Recent News from Posada Andrea Cristina.
Occasional news of bird sightings and other items of interest to
our friends.
Watch this space for news of a new web-site feature!
April 17, 2007:
Most of the news is good.
A while ago I received a Scarlet Macaw with a mssing eye. Some idiot had hit her with a stone.
I kept her in "intensive care" for several weeks, and she managed fine.
Despite the lost eye, an expert advised me to release her because she was doing and eating well.
Well, I tried once in the woods, but she was in shock, even with the seven wild ones that came to take her away.
But two days later, three macaws came to our place early in the morning and perched in a small tree.
I took her and placed her in one of the lower branches, she climbed the tree to join the others, and 10 minutes later they all flew away.
I am still looking for her, but I know she is now ok in the wild. Hurrah!
I am very busy these days in the Animal Rescue Center. We are working on the volunteer house and maybe in a month or so it will be ready.
My house is already full of confiscated birds and some wounded owls. I hope the Center gets ready soon,
because my wife will kick me out if I bring home any more animals!
By the way, we will be working with a volunteer program since we don't have any funds at all for the place.
Also another adopted tree! This is number 12 and was donated by Tim Dechant and his lovely family.
He decided to dedicate the tree to my late son Kris. I am greatly in debt to "Timmy".
And the last news: we are nearly finished the "House in the Tree”.
This cabin will accommodate a happy family with one or two children, or a couple.
You can almost bird-watch from your bed! It is really nice and was done mostly with recycled wood from an old house.
December 11, 2007:
Breakfast is still included!
We understand that some guidebooks are reporting this year that our delicious breakfast is subject to an additional charge.
We would like to correct this impression and assure you that full breakfast is still included in all our
room rates.
Perhaps they could be forgiven for assuming that our wonderful repast could not possibly be included in our already low prices.
We assure you that it is and always will be.
And while you're having that complimentary breakfast, look out for those birds. Four Scarlet Macaws showed up this past weekend at our place.
In addition, there have been lots of sightings of Green Macaws as well. All the work we have done so far seems to be paying off for the
"Green Ones" as well as the Scarlet, Hurrah!
November 11, 2007:
Exciting News!
I am very proud to announce that my son Kevin has joined us as a seasoned guide, and is most enthusiastic about sharing
the wonders of our beautiful country with our visitors. Kevin has recently earned a degree in Ecotourism. His program,
which included courses in Ornithology and English, will provide a useful complement to the years of 'on the ground' experience
of "Yours Truly". Welcome, Kevin!
In other news, on our last trip, we were very fortunate to see four Quetzals together. Beautiful!
And there is very good news with the Macaws.
A friend saw more than 60 recently, and for our own little bit of personal good news,
we had a couple of them visit our place this week.
Finally, in a joint venture with our long-time friend Kevin Brewster,
we've obtained a parcel of land in the hills nearby. We hope that in the not-too-distant future,
we can have a wildlife refuge there, for the treatment and liberation of wild animals back to their natural environment.
We are hoping to get some good support, and to be able to release all the animals we confiscate from poachers.
February 27, 2007:
Lots of work!
We are looking for more nesting trees since there are four candidates to sponsor the nesting trees.
This will keep us busy since this is the time of the year when the Macaws are nesting,
I hope that I can find all the nests soon, since everyone is very excited about the project.
In the meantime, the Scarlet Macaws are still visible in the area and chances are that
the "Green Ones" are also nesting very close by.
We also want to thank all of our friends for your help and understanding during this
time of our personal loss. We hope to see some of you again in the near future.
January 29, 2007:
Wonderful discovery!
Last week we found a Scarlet Macaw nest only 20 minutes walking distance from here.
There have also been plenty of Green Macws around early this year.
We keep hoping that the results of our work are so obvious.
November 26, 2006:
Still more homes!
We will be getting two more trees soon. We will inform you as soon as we do.
Maybe we can reach our goal, which is to get at least 50 trees.
October 22, 2006:
Another new home!
The Brewster family, like other families, organizations, schools & individuals,
has realized the possiblity of "adopting" a Wild Almond tree.
This assures a safe home for an actively reproducing pair of Great Green Macaws.
Ideally, they will nest in the same tree for decades.
There are approximately 40 active nesting pairs here,
so our goal is to secure all the nesting trees,
and some day, the Macaws will no longer be on the edge of extinction.
Our thanks to everyone who believes in our dream!
Thanks also to Kevin Brewster for the use of his recent photos of local frogs and sloths.
You will find them scattered about the site.
October 7, 2006:
Here's a quick update.
We've been busy doing some construction during the winter months,
but we're looking forward to more visitors now from the colder climes.
This year we are going to get two more Wild Almond trees for the Green Macaws.
