Dear Rainforest Friends,

It is finally here! This is the last blog in my series about the places to visit in the Children’s Eternal Rainforest. The San Gerardo Field Station is a great place to see while in Monteverde, the second most frequented destination in all of Costa Rica (it closely follows La Fortuna, the home of the active Arenal Volcano).

The Facilities

Finally arriving at the San Gerardo Field Station after the one-and-a-half-hour hike.

The San Gerardo Field Station is similar to the Pocosol Field Station, although there is only one building and it is somewhat older (the new Pocosol Field Station was inaugurated in 2008). It is also located in a different habitat, so you will see very distinct wildlife if comparing to Pocosol. There are multiple trails available for hiking, most ranging from just under one kilometer to just over 2 kilometers. At the end of the Catarata trail, you will find a beautiful waterfall with a great water hole for swimming…the perfect place to cool off after a hike!

The San Gerardo Field Station has 8 bedrooms, two downstairs and six upstairs, that can house 4 guests in each one. Each room has two sets of bunk beds and one bathroom equipped with a toilet, sink and shower, and each guest receives their own towel, soap, pillow and bed clothes. There is a dining area downstairs with four large picnic tables, as well as a kitchen and classroom with a projector and screen available for lectures.

The upstairs balcony adjoining the rooms is a great place to relax, either in one of the four hammocks hanging from the rafters or in one of the many available chairs, and the view absolutely cannot be beat. The San Gerardo Field Station is situated in a small clearing in the CER, overlooking the majestic Arenal Volcano.

What You Get

The majestic view of the Arenal Lake and Arenal Volcano from the San Gerardo Field Station balcony.

Basically, the San Gerardo and Pocosol Field Station work in the same way. For a nightly fee, you receive all of your meals while at the station (made from scratch, and mostly traditional Costa Rican cuisine), complete access to the surrounding trails, a room (that you might possible have to share with other guests), and the attention of the two field station managers, Geovanny and Ivannia. Geovanny and Ivannia are Monteverde residents who do not speak English (although, Geovanny does want to learn and appreciates any practice he can get!), but despite any challenges with communication they are very concerned with the well-being of the field station guests. They go out of their way to make any visitor feel welcome and comfortable, and will even take groups on hikes through the trails surrounding the field station. As a matter of fact, Geovanny’s father was the former owner of the property the field station is currently on, so he knows the area like the back of his hand.

How to Get There

As compared to Pocosol, San Gerardo is a little easier to get to, in my opinion. The only way to reach the station is on foot, but getting to the trail head is surprisingly easy. From Santa Elena (Monteverde), take a taxi (or drive your rental car) to the Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve (cost: $8.00), and the trail head begins in their parking lot. The trail is technically a public road, but it is next to impossible for any vehicles to maneuver the thick, deep mud (the road was originally traveled by farmers and their families moving milk and other supplies up and down the hill with ox-drawn carts). So, the only feasible way down to the station is by walking there.

After about forty-five minutes to an hour of steep downhill hiking, the road leads to the private San Gerardo trail that eventually ends at the field station. You must hike this trail, also downhill, for about a half an hour, and the further you get the thicker the canopy becomes. Eventually the trail opens up into the clearing where the field station is situated, and where a hot cup of freshly brewed Costa Rican coffee awaits you in the dining area, made by the lovely Ivannia, of course.

The advantage to hiking to the station is that it is economical. You do not have to pay for private transport, although the hike out can be a little arduous. It is almost completely uphill, but if you take it bit by bit, it is manageable and even pleasant, especially if you stop to nature-watch along the way.

Reservations

I recommend making reservations for the San Gerardo Station, and it is always good to do this about two months in advance. The rainy season is very heavy after the month of July, yet the rainforest is beautiful in any of its seasons. If you would like to avoid the heavy rain, though, the best time to visit would be between the months of March and June. They are also the busiest months, though, so reservations are key!

Please write to info@acmcr.org to secure your space at the San Gerardo Field Station.

For the Forest,

Mia Roberts

The bunkhouse and lecture room (downstairs) at the Pocosol Field Station.

Dear Rainforest Friends,

The Laguna Pocosol, a volcanic crater lake about 100 meters from the Pocosol dining hall.

I only have two more places to share with you that are open to the public in the Children’s Eternal Rainforest, and they are my favorite sites to visit. I, of course, love every part of the reserve, but the field stations have everything a traveling nature-lover needs: beds, bathrooms, food, hiking trails, picturesque views, abundant wildlife, and they are definitely off the beaten path. They also hold a special place in my heart because  of the incredible experiences I have had there, and for this I have left them for last. In this particular blog I will present to you the Pocosol Field Station, a unique place that few people have had the privilege to discover.

The Facilities

The Pocosol Field Station is comprised of a bunkhouse (a very nice bunkhouse, I might add), a newly renovated dinning hall, a classroom and two older buildings formerly used for guest housing and environmental education activities. All of the buildings are clumped together on a small clearing which is surrounded by beautiful regenerating tropical rainforest.

