EX68 Coastal Rainforest and

Wildlife Conservation Research Expedition

GVI Costa Rica Newsletter
Phase 094: 2nd October- 11th December 2009

Phase 18 Staff
With the start of Phase 18 came a few changes in the field staff, plus the return of some familiar faces.
With Dave Jones now Country Director, Sara Calçada returned to the expedition after a four month hiatus,
as Field Coordinator. Also returning after nine months back in the UK is Richard Phillips. Rich took the classic
volunteer-to-intern route last year and is now back as a staff member. Interphase found him eager to pick up
where he left off last December.
In the scholar’s corner, Sarah Durose has apparently become a permanent
fixture. Now coming up to a full year with the expedition, she has taken on
management of GVI’s Jaguar Predation Project. She was joined by Jess, on the
second half of her internship programme, and Jo, returning as a scholar after
volunteering last year. With Steph still on board to manage the turtle project,
the team on base was complete. New Community Intern Amelia also arrived,
staying on base for a few days before moving in to her San Fran digs at the
school.
This phase also saw some departures. Long-standing staff members Wing Tsui
and Rich Bull headed off to new adventures after completing a year on base.
Rich said of his time here at the station, “It’s been the best job of my life, ev-
erything about it, the place, the people, the work; it’s a real shame to leave.”
Wing also had a wonderful time at Caño Palma: “I love both the place and
the people that I met, and I’m going to miss night walks so much. ” All at GVI Rich Phillips - happy to be back with GVI
Costa Rica wish them the very best in their continuing adventures and con-
servation careers.

Training
Our new arrivals were bombarded with the usual intense learning experience that is week one, but were soon
eager to put their new skills into practice in the field. Amongst the information they crammed into their heads
was thirty bird study species, turtle biology, survey protocols, triangulation skills, remote camera handling, first
aid, radio protocol and cooking for twenty five people. A busy week, especially in tandem with adjusting to the
heat, humidity and particular challenges of
communal living.
However, turtle training was soon put to
the test in the field, as the volunteers were
introduced to Night Patrol. All were eager
to see turtle action and with more people
now available to make up the survey num-
bers, night walks were upped to two teams
a night.
It wasn’t just the volunteers who were in

Training week: intern Leonie, and volunteers Tracy and

Jen get to grips with jaguar cameras; scholar Sarah takes
the new recruits through kit prep before heading out on
night walk.
training: scholars Jess and Jo were busy acquiring the necessary Patrol Leader knowledge and experience, with
turtle tagging proving the final elusive piece of the puzzle for both. With the season slowing down, opportunities
to tag were becoming few, but by the end of week two both were fully prepped to lead teams on the beach.

Programmes and Studies

Turtles
On Playa Norte, the Marine Turtle Monitoring and Conserva-
tion Programme continued, although by October, the green turtle
nesting season was slowing down. Even so, the expedition completed 68
morning census surveys and 47 night patrols.
A total of 52 green and 2 hawksbill records were made, including 26 green
turtle nests. Night walks continued until 3rd November, with the highest
encounter records between 11pm and midnight.
Who looks more at home? Green turtle
Morning Census had a very lucky encounter when they came across a seen on morning census, still disguising her
turtle disguising her nest at 6am on 31st October and were able to watch nest, or volunteers Tucker, Russell and Tom
on excavation?
her finish nesting and return to sea in daylight, and the last recorded nest
was on 3rd November.
Excavations, beach cleans and hatchling watches have all continued up un-
til the end of phase, and in November we had some extra hands for beach
cleaning when ex-GVI volunteer Bill Valaika dropped by for a few day with
his ‘Habitat Healers’ to take plastics off the beach. Inspired by his sojourn
at Caño Palma during the summer, Bill has set up the organisation, based
in the US, to promote beach cleaning.

Above: Agami Heron (Agami agamia)
Below: Limpkin (Aramus guarauna)
Birds
The Aquatic Avifauna Study continued to patrol
Caño Palma, Harold and Chiquero throughout phase, de-
spite a few aborted missions due to severe weather. Over
the course of the phase GVI’s teams spotted 23 of our 30
study species, with the ever appar-
ent Little Blue Heron in highest
abundance. Records have included
some unusual ones, most notably
the second limpkin of the year (on
Caño Harold) and a juvenile Agami
Heron.
Great Green Macaw (pictured right)
sightings have also been high this
phase: of a total of 40 records since
our data collecting began in No-
vember 2008, 22 were made this phase.This translates to 64
individuals this phase from a total of 104 seen/heard. Birding
maestro Rich observed that if each individual were unique
and all were Costa Rican macaws, these statistics would
mean we would have seen the entire population of Great
Green Macaws in the country!

