Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Survey News: Canal Bird Monitoring

Bird Surveys kicked of last week with trips down Canals Sirena, California and Sierpe Viejo. Every volunteer got a chance to go down one of the canals, (see photo below) although some had better weather than others. On the survey’s down Sirena and Sierpe Viejo it was pouring rain. Our volunteers were unfailingly cheerful however. “It was loads of fun,” reported Karen Black, who was on the Sierpe Viejo survey. “The canal is really overgrown so we were battling through the reeds.” Kyle McNulty was assigned the spotting position on the prow of survey canoe Luisa and with him in the lead they managed to spot at least fifteen Northern Jacanas (Jacana spinosa), a Boat Billed Heron (Cochlearius cochlearius), and a Ringed Kingfisher (Megaceryle torquata). Although highly efficient and very focused on spotting birds, the team proved to be slightly less adept at spotting logs obstructing the canal. “It’s alright,” was heard more than once “just paddle quickly and we’ll skim right over them" - no damage done, all part of the fun on these well remote canals in this part of Tortuguero National Park. Bird surveys are quickly becoming a favorite on base, despite the rain, with several people naming them as the best thing they’ve done so far...

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