Katheryn Miller: June 2009 Archives

This is my last post from Costa Rica.  I would like to say that I´m very busy wrapping up my work, but I did everything last night in a fit of mild panic.  Now I´m killing time and mostly hanging around Asis like a bum.  I suppose I could feed the animals or machete something, but after the last few work-filled days, I´m content to waste a few hours.

I have enjoyed my week very much!  Today was the first morning that I didn´t see any new birds for my birdcount which is at 43 I think.  Considering my inaptitude at birding and severe depedence on my fieldguide, I´m proud of that number.  I tried to do some ant-watching this morning and got myself all set up.  I staked out a huge anthill and surrounded it´s perimeter with tunafish.  I was still only getting litter ants after about 40 minutes and was distracted for the most part by birds.  I had a very difficult time feeling like ant-watching was more important than bird-watching (sorry Nick)!  Then the hound dogs came through and ate my experiment.  I never saw a single ant come out of that hill, not even after I obnoxiously poked a stick into every hole, so I decided it must be a dead colony.  Morale was low and I packed up in haste, getting back just in time for the coffeebreak.  I feel like I´ve been taking a coffeebreak ever since!

I suspect that Alvaro is happy with the work I´ve done, since he just came in to ask for advice.  He would like to offer some sort of ecology program to university students was looking for advice on topics or areas of study.  I dusted off my brain and came up with reforestation, diversity studies, an ongoing behavioral study at Asis of broad-billed herons (they have one of the most stable communities in this area), and a sustainable agriculture program with homestays and first-hand experience.  Who knows if any of that is feasable!  Alvaro is very much in his own head and is particularly difficult to read.  He has been very helpful in arranging my visit here and at least, in return, I overwhelmend him with lots of ecology information to offer to visitors.  Alvaro has been trying to read them all and keeps apologizing for being behind.  I did not intend to give him ¨homwork!¨ 

My ride tomorrow leaves for San Jose at 8:45am.  My flight is at 2:45pm and I think I might get there with time to spare.  Good!  I have non-negotiable plans to visit all the free CafeBrit chocolate samples, which is something like a marathon.  Dedication, persistance, and honor!  These are the virtues I will need to complete my mission (honor because after I´m done I think I´m duty-bound to buy something).

I am very grateful to everyone who made this week possible!  I have had a wonderful time!  I think that I´ve learned a lot and perhaps I have been able to help a lot.

-Katheryn

Greetings once again!  My project here at Asis is going well and I´ve produced some rather good information sheets on island biogeography, ecosystems, wetland habitats, riparian habitats, rainforest habitats, as well as probably doubling the birdcount.  I think Alvaro is happy with it all, at least I hope so.  I´ve been waking up early and watching birds before Señora Flora feeds me breakfast.  They start the day late here.  I don´t get picked up until 8am and by then the birds are more subdued. 

I´m waiting on my flaculation tubes so I can determine the soil composition, and have been stalking one particular hummingbird all day.  I think it´s a juvenile black-crested coquette female, but it may be a juvenile white-crested coquette female.  Isn´t that an absolute bear?  Oh, exciting news for anyone who birds - I identified a rather uncommon species of bird called an agami heron.  It´s been hanging around for two days.  I´m positive it isn´t a tricolored heron.  I have photographic proof, yarrr!

I arrived at Proyecto Asis this morning and found a very charming 8 acres of restored habitat to wander around in for the next 4 days.  There are some cages with animals that are being rehabiliatated (monkeys, parrots, a pecary, etc), some natural streams and wetlands, and a secondary forest that is growing up just swimmingly.  Steve and Debbie´s will hopefully resemble this in about 13 years.  Asis was farmland 15 years ago but things grow quickly in the tropics. 

Alvaro is working very dedicately to educate visitors about Costa Rican ecoIogy.  Native Costa Ricans in particular are lacking in science education so he wants me to make interpretive guides.  Consequently, I spent the afternoon typing up some background information on island biogeography, ecosystems, and diversity.  I have plans to make some for the particular habitats here at Asis and perhaps some for specific animals here.  I´m also trying to extend his bird-list with a bit of success today.  Tomorrow I´m starting soil analyis and will be ant and bird-stalking. 

I´m going back to the nice old lady, Flora, who is hosting me.  She unfortunately does not speak English and my Spanish is pathetic, so everything is rather hilarious.  Her house is beautiful and has about 4 rooms!