The newly renovated dining hall balcony overlooking the Laguna Pocosol and CER.

Just 100 meters from the dining hall is a small lake formed in a volcanic crater…a great place to take a dip on a hot tropical day or after a long hike among the maze of trails. It is deep and refreshing, and is a host to a myriad of wildlife such as otters and birds. Pocosol also boasts a beautiful waterfall, which can be reached by one of the trails and viewed from a platform built by MCL park guards and maintenance crew members. Another of Pocosol’s natural features are the boiling volcanic mud pots. It’s like having a little spa in the rainforest. Exfoliate your skin and bird watch at the same time!

What You Will See

Like any other tropical rainforest, Pocosol is surrounded by an incredible amount of biodiversity. From frogs to sloths, and from fungus to mountain lions, you are guaranteed to see something wonderful and wild. When I hear guests talk about Pocosol, though, the main attraction is its birds. There is no sleeping in at Pocosol…the birds will not let you!

What You Get

The waterfall at Pocosol as seen from the lookout platform.

Once you get to the field station, you really do not have to worry about much else. The newly constructed bunk house is more like a rustic hotel, with multiple bunk beds in each room and a restroom equipped with a shower, toilet, mirror and sink. The MCL provides you with a towel and a small bar of soap, as well as pillows and blankets for your bed. You even get your own balcony to view the canopy outside your window. The bunk house also includes a lecture room for presentations and a lounge area, for those times between hikes and meals or to escape the frequent rain. One detail you do have to consider is the limited amount of electricity available at the station. Once the sun goes down, the electricity is provided by a gas-run generator, but during the day the generator is off, meaning no charging your electronics until after dinner.

Because I love to eat, the food at Pocosol is one of my favorite features. The field station manager cares for the facilities, but also dedicates much of his time to making delicious meals cooked from scratch three times a day for the guests. The coffee is a genuine Costa Rican blend, and most of the meals are based on local cuisine. You really have not experienced rice and beans until you have gone to Pocosol!

How to Get There

This is probably the most difficult part, but it’s worth the trouble! Pocosol is located about one hour away from La Tigra de San Carlos, a small town outside of La Fortuna. A partially paved (but mostly dirt) road leads up to the station, and the only way to get there is with a 4×4 vehicle (especially when it is raining). The MCL will provide you with transportation for a fee, which I would recommend because the road is difficult to navigate ( I prefer to leave it to the experts). But once you are in Pocosol, you will never want to leave.

Reservations

The ride to Pocosol.

If you would like to visit Pocosol, please contact the Monteverde Conservation League at info@acmcr.org. You must make a reservation to stay at the field station, and the earlier the better. The months of December through June are very popular due to the lower amounts of rainfall, so if you prefer the station all to yourself I recommend visiting during the month of November. If you would like more information on prices per night, please visit http://acmcr.org/pocosol_biological_station.htm.

The Monteverde Conservation League would love to have you as a guest at the Pocosol Field Station, and MCLUS is always organizing group trips to Costa Rica with the field stations as one of their many places to experience the CER.

If you have any questions about visiting Pocosol, or just want to learn more about it, please write to info@acmcr.org.

For the Forest,

Mia Roberts

Monteverde, April 2011

The Lichen Stream Frog rediscovered in the CER on March 30, 2011

Dear friends of the Children’s Eternal Rainforest,

A few weeks ago (on the night of the March 30th), during an MCL-sponsored field trip to monitor amphibian populations, we were able to confirm the presence of the Lichen Stream Frog (Isthmohyla tica) on a remote ridge in the heart of the CER. The Lichen Stream Frog was thought to have vanished from the Monteverde area in the late 1980′s along with the Golden Toad and many other amphibians. Subsequently it disappeared from other parts of its tiny geographic range (a roughly 1500 ft elevational sliver extending from northwestern Costa Rica to western Panama), and many feared it might be extinct. This is the third time we have encountered the species on this one stream, but to my knowledge it is not known to occur today anywhere else in the world.

The Lichen Stream Frog is but one among tens of thousands of species of plants and animals protected within the CER. Yes – tens of thousands. The CER is home to about 3,000 species of vascular plants, including more than 500 orchid species; several hundred non-vascular plant species like mosses and liverworts; about 450 species of birds; we can only guess at the numbers for most insect groups but it seems reasonable to speculate that the CER harbors some 900 species of butterflies, perhaps 9,000 moth species, and perhaps 18,000 beetle species, just to mention a few. Undoubtedly, many of these organisms are as yet unknown to science.

The CER doesn’t only protect one of the most biologically rich ecosystems in the world. It is also the backbone of the protected area that is the primary attraction for ecotourism, the cornerstone of the local economy. And just as importantly, the CER protects an enormous watershed that provides clean and constant water for communities, agriculture, and hydroelectric projects – at present, the CER is fundamental to the production of about a third of Costa Rica’s electricity.

