Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Hummingbirds Abound
Following our hike through the cloudforest of Monteverde we stopped to observe a group of hummingbirds.
Vibrant Splashes of Color
The rainforest and cloudforest vegetation is so very lush and green. Among the towering trees, twisting vines, and fanning ferns, there are splashes of vibrant reds, pinks, yellows, and oranges. The heavy beads of moisture blanket the seemingly endless sea of vegetation.
Amid the trees and ferns, animals nest, hunt, and crawl. To the untrained eye they are nearly invisible, but to the trained guides they are easily detected. What a magical place this is.
Costa Rica has set aside rainforest areas by both private and public organizations. The concern is that many of the animals cannot travel between the protected areas through open areas. Some birds cannot fly farther than the length of a football field. Some mammals must have expansive forested areas to survive. Groups, including students, are joining together to reforest areas for biological corridors. These corridors will connect rainforest areas so that birds and other animals can travel from one forested area to another. Would you like to be apart of this vital quest? It is very possible for you to support this project.
Monteverde and the Cloudforest
After a twisting, bumpy, somewhat nauseating ride we arrived in Monteverde, Costa Rica. This leg of the trip brought us to the cloudforest. Imagine the rainforest continually enveloped by misty clouds. The temperature was much cooler, along with the windy conditions and constant drops of moisture. What a beautiful site. I was amazed to see the sun shining, a fine sheet of mist, and a beautiful rainbow gracing the sky. Amazing!
What was so beautiful in the light transformed itself into another world after dark. We participated in a night hike which was pitch dark except for the glow of the fireflies and beetles with their continuously glowing "headlights". The tranquility was breathtaking. Until...I was attacked by army ants! Yeegads, can those creatures pack a punch when they bite! With my headlight on, I frantically searched for my feet and saw ants swarming my shoes, and ankles. I frantically started to swat at them and brush them off. I thought I was in the clear until I felt the intense burning sensation of more bites on my legs. They had crawled up my legs and started biting as well. This called for desperate measures as I had to (remember it is pitch black outside) reach down my pant legs and brush off all of those ants. Good grief...I couldn't decide if I would rather relive the nauseating bus ride or the short-lived but painful ant bites!
The remainder of the hike was much more relaxing and tranquil. (I just happened to keep my eyes on where I was standing the remainder of the trip!)
What was so beautiful in the light transformed itself into another world after dark. We participated in a night hike which was pitch dark except for the glow of the fireflies and beetles with their continuously glowing "headlights". The tranquility was breathtaking. Until...I was attacked by army ants! Yeegads, can those creatures pack a punch when they bite! With my headlight on, I frantically searched for my feet and saw ants swarming my shoes, and ankles. I frantically started to swat at them and brush them off. I thought I was in the clear until I felt the intense burning sensation of more bites on my legs. They had crawled up my legs and started biting as well. This called for desperate measures as I had to (remember it is pitch black outside) reach down my pant legs and brush off all of those ants. Good grief...I couldn't decide if I would rather relive the nauseating bus ride or the short-lived but painful ant bites!
The remainder of the hike was much more relaxing and tranquil. (I just happened to keep my eyes on where I was standing the remainder of the trip!)
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