EX68 Coastal Rainforest and Wildlife Conservation Research Expedition

GVI Costa Rica Newsletter Phase 094: 2nd October- 11th December 2009
Jaguars
The Jaguar Predation of Marine Turtle Study com-
pleted 9 surveys this phase, totalling 130.5 miles on Tortuguero
beach. Out on the sand they recorded a total of 2770 full turtle
tracks and 81 dead turtles including, unusually, one predated
hawksbill.The highest level of turtle activity was at mile 10, and
the most jaguar predation activity at mile 14.5. Throughout the
phase as a whole, the presence of jaguar tracks
No Photoshop
was recorded along most sections of the beach, involved.
but the most jaguar exit points were found at Here’s the picture,
mile 15.5, and the highest occurrence of jaguar but we’re still having
trouble believing it...
tracks was at mile 16-16.5.
The statistics don’t tell the whole story however...on the 25th
October, three teams were present for the jaguar sighting of
the year, also caught on camera by Sam. The jag walkers had
finished their survey, met up with the boat pick-up team and
the jag camera team, and all were headed back on Iriria when
they saw something in the main canal...some discussion ensued
as to what it could be, as with collective jaws dropping they
realised what they were looking at was a swimming jaguar. As
they watched, the jag swam across the canal and climbed the
bank into the forest.
Arriving back at base, there was conspiracy afoot, as all the
lucky jag-spotters managed to keep a lid on their excitement
throughout dinner, only revealing their amazing story after-
wards via an announcement about some supposed ‘interesting
bird photos’ - which turned out to be Sam’s excellent jaguar
shots. Community projects realised this phase:
All of which leaves the rest of us...thrilled on behalf of the teams the volunteers perform their deforestation play; local kids
take plastic debris off the beach; recycling facilities now in
involved of course, and not at all jealous. Nope. Absolutely not.
place in San Fran.
No problem, There’ll be other jags, we’re sure...and what’s so
great about jaguars anyway? Personally I prefer an agouti...

Community Projects
GVI Community Intern Amelia has had a busy phase establish-
ing herself and the new community projects in San Fran. Eng-
lish lessons, Spanish-English intercambio sessions, environmen-
tal education, and community events have all come together
under her guidance, and with the assistance of volunteers from
base. By the end of phase some volunteers were even giving
environmental education classes in Spanish - challenging for
them, but great for their Spanish skills!
The school children enjoyed their community events, which
this phase included a play about deforestation, written and per-
formed by the volunteers.
Recycling has also been a theme for community education, and
the local kids have been involved in collecting plastics from the
beach and making new recycling facilities in San Fran.

EX68 Coastal Rainforest and Wildlife Conservation Research Expedition

GVI Costa Rica Newsletter Phase 094: 2nd October- 11th December 2009
Tourist Impact
Nine tourist impact surveys were completed this phase, with a total of 486 boats carrying 3180 people recorded
passing the station. It seems that tour boats continue to find Caño Palma an attractive alternative to the National
Park, and tourism related traffic accounted for nearly two thirds of this total.
Although the daily average of boats on the canal was less than the 60 boat restriction set by government bodies,
limits at certain times of day were still exceeded. In particular, the period between 16:00 and 18:00 saw an excess
of traffic on seven of the nine survey days. This comfortable, low-stress, low-cost survey continues to throw out
food for thought on the environmental impact of canal use in the area.

Around Base
The incidentals project registered some unusual visitors
within the station’s boundaries this phase, including several boas,
two Roseate Spoonbills spotted on Caño Palma and a Hoffman’s
two-toed sloth just hanging about in a tree outside the library.
The latter provoked amazement, jumping up and down, and cof-
fee-spilling - mostly from Jo who had spent the previous nine
weeks scanning the trees for her first sloth sighting.
As usual, day to day life on base provided constant reminders of
Costa Rica’s extraordinary biodiversity. Our privileged position
in the rainforest was emphasised every day by the regular pres-
ence of ‘common’ visitors such as Mantled Howler Monkeys,
Golden Hooded Tanagers, Collared Aracaries, Strawberry Poison
Dart Frogs and others. It’s possible to catch yourself becoming
Sloth on base, seen
too accustomed to such wonders, at which point a wide-eyed in the last week of
stroll around base with a pair of binoculars is recommended. phase.
On balance, the weather was good to us this phase. Despite an
excess of 900mm of rain falling on our home in November,
the station managed to avoid a flood evacua- Right: Rich and
tion this year. Good news for staff and volun- Tucker get drenched
teers as we monitored the rising water level on jag pick up whilst
base avoids flooding
closely for several days, and found ourselves out...just.
sloshing our way to a submerged boat dock.