I throw these numbers at you because I want to drive home how immeasurably important it has been to protect these forests. All of these things would have been lost if it wasn’t for the help of caring people like you. Today we can continue our dream of safeguarding the existing CER and expanding it into critical areas thanks to the ongoing support of people like Tom Newmark, whose unwavering help has held fast despite the global economic crisis and extensive changes both at MCL and at MCLUS, or Jorie Howe, who requested that her friends and family celebrate her seventh birthday party with gifts to the CER. For example, a few months ago we finalized the purchase of a 250 acre piece of land of enormous importance. By protecting this piece of land, we simultaneously connected a previously disjunct piece of the CER to the rest of the protected area, closed an entry point for trespassing poachers and livestock, and protected a swath of what is arguably the most endangered type of forest in the region – the Premontane Wet Forest.

So on behalf of the beautiful Lichen Stream Frog, and all that it represents, I would like to express a heartfelt THANK YOU! for your essential help. Please take pride in the fact that your support makes all the difference, and know that it serves as further motivation for all of us here at MCL in Costa Rica to do everything in our power to make this magical achievement truly eternal.

Sincerely,

Mark Wainwright
President of the MCL Board of Directors

A view of the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve and the Children's Eternal Rainforest at the beginning of the Peñas Blancas-Pocosol trail from the lookout point named "La Ventana", or "The Window".

Dear Rainforest Friends,

I was going to postpone writing this blog until later, as a grand finale to the series of blogs introducing you to the various places within the CER. I changed my strategy, though, because there was a group of nature lovers who organized a hike through the CER that I just had to share with you as soon as I could.

This particular hike is the longest in the CER open to the public. It can be completed in as short as two days, or extended to one week, depending on how adventurous you are. As for wildlife sightings, it is one of the richest, rawest and most interesting experiences you could have in the country, and you are guaranteed to see something that you have never seen before in your life.

The Route

The dotted line traversing the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve and the CER represents the 28 kilometer Peñas Blancas-Pocosol Hike.

The Peñas Blancas-Pocosol trail spans from the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve through the CER and ends at the Pocosol Field Station near La Tigra de San Carlos. The trail is about 28 kilometers long, and is cut into manageable sections by two refuges along the way.

Usually the hike is done in two parts. The first half begins at the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve entrance, and after descending for about two and a half hours (depending on how fast you walk), you come to the Aleman Refuge for a refreshing lunch and coffee break. You could even go as far as taking a short siesta, or play in the nearby Peñas Blancas River to cool off. After your short respite at Aleman, the hike continues for another two and a half hours until you reach Eladio’s Refuge for an overnight stay. This refuge was once a farmhouse owned by the Cruz family, but they sold it to the Tropical Science Center and it is now used for educational hikes through the reserve. Eladio Cruz himself oftentimes provides his famous culinary services for visiting groups, hauling in the rations on his two plucky horses, Niño and Julieto. Not only does he cook for groups, but he also shares fascinating stories about his family’s life on the farm, and how hard they worked to survive in the middle of the untamed rainforest.

After your stay at Eladio’s, the hike continues across the powerful Peñas Blancas River, fed by other tributaries such as the Gemelos Streams and the Sulfer River. It’s no river to mess around with, so if the level is too high oftentimes you have to wait it out until it is deemed crossable by your experienced guides. After crossing the river, the trail begins its ascent to the Pocosol Field Station. It is a grueling 14 kilometer hike, the first half mainly uphill. You then descend through secondary forest that once used to be cow pasture, a first-hand look at the rainforest’s healing process. At the bottom of the hill, you will first come upon the Laguna Pocosol, a very deep lake ideal for cooling off after your 14 kilometer trek. After taking a dip in the lake, you are greeted by Minor Elizondo, the Pocosol Field Station manager, with hot coffee and a freshly-made meal in the dining hall overlooking the CER.

Food never tasted so good.

What You Will See

The famous hammock bridge over the Peñas Blancas River leading to Eladio's Refuge.

Just think about it. You are hiking into a huge, continuous rainforest that has been untouched by humans for a very long time. In many places you are walking through primary forest, which is basically the rainforest at its best. There are countless species of birds, numerous species of reptiles, small mammals, and yes, even cats. You will see orchids, palms, lianas, killer fig trees and and fungi that probably have not even been identified by science. I can go on and on, but you are almost guaranteed to see mountain lion tracks along the trails, as well as packs of peccary and lonely agoutis searching for seeds among the underbrush. If you are quiet and lucky, you might even see a mountain lion up close.

If you go on this hike, you will be accompanied by MCL park guards that know the terrain like the backs of their hands. They can show you amazing waterfalls and hidden lagoons, as well as take you to places that only a few fortunate individuals have been able to experience.

The Challenges

A hike of this proportion, of course, does not come without its many challenges. It is definitely not for the meek, and you must be in pretty good physical condition to be able to complete it. As you get further and further away from civilization, the wild takes over and brings insects along with it. These insects can be overwhelming to someone who has never experienced them before in such densities, and the most common ones tend to be the most annoying.

One of the challenges in the CER is trying to stay dry. Also, insect populations tend to be denser near swamps and riparian habitats.