This thanks to the great efforts to the Bissonnette family and particularly
to the Wildwood School families and of course the "Kyle Bissonnette" inspiration,
We already got one tree early this year thanks to the Sarapiquí Adventure Race Team.
Blessings to all! The new tree will be acquired in the next couple of weeks once we can
get the metal plaque from the foundry.
May 24, 2006:
So tragic!
Our group was led to confiscate five Green Macaws from poachers in recent weeks.
We still have three which we are attempting to rehabilitate for release,
but the oldest of them is badly damaged and so the outcome is uncertain.
With good care and a good diet, we are hopeful that they all can fly free once more.
December, 2005:
Ausgezeichnet!
Wir haben zwei neue Seiten, die in Deutschen übersetzt werden.
August 29, 2005:
It's an honor!
I just received this note from author Beatrice Blake.
"I am happy to tell you that your business is "Recommended" in
The New Key to Costa Rica, 17th edition.'
Thank you, Ms Blake!
(Order your copy today.)
August 7, 2005:
Turtles, turtles, everywhere!
I just got back from
Tortuguero.
This year was the highest turtle landing on record!
We were very lucky to experience some of that wonder.
And the Macaws are starting to return once more to our neck of the woods.
We saw 16 one morning nearby, but there should be even more soon.
June 10, 2005:
It's Quiet Time.
We're in the low season now which gives me a chance to catch up with our chores.
We continue our volunteer work for our various nature cause.
This Spring we got two more Almendro trees and,
needless to say, I can't tell you how happy we are.
Last week was The Festival of The Green Macaws,
and this year it was celebrated in San Juan Del Norte, in Nicaragua.
It was very successful.
We think it should be continued every year in a different location,
to promote conservation efforts and to increase people's awareness of nature in general.
We have a real possibility of sending a MESSAGE.
The Macaws are starting to be observed now that the nesting season for this year is over.
There should be plenty around soon enough. It's a good time to visit!
February 18, 2005:
Birds, birds, birds.
One of our young visitors kindly sent us his bird list from his stay with us
a couple of years ago. Check it out!
February 6, 2005:
Friends of the Macaw.
A new section of our Macaw page has more details
about the program to save the nesting trees of this wonderful bird.
February 4, 2005:
We're dry here!
There has been some confusion about heavy rains recently reported in the region.
We'd like to reassure all our friends and prospective visitors that everything is fine here,
and in Sarapiquí and the Caribbean region in general. So come on down!
And while we're on the subject of Sarapiquí, remember we're in
Puerto Viejo de Sarapiquí
(on the river, about 100 km. inland), but don't confuse us with
Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
which is down on the Caribbean coast, a few hours from here.
Und wir haben eine neue deutsche Seite.
Today I was touring beside by the Sarapiquí River with four Dutch ladies
when we saw a
spider monkey.
Fine news to see it on this side of the river
only a ten minute walk from our Bed & Breakfast.
December 6 2004:
Great news!
Two Scarlet Macaws were seen in Puerto Viejo,... for the first time in more than 30 years.
We are definitely making tracks. Hurra!!!
November 5 2004:
Great progress!
Rangers counted about 54 macaws in the nearby National Park area.
It really seems that the Green Macaws are starting their recovery.
October 19, 2004:
Finally!
We have now officially saved the first Almendro tree.
We plan on continuing the purchase program.
July 18, 2004:
Incredible!
19 Great Green Macaws
flew over the roof of our Posada at 4 o'clock this afternoon!
What a sight!
June 11, 2004:
We hope to buy and save this Almendro tree (Dipteryx panamensis).
It has been active with nesting Green Macaws nesting for the past four years.
We are continuing with the program of tree rescue.
The main reason: the pace of deforestation does not seem to have taken a break.
(Click on the image to the right to see a larger view.)
May 31, 2004:
More great news!
We are starting a program of adopting nesting trees for macaws.
We will probably buy the first one in the next few days.
May 10, 2004:
Rare bird spotted.
This is great news!
The Yellow-tailed Oriole
had not been seen in the area for many years.
We released some a few years ago in "La Selva" Biological Reserve.
Lately they have been seen there in the wild; apparently there is a family.
We believe this was due to our re-introduction,
Hurrah! They are very rare, and only a few had previously been seen in Rio San Juan.
April 23, 2004:
Guest Cabin in the Woods.
A family of our acquaintance have just finished building a guest cabin near
La Colonia Virgen del Socorro, a few miles from here.
The cabin is on a farm in the middle of the woods
and is a beautiful place to stay for a few days
to observe nature, especially the wonderful birds.
Please contact us to make arrangements.
Last week was the
Bi-national
Green Macaw Festival.
Unfortunately for the bird-watchers, it was raining.
However, in the Caribbean region, you can always be sure
that the weather will change.