off survey
There was plenty going on during down-time this phase, with long-weekend trips to the towns of Porto Viejo
and Cahuita, the volcanic slopes of Arenal, and white water rafting in Turrialba.
On base we were treated to a fascinating and highly educational tour from Ex-COTERC station manager Mario
Rasta who gave us all the benefit of his considerable knowledge on the Raphia Trail. He shared his extensive un-
derstanding of forest plants and their uses - medical (fascinating), recreational
(not encouraged), insect repelling (of much practical interest) with us and even
found some tent-making Honduran White Bats (Ectophyla alba).
Relaxation, and possibly some silliness, was on the agenda for CP’s fancy dress
barbecue - with the usual mix of the bonkers and the inspired amongst our
makeshift outfits. We knew we were on for a good day right from the start,
when dawn ushered in some classic British barbecuing weather in the form
of heavy and sustained rainfall. However, both the food and
Left:
Dave and Tucker the costumes were excellent and a good time was had by all
in nautical mood pirates, skeletons, bird species and mermaids who attended.
at the BBQ.

EX68 Coastal Rainforest and Wildlife Conservation Research Expedition

GVI Costa Rica Newsletter Phase 094: 2nd October- 11th December 2009
Beyond Caño Palma...
GVI staff spent time in Belize and Denver this phase, presenting GVI’s Costa Rican projects to international
audiences at two conferences. At the XIII Congress of the Mesoamerican Society for Biology and
Conservation at the end of October, Dave and Steph presented three posters - on the birds, incidentals and
tourist impact projects - which were well received and generated much interest, and Steph gave a presentation
on the turtle project.
Then in November, Dave was in Denver to give a presentation discussing GVI’s work on jaguar predation of
marine turtles to the Defenders of Wildlife, Carnivores conference. GVI has now presented on all our
projects running in Costa Rica, and opportunities like this are vital for raising the profile of GVI amongst the
academic community and networking with other groups working on turtle and jaguar projects.
Towards the end of phase Field Co-ordinator Sara was in Guanacaste to attend a WWF workshop on
adaptation of marine turtles to climate change, and on her return talked to staff and volunteers
about some of the issues raised at the workshop.
In November, ex-GVI volunteer Bill Valaika returned to Caño Palma, bringing with him his new beach cleaning
project, the Habitat Healers.Together with GVI volunteers and staff they collected bag after bag of plastic bottles,
shoes, combs, toothbrushes and other semi-degraded plastic products, glass, lightbulbs and rope from Playa
Norte and all those involved felt they made a massive improvement to the beach.

looking ahead
Compared to the start of phase, there are fewer changes amongst staff for the new year as, yet again, scholar Sar-
ah just can’t say goodbye, and Jo is staying on as well. Having completed her internship Jess departed as planned,
to explore Central America and catch up with family - we wish her happy travels and thank her for her hard
work with GVI. Sara, Dave, Rich and Steph will have help next phase from the five new interns who embarked on
their six month stay at the start of Phase 18. Molly, Russell, Leonie, Helen and Sam will all be stepping up from
their Phase 18 volunteer roles.
Phase 18 has been GVI Costa Rica’s last at the Caño Palma research station, and it’s all change for the expedition
in the new year as we move to premises at Jalova in Tortuguero National Park. In the last week or so of phase
we started preparation for the big move with some staff and volunteers recruited to move timber and supplies
to the new site. Exciting times ahead then, although we will miss the canal, and the boat dock, and maybe ‘DE’s’,
just a little.
The new location and facilities will present a whole new set of challenges, but with turtles in abundance and
jaguars almost literally on the doorstep, next phase should be full of surprises.

So that’s it for Phase 18, and for GVI’s residency at the Estacion Biologica Caño Palma. Phase 19 kicks off on
January 8th 2010 with a new home, and a new batch of recruits.
Keep up to date with our progress via gvicostarica.blogspot.com

EX68 Coastal Rainforest and Wildlife Conservation Research Expedition

GVI Costa Rica Newsletter Phase 094: 2nd October- 11th December 2009