The animal that hikers usually remember the most is not the beautiful red-rumped tanager or red-eyed leaf frog, but the persistent tabanid fly (a.k.a. the horsefly). The females are famous for taking blood meals from mammals, and that does not exclude humans. During certain times of the year, these horse flies can be almost unbearable. Their bites are painful, and they can leave its victim with good sized welts that itch for days. Fortunately they are clumsy and slow, so many bites can be avoided before they happen. These flies are thought to be attracted to dark colors, so if you want to avoid more bites than your fair share, wear light-colored loose clothing. It is also a requirement to sleep under mosquito netting to avoid nocturnal attacks by tabanids and other insects.

There are other possible risks such as parasites, but as long as you stay as dry as possible, keep your shoes on and take daily showers, you should be fine.

Logistics

Eladio Cruz taking food to Eladio's Refuge with his horses Niño and Julieto.

Every expedition has its costs and logistics, and the Peñas Blancas-Pocosol Hike is no exception. The trail is not open to independent hikers, meaning you need to make a reservation for the hike through the Monteverde Conservation League. The trail is not always clearly marked, so the MCL requires the presence of two park guards at all times. These park guards do not speak English, so it is important to be prepaired. The park guards are not nature guides, although they are very knowledgeable about the forest and extremely observant, but they are mainly there to get you from A to B. There is a cost per park guard, per day for their services, which is established by the MCL.

You will also have to take your own hiking equipment, food and toiletries (you could hire Eladio Cruz to be in charge of the food). There is a fee to enter the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve as well as to stay overnight at Eladio’s Refuge and the Pocosol Field Station. If you would like more detailed information about the costs and organization of the hike, please contact info@acmcr.org.

The March Expedition

A friend of mine, and former director of the MCL, Johnny Rosales, has been organizing group expeditions to various natural areas in Costa Rica for years. His most recent trip was the Peñas Blancas-Pocosol Hike which inspired this blog, and many of the participants commented to me that it was a life-changing experience. They were all very exited to share their collection of amazing photographs, and I am very happy to be able to do so through this blog. The following photo album illustrates the hike from start to finish, from Monteverde to Peñas Blancas, and finally to Pocosol. Enjoy!

For the Forest,

Mia Roberts

Dear Rainforest Friends,

This Three Wattled Bellbird has lived as a part of both the Costa Rican and Panamanian Bellbird populations. Photograph by Marc Hoffman.

The Three Wattled Bellbird is one of the many species throughout the world that is in serious danger of extinction. The bird has some amazing qualities, and like all other species struggling to survive in a shrinking natural world, it needs our help. Debra Hamilton and her team at the Costa Rican Conservation Foundation (who have worked closely with the Monteverde Conservation League in reforestation efforts) have known this for years, and are working harder and harder to restore the natural habitat and necessary food sources for one of the last remaining Bellbird populations on the planet. I invite you to take a few minutes of your time to learn about the Three Wattled Bellbird and the possible actions you can take to assure the survival of this amazing creature.

The Three Wattled Bellbird

Procnias tricarunculata, or the Three Wattled Bellbird, is one of over 400 native resident bird species found in Costa Rica. It is estimated that only about four populations remain, and can be found between Nicaragua and Panama. The male is a very distinct individual due to the its striking plumage, and of course, its three black wattles. The female, on the other hand, blends right into the canopy with her drab coloration (a mixture of olive with yellow streaking on the chest), lack of wattles, and secretive behavior. The Bellbird’s claim to fame, however, is its call which humans can hear up to about one kilometer away- one of the loudest bird calls in the world!

The Three Wattled Bellbird is a migratory species, meaning that during certain times of the year they are found in different locations. The Bellbirds are normally seen (and heard) in Monteverde during their breeding season, which spans between March and September. During the rest of the year, some individuals travel to Nicaragua, while others end up in Panama. Many of the birds, however, depend upon the food sources in the Tropical Rain Shadow Forests of the Pacific Highlands in Costa Rica.

The Three Wattled Bellbird’s food of choice comes mainly from the plant family Lauraceae, or wild avocado family (also favored by the Resplendant Quetzal and the Black Guan, among others). They thrive on the small green fruits, yet with such extreme habitat destruction within their feeding grounds, the avocado trees are few and far between. The Bellbird population has definitely suffered because of this, and according to the Costa Rican Conservation Foundation (CRCF) both census work and anecdotal data have shown a steady decrease in the population since 1997.

A Special Individual

Through banding techniques, the CRCF team has been able to track and monitor Three Wattled Bellbird populations as they visit Monteverde during their breeding season. One of these individuals banded by the CRCF was caught on camera by our one and only Marc Hoffman, professional wildlife photographer and frequent visitor to the CER. Marc, through various connections, was able to get his photograph to the CRCF, and the bird was identified as a male that had dissappeared for twelve years!

As a matter of fact, the bird was noted to have a Costa Rican call in 1997 (a “squeak-bonk”), but in 2007 was heard calling with a Panamanian dialect (a “wonk-bonk”). Our friend had traveled with the Costa Rican group for a while, and then decided to join up with the Panamania population for an extended period…coming back with a Panamanian accent, so to speak!

