Wildwestbirds

Leaving Paradise Costa Rica

The Costa Rica rainforest provides unbelievable beauty in the rainy season, but is difficult to penetrate without a machete even on established trails.

Accessibility is good during the dry period when the vegetation dies away and the animal trails, usually unseen, become visible. When the rains return, the vegetation extends over the animal pathways, and once again, they become hidden amongst the vegetation.

Abundance

An abundance and variety of soft fruits, nuts and seeds, and fish
make it apparent why so many bird species (830) can live in Costa Rica,

and why the range of species is so diverse. Ranging from fine billed Gnatcatchers and Hummingbird to the massive and powerful billed Macaws, there are many birds of prey and the perfect scavenger - the Turkey Vulture (above).
As illustrated above, White-fronted Parrots open seed pods with their powerful bills. Macaws, the iconic parrots endangered due to a constant pressure from the pet trade, are a truly remarkable bird with small populations in Costa Rica.They are now limited to the Nicoya Peninsula (Palo Verde National Park),
and the forests of the Osa Peninsula (Corcovado National Park).

Left: Scarlett Macaw breeding in a nearby tree cavity Dos Brazos, Corcovado

Below right: Bare-Throated Tiger Heron Ocotal Guanacaste, the largest of the tiger herons

Below Left: Howler Monkey

Left: Puma distributed through the entire Costa Rica this one at Diamante Eco Adventure Park

Snakes and Iguanas many cats large and small

Right: Margay a small wildcat

Above: Green Iguana an impressive male

Left & Right: Gray Hawk its piercing cry a familiar sound in Guanacaste

Above: Banded Wren

Below Left: Danalid Butterfly Right: Motmot

Living in Bird Paradise

Costa Rica has been the most captivating country I could have ever imagined living in. Although the time period is less than one year, and we have not strayed to far from Playa del Coco in Guanacaste, our time here has been a most rewarding adventure. Even if I did not actually see the iconic Scarlett Macaw as other family members did, waking up each morning in the rainforest with the call of the Howler Monkeys and the Laughing Falcon, the Boa Constrictors slithering down from the Mango tree in my back garden, the Racoons dancing around on the roof and the Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl calling into the night, have been amazing!

An artful Opossum stole the show at Christmas dinner out on the patio as he walked atop the garden fence providing great amusement to our visiting Grandchildren. The children, from Europe, were totally captivated by the charismatic creature, initialing describing it as a funny pig on the back fence. After flicking through the literature of Central American mammals, we discovered that the strange pig was actually an Opossum. In Europe there are no Opossums and this made the appearance unforgettable. Our German speakers called them "Beutleratte".

Left: Jaguar
Many animals were seen in this tropical paradise, but many unfortunately remained elusive. Reluctantly, after almost one year, a comprise solution was taken with a visit to Diamante Eco Adventure Park so that Costa Rica's biggest cat the Jaguar could be admired. Impressive, they conjure up the thought of how intimidating it would be to stumble across one in the jungle. Not the least because they live not too far north of my home. I took consolation in the fact that even when they are present they are seldom seen. Known by natives to be the spirit of the jungle - always watching but never seen.

"Tigre" as the cat is known in Spanish, and by the local Costa Ricans or Ticos, are great climbers and swimmers - with crocodiles, sloths and turtles all on the menu.

Why leave

Due to unforeseen family health issues, we plan to return to Europe in May. This experience in the rainforest has been the culmination of a life of admiration for the natural world. I feel absolutely privileged, and will return, if only in spirit.