14 October 2012 Tres y Quatro Dias en la Costa Rica

Journal

I have seen so very many beautiful creatures at La Selva, my favorite of the day is a blue eyed cricket or grasshopper. I am not sure “who” it is yet, but I will try my hardest to find out.

“You are so beautiful
To me
You are so beautiful
To me
Can't you see
You're everything I hoped for
You're everything I need
You are so beautiful
To me”

Thanks Joe Cocker for this beautiful song.

Blue Eyes You are so beautiful to me — Found this beautiful creature on the leaf a bromeliad plant just waiting for a photograph. Thanks to Carlos de la Rosa for pointing him out in the bromeliad ecosystem. photo by Elizabeth Eubanks

As always,time moves fast when you are having fun. As I continue to learn it drives me to want to learn even more. This place has so very much to offer. The people are great and really want to share their stories.

Meet Claudia and Carlos de La Rosa, they have actually spent some time living in Florida which automatically makes them kindred spirits. They live here now and while Claudia has a strong interest in “cats” and art, her husband Carlos really likes and works with midges, which are nonbiting winged creatures. Carlos is also the director of the Organization for Tropical Studies OTS, which runs La Selva Biological Station. You can learn more about OTS by going to this link: Organization for Tropical Studies

Claudia and Carlos de la Rosa of La Selva — Meet the de la Rosa's who live at the La Selva Biological Station in Costa Rica of which Carlos is the director of the Organization for Tropical Studies. photo by Elizabeth Eubanks

http:// Yesterday, Saturday, I went to the Central Tower, also known as “Oberbauer Tower”- well that is what I call it anyway. Sadly, due to a wind storm a large portion of the tower was blown away. We visited the site, so that Diego could check on the equipment. It was a beautiful long walk through the forest. Although I saw many amazing things, I am still very dazzled by the Leaf Cutter Ants.

Central Tower aka Oberbauer Tower, La Selva Costa Rica — Central Tower also known as Oberbauer Tower is on the mend. This tower has been altered by the wind, now the techs are rebuilding it.

http:// I spent a lot of time wandering around the grounds looking for animals and was so fortunate to see a two-toed sloth. It was super high in the tree canopy, but I SAW IT! It was just drooping itself over some branches.

Of course the most exciting thing that happened yesterday was that Dr. Oberbauer from Florida International University arrived ! ☺

Today, Sunday, day 5, I had an equally great day. I woke to the sound of Howler Monkeys. This sounds like seals barking only they have with a deep raspy cold and are very, very loud. I took a walk and heard the loud calls of the Meally Parrot, I even got to see them perched very high in the trees. I had two great interviews with scientists; one Carlos de la Rosa, who showed me so many insects from the La Selva collection and another with a girl who is pet sitting bats, but actually studies spiders.

I walked with Diego to learn how he tests the soil for respiration, basically he uses a machine that calculates the carbon that is in the soil. The machine he uses is similar to one of the machines that I watched Paulo Olivas use in Barrow Alaska in 2008. It rained so much while we were in the jungle. But it didn’t seem to bother me, I liked it. Diego must have liked it too, because it didn’t stop his work for a second! I was glad to finally use my poncho.

Full days make for a very tired “me”. But it is a great tired. Tomorrow morning I will be rising with the birds to meet Dr. Oberbauer at the lab at 6am! I guess I should go to bed.

Bird of the day is a Crest Guan. Up close this bird really reminded me a turkey.