Hope in Monteverde

Fortunately, the Three Wattle Bellbird’s story is not over yet, thanks to the CRCF, the MCL and other local conservation organizations. The CRCF has been working with Monteverde and its surrouding communities and farmers to plant native trees on their properties in order to support wild animal populations, including the Three Wattled Bellbird. By working with the communities to connect protected areas in Monteverde to the Gulf of Nicoya with biological corridors, the long term survival of these precious species is a reachable goal.

The MCL, along with the Tropical Science Center, Monteverde Institute and the University of Georgia, have been working together with the CRCF to recuperate the lost habitat that Costa Rican migratory species need so much. Hopefully through reforestation efforts and the development of a biological corridor, we will not be reading about the Three Wattled Bellbird in the history books.

How You Can Help

If you would like to help the Three Wattled Bellbird and other species under the pressures of habitat loss, please make a donation to MCLUS or the CRCF. The priority for both organizations is to reforest properties on the Pacific side of the Tilaran Mountain Range, with the goal to create a biological corridor between the protected areas of Monteverde and the Gulf of Nicoya.

Please visit http://www.mclus.org or http://www.fccmonteverde.org to make your donation and help save the Three Wattled Bellbird.

For the Forest,

Mia Roberts

A photograph of Marc at the end of one of the trails in Bajo del Tigre.

The Children’s Eternal Rainforest is a very special place, and means a lot to many people all over the world. It has had countless visitors, and everyone who has explored this lush and vibrant forest appreciates it in their own way. An employee of the MCL might see the CER as a source of vital natural resources for the communities surrounding it, a biologist could see it as an island that holds the last population of an undiscovered species, and Marc Hoffman, a dedicated professional wildlife photographer and avid birder, sees it as his place to connect with himself and the world on a more personal level. I was able to speak with Marc about his experiences in the CER, and am very pleased to share with you what he thinks about the beloved reserve.

I want to start with an introduction, Marc. What do you do for a living and what’s your connection to the CER? 

The American Crocodile (Crocodylus acutus), or cocodrilo, in Spanish.

Well, I grew up in New York state, and my dad had the wonderful foresight to make sure that when we lived in the suburbs there were lots of woods around that I could play in. As a kid I was a fairly quiet boy, not real gregarious, and I spent a lot of time in the woods. So the woods have a strong attraction for me, and they’re a place that I go to get centered.

As an adult I’ve done a number of different careers. I studied fine arts in college, was a professional musician for a number of years. Kind of doing folk music, and then went back to school long after to get a master’s in social work and did some community organizing and ran some community programs. In 1998 I decided to go into digital multimedia because it offered a lot of creative outlet for me. After that I started doing a lot of nature photography, especially bird photography, in a pretty serious way since the late 1990’s. My wife is also an avid birder- she carries the binoculars and I carry the camera.

The Violet Sabrewing is the largest hummingbird found in Costa Rica.

Good teamwork then, right?
The teamwork is really perfect.

When was your first visit to Costa Rica?
Well, in 2002 my brother in law offered us a trip to a tropical place, and we thought about Beliz and Costa Rica, and it sounded like Costa Rica had fewer bugs (smiles) and was maybe a little more bird-oriented. So we went to four different places, and spent two nights in Monteverde.

Where did you end up visiting the CER for the first time?
I first visited the CER in Bajo del Tigre, I guess in 2009, and I went down a couple of times and walked the trails there. In 2009 I also went down to San Gerardo. And I’ve visited the same places a number of times last year in 2010.

So, what’s your favorite place in the CER?
Well, you know I don’t feel like I’ve explored it enough to really say what is the best part for me. I love San Gerardo. This year Jim (owner of the Monteverde Butterfly Garden) also took me to Pocosol, and we spent three nights there with him and his wife’s family. That was incredible, too. Pocosol seems to be more remote, but I didn’t spend enough time there to make a full comparison.

What is it you love so much about San Gerardo?
I like that it’s a little bit of a stretch to get in there. Many people hike down in an hour or an hour and a half, but for me because I’m carrying a lot of equipment and because I’m stopping to take photos, it’s not unusual for me to take three hours to get down in there. The only people who are down there are the host family and whatever guests they have, which can be anywhere from just me to as many as 20 people or so. This year, most of the nights, I was the only guest so that was really a treat.

Wow, so how does it feel to be so alone?
You know it’s just amazing. That’s like up here in New York State if you get snowed in by a big snow storm. You’re so isolated and blanketed from the usual hubbub of civilization.

I spent a night actually sleeping out on a neighboring farm, with the best view of the Arenal Volcano that you can get around there. (Laughing) Actually a very uncomfortable experience. I had to get up and pee a lot during the night, and it was cold, and then it started raining. I had a tarp, but I was still a little cold and kinda wet. But I need to have these experiences, being out in as wild a place as I can get.

The Howler Monkey's marbled coloration can be caused by inbreeding within a population.

Right, just have that connection with a place.
Yeah. And you know, if the jaguar comes and eats me it’s just icing on the cake, I guess (laughing).

