the new weblog of Friends of the Osa. Here we will post news and updates about our programs, activities and important developments affecting the ecology and wildlife of the Osa Peninsula in Costa Rica, Central America. Friends of the Osa (FOO) also known as Amigos de Osa, runs a research station and field programs working to protect the globally significant biodiversity found on the Osa Peninsula. At the Osa Biodiversity Center work centers around supporting scientific research and environmental education, as well as hands on programs like the...