February 12, 2004:
The macaws are doing well.
There are still a number in the area.
This means that they could nest nearby this year. We sure hope so.
Last year unfortunately, a couple that were going to nest here
were killed by a stupid hunter.
This year we will be keeping even closer track of them.
We are also very pleased to announce our new joint venture,
Grass Roots Expeditions: Tierra Hermosa.
September 5, 2003:
New patrol car!
Our group of volunteer rangers got a deal on an old Toyota Land Cruiser.
With a little work, we were able to fix it up to help us with
our conservation patrols. I'll keep you informed about our work.
On the home front, we started work on a new guest cabin for the Posada.
It should be ready for the high season.
July 7, 2003:
We did it!
About four years ago, we planted a tree called the Jabillo (Hura crepitans) --
actually, we planted two of them.
We also planted some other species such as the wild almond or Almendro,
and "Danto Plomillo" or Titor (Sacoglottis trichogyna),
all of them in the hopes of seeing
the Green Macaw visit the property near the Posada.
Today, they landed at our place for the very first time!
The Jabillo, or "Sandbox Tree", started to produce seeds a few months ago, and
I had been hoping for this to happen someday before I died,...
somewhere along the road.
But it happened today, and I'm so happy I could ...!
June 27, 2003:
Good news!
The government has passed a law that will stop issuing
permits to cut wild almond trees, favorite nesting spot for the
Great Green Macaw.
That is the best news I can share with you.
The nesting was good this year,
but seeds and other food supplies were rather reduced.
Most of the birds moved earlier this year to
Braulio Carillo
National Park.
But in general, the population seems to be growing slowly.
March 28, 2003:
Last month we visited one of the
Almendro Trees
that we bought to protect their Macaw nests.
This year it is also active, and it's a real treat
to see them way up there in their hole. It's like a show every time!
It amazes me how much they like to show off!
The Macaw festival this year will be held in neighboring Nicaragua again,
in a place called
El Castillo,
right on the San Juan river, a very beautiful area.
I am looking forward to travel there for the first time.
We will also soon know how the population is faring after the festival
when people report the nests.
I have been guiding a lot of bird watchers lately,
and every time we see some good birds. (They all are!)
Last night we saw a couple of
Spectacled Owls
up very close.
December 23, 2002:
We take this opportunity to wish you a peaceful holiday season.
In January, we are looking forward to escorting a television crew
filming a documentary on the Green Macaw.
We'll tell you more about it next month.
October 5, 2002:
We invite you to take a look at our new
tour offering. We are really looking forward to
showing you our favorite spots in Costa Rica.
On our last tour, we were thrilled to see eight
Great Green Macaws at once.
On the same day, not far away, a friend of ours saw 30 of them in a flock!
Beat my record of 21 in one tree!
It thrills us to think that the population of our endangered macaws
may be increasing.
Maybe we'll get a chance to see a tree full together soon.
June 27, 2002: Maquenque: From our friends at the
Great Green Macaw Research and Conservation Project:
"Our proposal to the PNUD has been approved!
This is the proposal called
STRATEGY OF CONSERVATION OF THE GREEN LAPA: A CAMPAIGN OF PROMOTION.
It proposed the creation of a MAQUENQUE NATIONAL PARK as part of the
San Juan-La
Selva Biological Corridor.
It involves activities such as:
- workshop for community management,
- workshop with local mass media,
- workshop with the tennant farmers,
- development of maps,
- the Maquenque proposal,
- poster of Maquenque,
- Maquenque t-shirts,
- typographical logo,
- Internet site for Maquenque,
- local and central office expenses.
Click here for details.
We hope to have your help with the implementation of this proposal!"
And they shall have it!
June 2, 2002: The macaws are back in town! The counting exercise
was not the best, because the birds are displacing themselves to new
territories where they had not previously been seen. This is due to a lack
of food in the immediate area, but it is all for the best as it is widening
their range. The macaws are locating in nearby Braulio Carrillo National Park,
but, for the time being, they are still flying through Puerto Viejo daily.
May 15, 2002: We will hold our first annual regional count of the
Macaw population on Sunday, June 2nd. This will help us better estimate their
actual numbers in this area. Watch this space for results of the study.
May 4, 2002: This weekend is the celebration of the
Macaw Festival. Awards will be given for both Green and Scarlet Macaws.
Good news! There were more than 22 nests reported, much better than last year's 14.
We keep hard at it with our patrols, and have been quite effective lately.
We have apprehended several poachers and some illegal loggers.
March 25, 2002: Yesterday in the "woods" we saw 21 Green Macaws together!
It was definitely wonderful to see so much beauty in one place.
March 14, 2002: Just got back from a tour of Corcovado and the
Mirador de Quetzales, where we spotted six of these lovely birds.
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