Is there a specific animal or plant that you haven’t photographed that you would like to capture on film?
Huh. You know, I’m not real list oriented. So usually the times that I want to get a special photo of an animal is when I’ve already gotten one but it wasn’t very clear. For instance, I have a number of black-masked solitaire photos, but I don’t think any of them in my mind are a perfect photo, like with the right expression and really clear. Getting a really sharp photo is a challenge. I mean, you always hear them but you never see them. I’d also love to see more puma, jaguar and snakes. I like snakes and amphibians.

What was your most memorable experience while exploring in the CER?
The Ornate Hawk Eagle. I was walking from San Gerardo Station down to Maximo’s farm and a large bird swept across the path behind me, so I only saw it from the corner of my eye, and at first I thought it was a Guan, but it didn’t make all the noise that Guans make when they fly. So, I thought I better look and see where this bird landed, and it was the Ornate Hawk-eagle!  Since the path was on a slope, the eagle was pretty much at eye level to me up in a tree.

The Ornate Hawk-eagle. Photo taken by Marc Hoffman in the CER near the San Gerardo Field Station.

Has visiting the CER taught you anything about yourself or the world? What kind of insights have you had?
I think this last time, because I went for seven whole weeks, I had time for my appreciation of the forest to really deepen which surprised me because I thought it was about as deep as it could be. But, one thing that deepened for me was the strong connection to the forest as a source of life. The CER and other large rainforests are really feeding us all. Everybody on the planet is affected by the CER because it’s actually sending oxygen to all of us, it moderates climate change for all of us. It’s part of a chain of life. It really is the mother to us.

Thanks to Marc Hoffman for sharing his thoughts and beautiful photographs with us. If you would like to see some of his work please visit http://www.dartfrogmedia.com/photography.

For the Forest,

Mia Roberts

Dear Rainforest Friends,

The Children's House at Finca Steller is an interactive hands-on learning center for children.

I want to introduce you to one of the places least visited by tourists in the Children’s Eternal Rainforest. It is not under-visited because it is an unattractive place (every place in the CER is beautiful), but because it is set off the beaten path. In fact, its visitation has been on the rise in the last couple of years, not necessarily from tourism, but due to environmental education activities organized by the MCL, community groups and local schools. So, I invite you to take a walk with me through Finca Steller, a very special place to many young people, the communities surrounding the CER and the MCL.

Where is Finca Steller?

Finca Steller (Steller Farm) is located in La Tigra de San Carlos, very close to the MCL’s office branch and the Pocosol Field Station, and has been developed into a valuable educational tool. The MCL constructed two buildings on the property; the Children’s House, an interactive place for hands-on learning similar to the Bajo del Tigre building, and the classroom, a multifunctional room for lectures, lab experiments and other activities.

The entrance into Finca Steller, as well as the classroom utilized during monthly environmental education activities with local youth groups.

Who Visits Finca Steller?

As I mentioned above, the majority of Finca Steller’s visitors are local youth including the La Tigra Elementary School and scout troops. In hope of strengthening their environmental education program, the MCL staff in La Tigra has organized monthly environmental education activities for the past two years at Finca Steller. Local school children are transported to the educational center where they are introduced to the CER and local conservation issues, as well as taken on a tour through the facilities and trails. The children get to meet the people who manage the CER every day, including the CER’s park guards. The guards share their stories with the children, hoping the younger generation will let go of harmful poaching and wildlife capture traditions that are now illegal throughout the country, yet still very popular around the protected area’s periphery. The children are also taken to the nursery where the native tree species used in the CER’s reforestation projects are produced. Many times the children are even able to plant trees on the property and at their schools, aiding with reforestation efforts throughout the community.

Finca Steller’s Impact

Marcelo Rodriguez (left) and Hernan Chacon (right), two members of the MCL's park guard team, are caring for the budding trees used in the CER's various reforestation efforts throughout the community.

Finca Steller has become a very special place, not only to MCL staff but also to the community and other conservation organizations. In the last two years the MCL has renovated Finca Steller’s buildings and made valuable alliances with other community groups such as Proyecto ASIS, a local wild animal rehabilitation and release center. The MCL works together with these other organizations to assure the development and execution of necessary environmental education programs and activities that will help conserve the area’s natural resources, as well as create the CER’s future stewards and protectors.

I encourage anyone who visits the CER to tour Finca Steller. The MCL would be ecstatic to include any visitors in the environmental education activities they carry out in La Tigra, and if you would like more information about visiting Finca Steller or supporting the MCL’s environmental education program, please send an email to info@acmcr.org.

For the Forest,

Mia Roberts

Dear Rainforest Friends,

The CER is absolutely full of wonderful wildlife, and is a prime site for birders. Birding groups as well as loan travelers make it a point to visit both the San Gerardo and Pocosol Field Stations during the high birding season, and a recent visitor was able to take this wonderful photograph of one of the CER’s most colorful residents, the Orange-bellied Trogon.

