The new guy

Sarah: Well, the countdown has begun. We are less than 3 weeks away from leaving our job here in Costa Rica and returning to the United States. More thoughts on that subject later!

As our time is wrapping up, SNU has hired our replacement. His name is Michael Guillot and he graduated from SNU with a degree in Environmental Studies, and graduated from the University of Houston with a master's degree in Cultural Anthropology. Michael spent 6 weeks down here at QERC back in 2002 and is excited for the opportunity to return to Costa Rica and take the job as the Field Station Manager at QERC.

Michael arrived down here at QERC toward the beginning of August, with the idea that we would spend 5-6 weeks with him, training him on everything we know about QERC and Costa Rica. Whew! It sounds overwhelming to me just to type that. We spent the first couple of weeks at QERC and in San Jose, going over building information, some semester program information, and meeting some people and places in San Jose. We even let Michael go on his own for a day in San Jose, to get him acquainted with downtown - much like we do with the students at the beginning of the semester.

This past week, David took Michael to Nicaragua to show him everything he needs to know about leading a group of students there for 2 weeks. David boiled it down to 5 nights, visiting all of our contacts within the country. For David, it was a chance to help make the connections for people and pass the ball from us to Michael, and also a chance to say some goodbyes to friends we had made. They had a whirlwind week with a night in Managua, a night in the remote village of Candelaria, a night at Rancho Ebenezer (both of those are where we've done previous homestays with students), a night back in Managua for some historical tours and information, and a last night in Granada to finish up like we do with the students.

David with his host family in Candelaria

Michael and David at Laguna Apoyo, Nicaragua

Adele and I decided not to go along for that trip - Adele had just spent a week feeling sick with a cold and working on all her new teeth coming in, and I figured some good rest and relaxation time was needed for her here at home.

While we are sad to be moving on from our job and lives here in Costa Rica, we are excited and confident in Michael's abilities to continue the QERC project.

Danta, danta, don'tcha want a...

Sarah: We have had some interesting experiences lately with the danta (tapir, in English). After the Point Loma group recorded the puma and the jaguar on their cameras, there was a large buzz in the community surrounding the presence of large mammals. In fact, just a week ago, a danta was spotted walking around the gardens at the Savegre Hotel - 2 minutes walking distance from where we are located. So, we put up cameras hoping to catch a view of the danta, and sure enough, it appeared that night.

Here is the camera shot:

Also in regards to dantas, not too long ago there was one hit by a car up on the highway and, sadly, died. However, Los Quetzales National Park, which has its headquarters up on the highway, decided to stuff and mount the danta and display it at their office. Today they brought the finished stuffed product down to the hotel and unveiled it for all to see. It was pretty neat - and Adele was intrigued by it as well!

Arsenio, from the National Park, and Efrain Chacon with the stuffed danta.

Adele wasn't quite sure what to think at first, then decided she loooooved the danta.

9 month girl

Sarah: Adele turns 9 months tomorrow! She is growing and changing and developing so fast that it's hard to keep up with her. She is super chatty, almost always happy, eating a ton, and is really teething, with 3-4 new teeth in and a couple more on the way. With her so busy and active, we have quickly found that QERC is NOT baby-proof. Adele has the gift of being able to find the chemicals in the laboratory, the cleaning supplies, and the tools in the storage room. I spend most of my day chasing her around the building. I have a picture of most of her other new tricks:

Adele is eating so much for meals now and I'm just thrilled! Here is one evening that she got so tired that she fell asleep in the middle of her meal, as David and I were cooking and the music was playing. I'm not so sure if this is a trick, or just a trait she gets after her Uncle Rusty Roth.

Adele loves to play in the most random places, as one of her favorites is any sink she
finds. I just have to stay right near her to make sure she doesn't turn the water on!

Adele can climb the stairs on her own now!

Adele loves to practice walking EVERYWHERE.

Adele can pull herself up on anything, and loves pulling all the
books she can reach off the bookshelf up in the library.

The girl LOVES to be outside - unfortunately with it being the rainy
season, sunny days where the grass is dry are few and far between.

Naturally, everything she finds goes in the mouth - bugs, grass, and dirt. :)

Large cats!!

Sarah: As the mammal research group from Point Loma was finishing up their time here, some exciting last-minute things happened for them. First, they caught a PUMA on camera! And second, they caught a melanistic JAGUAR on camera...in the middle of the day!! Melanistic means that their skin appears black, so the jaguar in fact looks like a black panther. SO COOL. The pictures are from their camera traps, set up in the forest. Check them out.

THE PUMA:

THE JAGUAR: (Click on the picture for better views)

Mammals

Sarah: For about 7 weeks this summer, QERC is hosting a group from Point Loma Nazarene University (CA). Dr. Mike Mooring and his family, and 4 research students, have been here in San Gerardo de Dota searching for mammals (primarily with an interest in large mammals). The research team is down to their final week at QERC and it has been fun to have them around this whole time.

Using a variety of techniques, the team has caught several coyotes and many raccoons on camera, and an ocelot on video. They have also hiked the trails extensively almost every day and have seen various signs of puma! By taking advantage of the local knowledge here, the group has also interviewed prominent community members to get an idea of what mammals have been seen historically.

As this is a pilot study, Mike will evaluate what type of work can be done in the future, and hopefully continue returning with a research team each summer to further the studies done on mammals.

Some pictures of their time here:

Caleb and Jared, hiking in the rain

Dr. Mooring, Caleb, and Bobby setting up a camera trap

Will, in front of the grand oak tree

Some of the group on a community horse ride day

David and Adele and me at a community Bingo