OVSICORI-UNA reported that an incandescent avalanche descended Arenal's SW flank on 6 June producing an 800-m-long scar and depositing a wide debris fan at the base of the volcano. A plume of dust, ash, and gas drifted W and NW, depositing fine ash in a small area downwind. The plume panicked tourists and park rangers 2 km away to the W. The park was immediately closed for the day and the tourists were evacuated. According to a news article, another incandescent avalanche descended the SW flank on 10 June and generated an ash plume. Authorities evacuated people in the area.
Sources: Observatorio Vulcanologico y Sismologico de Costa Rica-Universidad Nacional (OVSICORI-UNA), Nacion
Finally, after days of forging through the rain and mud, we had some sunshine. For the mapping group this weather was ideal for taking panoramic photos at all of the bird group's points throughout the property. We got a little bit of a late start, around 6:30am, but we still had most of the photos taken before breakfast. A complete 360̊ panoramic image requires 18 individual fames. After all of the frames were taken, we stitched them together using software on a pc. We also mapped two final areas for the plant group and we think that we now have all of the data we need for the map. Now, with a lot of help from Richard, we will begin putting all of the pieces together for the website.
Around lunchtime we walked to the famous Super Kike. The weather was barely holding out for us, but we all made it before the big afternoon rain. However, because we went during the typical siesta time, the store was closed. We thought that we were going to have to walk right back to Leaves and Lizards when Geovanny came roaring up the hill on his motorcycle. He, of course, knew the owner of the store and convinced her to open early for us. She was very nice and we got all of the salsa vegetales(our new favorite condiment) and Costa Rican coffee we could carry to bring home to the USA. We also got some ice cream and ate it right outside the store. We made it back to our cabins just as the sky was opening for the afternoon rain.
Today was a beautiful day, very sunny and hot! We slept in
until breakfast and did the first half of our bird counts after we ate. Our
first two counts were done without Geovani or Dr. Brown, we are getting much
better at identifying species! It has been concluded that the three of us have
officially "stepped into the dark side", according to Debbie our host. We find
ourselves always noticing birds wherever we go, even during our free-time, rather
than relaxing and napping we sit on the porch and look for new bird species.
Today, we were very excited to discover three new species of hummingbirds that
we had not seen before. It is raining now and we are analyzing data before we
go back into the field to finish our bird counts for the day. Tomorrow we will be welly wanging!!
Enterolobium cyclocarpum
Last night began the first tropical storm of the season, so all day today was rainy and very foggy. We did not see as many species of birds as usual. We did, however see a new species of hummingbird which we have yet to identify. We currently have counted 836 birds (of 63 total species) since the first day of our bird counts. We began our data analysis and density calculations for each species today. The weather finally cleared this afternoon, and we hope for a good day tomorrow, we get to sleep in till 6:30!!
- The Bird crew!
Three days into research and each project has come to life. Plants have been counted and in the process of identification, birds have been viewed, and the property has been mapped. From 5:30am till 6pm we seemed to be completely focused on the projects. But discussing the projects gives only the surface view of our couple of days in Costa Rica. So this is where I, the lab assistant, come in on the blogging.
First, we need to let know that we are getting enough to eat. In fact, the meats and fruits are extremely fresh. The cook, Mireya, keeps our bellies full with pancakes, cheese, rice and beans, lasagna, chicken, fish, fresh squeezed juice, Costa Rican coffee, and deserts. We have to go to great extremes for processed items.
One of those places is the Super Kiki, which is the local grocery/all around store in the vicinity. It thankfully accepts both dollars and colones. Several hills on a cobble/gravel/dirt road need to be traversed in order to arrive at the Super Kiki. You are greeted with friendly faces at the foosball table and in the store. You can find your row of Costa Rican candies, cookies, and breads (of which we have come to enjoy). There is the beverage section with a variety of juices and Coca Cola made with sugar cane (not high fructose corn syrup). Two other favorite sections is the jelly, where we find squeezable pineapple jelly, and the salsa. The salsa has truly changed everyone's eating experience. You will most likely see each of us with two bottles in tow on the way home. The Super Kiki also carries a variety of household goods, and the one we own our field work sanity is the Wellies. Translation: Welly à Wellington à Rubber Boot.
Rubber Boots brings us to my second point. We feeling the effects of the tropical storm and the definition of rainforest wet season. Most of the time we are soaking wet head -to-toe with field notebook in one hand and umbrella in the other. Luckily the rain is warm, there are no thunderstorms, and we have our wellies. We will conclude our data collection with the First Annual Field Ecology Welly Wanging Competition. We will who can kick their wellies the farthest.
We continue enjoy the beautiful views of Costa Rica and
Arenal Volcano, our cabins, the plants, the birds, the terrain, the food, and
rain.
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