On Tuesday, we did another group project, and my group studied fungus diversity at different elevations along the trail by the station. These group projects are just getting shorter and shorter. This time, we had from 8AM to 4PM to propose the question, collect and analyze the data, and present to the class. It was quite a stressful rush, but it was still fun looking around for fungus. It also helped to have our computers and the internet, so making the presentation using PowerPoint instead of paper cut down time.
I spotted these eggs on the orientation hike, and I checked on them everyday in my daily hike in the forest. I was so happy to see the hatched chicks! The mother flying out always scared me each time, but I was always more afraid about it abandoning its chicks. Thankfully that was not the case!
Some other cool critters I've encountered on my daily hikes and walks: this totally conspicuous and fearless armadillo that I found on the roadside while walking back to Spanish one day. So chill! On a personal hike to the TV towers, I found this cute little frog that didn't seem to mind having my camera inches from its face. The monster bug was much less tranquilo though. It was on a rampage and it's mandibles were terrifying!
For our Friday agroecology excursion, we visited Life Monteverde, a coffee plantation that also gave tours for sustainability education. I learned a lot from Guillermo, one of the 10 co-owners, who just so happens to be my Spanish teacher's husband too!
In the middle of the tour, we got to see this boa constrictor! There were toucanets and brown jays around calling at the top of their lungs to bring attention to the predator. My second snake seen in Monteverde, first on camera.
We took a break and climbed on this amazing guava tree. I really want a climbable tree in my future home. Fruit, shade, wildlife habitat, firewood, swings, branches to climb, aesthetic...so many benefits! Alas, it takes time to grow, yet that was an important concept about sustainability: investments take time to enjoy the payoff.
The picture on the right is a biodigestor, which I never saw in person before. It collects methane gas from the manure of two pigs that Guillermo owns. One pig yields one hour of methane per day, and that was downright impressive to me. I also appreciated Guillermo's passion for sustainability and attitude about educating others about the need to understand nature. Lots of inspiring people and practices here in Costa Rica!
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