Well we are officially in the final weeks on my research here in Costa Rica! Field work is continuing as usual, and I am beginning to plan to finish up my work here and start taking final measurements in the forests. I had some interns from the station volunteer to help me at my field sites, and we were able to spend time with another research team at my sites and see some really neat birds! I also learned how to make homemade tortillas and went hiking at Cerro Chirripó.
Besides the normal tasks of recording tree seedling growth and mortality this, I was able to show some interns around the field sites and teach them about my project. We were also able to spend some time with the other research team that works at the same sites, who are studying birds. They track the birds that pass in between the forests and coffee plantations, and take samples from these birds and the wind, to understand what fungal spores are being passed between the coffee plantations and forests. Part of this process involves the catch and release of birds that pass between the two areas, and we were able to see some of the birds that they caught!
Since they serve us all of our meals at the station, I have not been able to spend time in the kitchen since I’ve been in Costa Rica. Itching to find a way to cook again and learn some local cuisine, the kitchen staff here offered to teach me how to make tortillas from scratch! It was a nice break from work and was nice to get to know some of the staff members better.
Later that day I was given the opportunity to visit the native orchid greenhouse at the station and see some really nice flowers!
Over the weekend, I met up with my friend Teresa to visit San Isidro and hike part of Cerro Chirripó, the highest peak in Costa Rica. We hiked just over 6 miles (9.7 km) of Chirripó on the first day. The weather was really nice, providing us with some amazing views! We were also able to see some parakeets flying around, and I saw spider monkeys for the first time. On a whim after the hike, we stopped by a local cheese shop and learned about how they make different types of cheeses right on the property– we even got to taste test some (and they were delicious). The next day we visited Cloudbridge Nature Reserve, which is just down the road from Chirripó’s entrance. We hiked around 4 miles (6.5 km), saw some beautiful waterfalls, and some interesting birds. We had lunch at a nice cafe and then I headed back to the station, where I spent the rest of the weekend prepping for the upcoming week and doing some volunteer work.
Now that my field season is coming to a close, I am starting to plan to to take final measurements at my sites. This will include taking final growth measurements of the seedlings, and collecting soil samples that can be tested for soil content (i.e. nitrogen and carbon) and fungal DNA– to get a better understanding of what is going on underground. I will also be setting up some interviews with farmers and foresters in the area, to learn more about their experiences in the areas that I am working in. Stay tuned for more info! As always, more pictures below!
Best,
Gina
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Gina Errico 
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