Natural History

Part of the family Trogonidae, the Orange-bellied Trogon (Trogon aurantiiventris) is a resident throughout Costa Rican highlands and some areas of Panama, ranging from subtropical to tropical moist montane forest, as well as heavily degraded former forest (a total range of about 27,300 km2). It is a fairly common species, and its diet mainly consists of fruits and arthropods. The Orange-bellied Trogon is often confused with its close cousin the Collared Trogon (Trogon collaris), which is described as having a red chest as opposed to orange, and has a much larger range. The call of the Orange-bellied Trogan is a combination of two uncomplicated hoots, and is easy to identify due to its simplicity. Once the call is identified, it is simple to locate and see the bird (In my opinion, it is a wonderful bird to search for due to its long perching periods in the canopy).

Where Can You find the Orange-bellied Trogan in the CER?

The best places to spot the Orange-bellied Trogan in the CER are at the San Gerardo and Pocosol Field Stations. Both field stations have over 5-10 kilometers of trails and various clear areas for optimal bird watching. In fact, you can probably count on the Orange-bellied Trogan waking you up at the San Gerardo Field Station, just in time for breakfast!

For the Forest,

Mia Roberts

References:

1) Remsen, J.V., Hyde, Mary Ann, and Chapman, Angela.(1993).The diets of Neotropical trogons, motmots, barbets and toucans. The Condor. 95:178-192.

2) Orange-bellied Trogon (Trogon aurantiiventris). (n.d.) Retrieved from         http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/speciesfactsheet.php?id=1016&m=1

Costa Rica's only fox, the gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) is able to climb trees and can be easily spotted in Bajo del Tigre.

Dear Rainforest Friends,

One of the comments that I have heard from many visitors to Costa Rica is concerning the amount of development that has occurred there in the last 5 to 10 years. Before the strong tourism boom, the beaches were not lined by 25 story resort hotels, there were very few paved roads and tourist activities were still evolving. There are advantages to development, of course, but it is important to achieve a precise balance to maintain the genuine qualities of a place.

An orchid bee (Euglossa sp.) visits porterweed (Stachytarpheta frantzii) in a native plant garden near the visitors' center in Bajo del Tigre.

The advantage about the CER, however, is that it has attained this balance. Bajo del Tigre, one of the CER’s four access points, boasts well maintained trails still criss-crossed by strangler fig tree roots, trail signs designed by local volunteers, an updated map and trail guide that makes it easy to learn about and navigate the forest, and a lower volume of visitors that allows for a personal connection with the environment. It is easily accessible to anyone who wants to visit, but still upholds the goal of rehabilitating and conserving one of Costa Rica’s rare ecosystems.

Among the many mammals living in the Children's Eternal Rainforest is the tayra (tolomuco in Spanish). This weasel relative is comfortable climbing trees and is strongly omnivorous. This tayra was spotted with another individual in Bajo del Tigre on the Bellbird Trail.

Bajo del Tigre is a small sector of the CER located in Monteverde; a forest patch isolated from the rest of the reserve on the Pacific side of the Tilaran Mountain Range. It receives a lower average rainfall than the cloud forest at a slightly higher elevation, which leads to more extreme seasonal changes and less epiphytic growth in the canopy. It is a secondary forest, meaning it is a recovering habitat in one of its successional stages. As a result, the canopy is not as high or thick as a primary forest, which allows for greater visibility when searching for wildlife. Plant and animal communities specific to its habitat are also found there due to a combination of factors, including less rainfall and a lower elevation as compared to the genuine cloud forest.

Not only is Bajo del Tigre a beautiful environment, but also a great place for children and families to learn about tropical forest conservation. Volunteers, many working with the MCLUS, constructed a hands on environmental education station near Bajo del Tigre’s entrance called the Children’s House. Families can also participate in hikes lead by local guides for a reasonable price, the most popular being the night hikes run daily from 5:30pm-7:30pm.

The CER is a very special place, and even more so once you are able to experience it up close. At Bajo del Tigre you can enjoy thrilling wildlife sitings, a beautiful tropical forest environment, and other great features that will immerse you in the largest private reserve in the country. All proceeds made at the Bajo del Tigre trails are used for the CER’s operational costs, so the more visitors the reserve has, the better!

The steep, seasonally-dry slopes descending from Bajo del Tigre into the Maquina and Guacimal river gorges harbors a fascinating plant community that includes agave-relatives and a variety of terrestrially growing orchids. This orchid, Lycaste brevispatha, protects itself with spines on its succulent stem, and loses its leaves during the dry season to reduce water loss.

The beautiful photographs included in this post were generously taken by Richard V. Joyce, a Monteverde community member and neighbor of the Bajo del Tigre trails. For more information, please visit the Bajo del Tigre web page on the MCL website or write to info@acmcr.org.

For the Forest,
Mia Roberts

Dear Friends of the Forest,

2011 is a year of celebration! The Monteverde Conservation League (MCL) celebrates its 25th year as creators and guardians of the Children’s Eternal Rainforest (CER)! Since 1986, and the start of MCL, we have seen hope become action. Recently, I attended MCL’s 25th annual assembly and am convinced that today greater accomplishments are possible. More habitat can be protected. More species can be saved. More carbon dioxide can be removed from the air. The CER is a phenomenal bio-diversity “hot spot” – a world wonder needing your care.

