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template — by Stephanie Thirolle — posted Feb 10, 2009

graphics for site template     

La Selva Biological Station — by Stephanie Thirolle — posted

La Selva Biological Station     

Bus to Palo Verde — by Jennifer Swenson — posted

Straight from the airport to the Palo Verde OTS field station     

Dawn at Palo Verde — by Jennifer Swenson — posted

Sunrise over the wetland     

Bus Station in San Jose — by Alexandra Fries — posted

The inside of the bus station...     

Iguana — by Alexandra Fries — posted

My first wildlife sighting in Palo Verde.     

Birds and Cows — by Alexandra Fries — posted

Many birds live in the wetlands in Palo Verde. Cows are also used to keep down damaging cattail plants.     

Cow — by Alexandra Fries — posted

      

A Big Croc — by Alexandra Fries — posted

We saw so many crocodiles (<em>Crocodylus acutus</em>)out on the river that I couldn't even count them all. Here is one of the larger ones we saw.     

Howler Monkey — by Alexandra Fries — posted

A howler monkey (<em>Alouatta palliata</em>) we saw while on the river. They make a low rumbling noise that is kind of scary, but they are not very big. : )     

More Monkeys — by Alexandra Fries — posted

White-faced capuchin (<em>Cebus capucinus</em>) is feeding and cleaning its infant. What a life. The baby breast-feeding is a little hard to see.     

Macaw — by Alexandra Fries — posted

A beautiful Macaw (<em>Ara macao</em>) eating mangos, and the moon. He sat up there for at least 30 minutes.     

Coral Snake — by Alexandra Fries — posted

A lovely poisonous coral snake (<em>Micrurus sp.</em>). He was not excited about his photo debut.     

Isla de Pajaros — by Jennifer Swenson — posted

A unique island in the Tempisque River that draws birds of all kinds to nest and congregate.     

Hilltop shot w/ MEMs — by Jennifer Swenson — posted

Cerro east of Palo Verde Station     

Monkey Ladder Vine — by Jennifer Swenson — posted

A common zigzagging vine of the dry tropical forests in Palo Verde National Park     

Liana swing — by Jennifer Swenson — posted

Stella making a swing out of a vine     

Ziplining — by Lisanne Petracca — posted

      

The battlescars of ziplining in the rain — by Lisanne Petracca — posted

      

Horseback riding to the zipline platform — by Lisanne Petracca — posted

      

Beach — by Amelia Kissick — posted

Here is where a bunch of us went right after arriving!     

Rio Tempisque — by Robyn Walker — posted

Our boat trip down the Tempisque     

Rio Tempisque- Crocodile — by Robyn Walker — posted

A large crocodile on the Tempisque     

Pineapple Rows — by Monica Stich — posted

This pictures shows the drainage system for growing pineapples and the plastic used to cover the ground. A good drainage system is important to prevent the roots for rotting while the plastic is used to keep out weeds and pesticides from nearby farms.     

An Organic Pineapple — by Monica Stich — posted

A ripe organic pineapple in the field. The full cycle from planting to harvesting is about 16 months.     

Harvesting Pineapples — by Monica Stich — posted

Our guide explains how pineapples are harvested.     

Sloth in a tree — by Amelia Kissick — posted

Here is a sloth that was hanging out near La Selva's suspension bridge.     

Holding baby pineapples — by Amelia Kissick — posted

Here I (Amelia) am holding two baby pineapples.     

Birds at Falo Arenal Hotel — by Amelia Kissick — posted

Here are the birds we attracted by some fruit at our hotel, Faro Arenal.     

Group at the Volcano — by Amelia Kissick — posted

Here is the group on our volcano tour at Palo Arenal.     

Leaf cutter ants — by Erin Poor — posted

      

Coati — by Erin Poor — posted

We passed several coati on the way to La Selva from Palo Verde     

Two toed sloth — by Erin Poor — posted

Found hanging over a bridge our first morning at La Selva     

Napping Peccaries — by Erin Poor — posted

These collared peccaries were napping underneath banana trees.     

Pineapple Field — by Erin Poor — posted

At the organic pineapple plantation, we tasted fresh picked fruit.     

La Selva Bridge — by Erin Poor — posted

The suspension bridge connecting the La Selva station campus.     

White-faced Capuchin Monkey — by Erin Poor — posted

These monkeys were investigating the buildings at Palo Verde.     

Wetlands of Palo Verde — by Amelia Kissick — posted

Can you tell it's the dry season? Here are the folks at the wetland.     

Group shot at Palo Verde — by Amelia Kissick — posted

Here's the group on the wetlands of Palo Verde.     

White-faced capuchin monkeys! — by Amelia Kissick — posted

White-faced capuchin monkeys (Cebus capucinus) we saw just outside our cabins at Palo Verde!     

Coati — by Amelia Kissick — posted

Here is a shot of the Coati's (Nasua narica) teeth! We saw him outside our cabin at Palo Verde.     

Howler monkey baby — by Amelia Kissick — posted

Right outside our cabin at Palo Verde was a mother howler monkey (<em>Alouatta caraya</em>) and her baby.     

Sunset at Palo Verde — by Amelia Kissick — posted

Here's part of the gang at sunset on the wetlands at Palo Verde.     

Taking tree cores — by Amelia Kissick — posted

Here is Lisanne learning from JC how to take a tree core at Palo Verde.     

Ornamental pineapple — by Amelia Kissick — posted

An ornamental pineapple that I spotted during our pinapple plantation tour near La Selva. All organic pineapples!     

Breakfast at Faro Arenal — by Amelia Kissick — posted

      

Scarlett macaw — by Amelia Kissick — posted

      

Measuring the height of our trees — by Amelia Kissick — posted

      

Passion of Christ flower — by Amelia Kissick — posted

Related to the passion fruit flower, this vine flower only blooms one day a year.     

Volcano Palo Arenal — by Amelia Kissick — posted

      

Leafcutter Ant — by Robyn Walker — posted

A leafcutter ant cuts a leaf to bring to its nest.     

Leafcutter Ant — by Robyn Walker — posted

The leafcutter finishes cutting the leaf.     

Leafcutter Ant — by Robyn Walker — posted

The ant begins its long journey back to the nest.     

Leafcutter Ants — by Robyn Walker — posted

A stream of leafcutter ants make their way back to the nest.     

Windmills — by Amelia Kissick — posted

Costa Rica believes in renewable energy! Here are some windmills we spotted near Palo Arenal.