This winter newsletter launches our first quarterly format. We want to give you expanded rainforest news – information to read now or when you have a quieter moment. In this issue you’ll see:

• an update on MCL’s 25th annual assembly
• news of its 25th celebration
• the CER’s unique biological field stations, which give you an immersion rainforest experience and are special destinations of MCLUS eco-tours
• information on the summer 2011 trips – reserve your place today for a Costa Rican adventure!

You’ll also find the latest news on the diverse and wonderful CER in our new blog. Be sure to check out our new blog post on “Canopy in the Clouds” – an immersive, multi-media science education project from the cloud forests of Monteverde!

Let’s join MCL in recognition of what can be accomplished in conservation with dedication, patience and focus.

For the Forest,

Laurie Waller
President
Monteverde Conservation League U.S.
info@mclus.org

It’s MCL’s 25th birthday!

MCL stewards the largest private reserve in Costa Rica. The story of MCL is totally unique – it’s about children’s hope, the uniting of a common conservation purpose, 44 countries donating funds, and over 215 land acquisitions.

Twenty five years ago, 14 people concerned about rampant rainforest destruction in Costa Rica created the Monteverde Conservation League (MCL).

Click here to read more about the celebrations on our blog.

Come to Costa Rica — explore biological field stations!

View of Arenal Volcano from the San Gerardo Field Station

The best way to explore deep within the Children’s Eternal Rainforest is to stay at one of the two biological field stations. San Gerardo station is an hour and a half’s walk from the Santa Elena Reserve entrance. The Pocosol station, on the Caribbean side of the CER, is accessible by car.

By special reservation, travelers can hike to Pocosol. It is a nature-immersion experience, a rigorous twelve-hour hike over two days through pristine ecosystems which gradually change as you descend towards Pocosol. The species of birds, plants and animals are increasingly adapted to the warmer, wetter climate as you descend. The trail crosses rivers, goes deep within primary forests and skirts secondary forests re-forested by the Monteverde Conservation League (MCL), enabling you to see first-hand what has been protected and how it is possible to regenerate even cleared forest.

Click here to read more about the exciting opportunities to visit field stations here.

February, 2011 Assembly at MCL

Laurie Waller (president MCLUS), Mark Wainwright (newly elected MCL board president), Dr. Julia Matamoros (MCL and MCLUS board member)

MCL’s 25th Annual Assembly was held on February 12, 2011. This all-day meeting was a time of happy camaraderie, reflection on accomplishments, and hope for the future. Thanks were given for the many caring individuals worldwide who have supported MCL and the CER. That includes many of you! Because of MCL’s commitment, integrity, and wise stewardship the CER continues in good hands.

At the assembly, Laurie Waller, MCLUS president, shared a report of MCLUS’ year of transition. Since the Crandells’ passing, MCLUS is pressing forward, with careful restructuring and a growing board, to continue to be a sustainable organization. MCLUS has a key role in the urgent conservation work that MCL is doing. We must keep raising funds for land purchase and protection. The CER is a dynamic forest, and because of some species’ migration patterns needs to expand. More habitat is needed and forest protection continues to be an urgent priority.

Click here to read the rest of this entry on our blog

Introducing Mia Roberts – MCLUS’ new blogger!

You will find the latest news and information about the CER on our blog. Check out past and upcoming blogs at: http://mclus.org/blog/. Read on to learn more about Mia and her passionate connection to the rainforest! Mia is pictured below climbing inside a strangler fig tree.

“I am a graduate from the University of California at Berkeley, with a BA in Integrative Biology. My connection with the MCL began when I participated in a study-abroad program through my university located in Monteverde, Costa Rica.”

Click here to learn more about Mia

High in the mountains of Costa Rica is a rich forest of over 54,000 acres, saved by the contributions of children from 44 countries. The Monteverde Conservation League U.S., Inc. (MCLUS) supports the preservation of this special forest and you can help this wonderful effort when you travel with MCLUS. All trips include a $200 donation to the Children’s Eternal Rainforest. For more information on MCLUS or our eco-tourism packages, check out our website: www.mclus.org.

14 DAYS IN COSTA RICA
JULY 2-15
ON THE PACIFIC SIDE OF THE CHILDREN’S ETERNAL RAINFOREST
From the scenic peaks of the Tilaran mountains to the warm sandy beaches of the central Pacific coast – your adventure awaits!
Trip cost: $2,195 (not including airfare). Click here for more info…

10 DAYS IN COSTA RICA
JUNE 25-JULY 4
ON THE ATLANTIC SIDE OF THE CHILDREN’S ETERNAL RAINFOREST
Educational opportunities, community service, exploring different cultures and rainforest immersion await you in Costa Rica.
Trip cost: $2,095 (not including airfare). Click here for more info…

Click here for details about these two amazing eco-tourism trips in 2011