Author Archives: AWOlivieri

Quiz Bird #2 Revealed/La Respuesta del Prueba #2!

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Quiz Bird #2 had nine entries, two of which were correct: Lesser Goldfinch (Carduelis psaltria).

Lesser Goldfinch photographed by Jo Davidson.

Lesser Goldfinch photographed by Jo Davidson.

Our Official Winner is Suzanne Gross of Piedades, Santa Ana, who came on one of our walks at the Wilson Garden last December. Due to the difficulty of mailing cookies from San Vito, Suzanne has generously donated her one dozen Chocolate Chips to our next Bird Walk at the Wilson Garden.

Other entries included two orioles, two tanagers, a vireo, a warbler and a seedeater.

Thanks for a great job Photographer Jo Davidson on making sure the bill was hidden behind a leaf: we fooled everybody except Suzanne and member Jim Zook.

Gracias a nuestra miembre Jo Davidson para su foto de un Carduelis psaltria!

Tuvimos mas respuestas este vez, pero solo dos de nueve estaban correctos.

Felicidades a Suzanne Gross de Piedades, Santa Ana: su respuesta estaba correcto: Lesser Goldfinch!

Pop Quiz #2: What Bird Is This?/Prueba numero 2: cual ave es?

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Everybody ready? Hints for Quiz Bird #2: it’s smaller than a robin/thrush; the photograph was taken in Linda Vista near a house with shrubs and small trees but no real garden; this bird sings a lovely song.

Quiz Bird #2: cual es?

Quiz Bird #2: cual es?

First person to correctly identify this bird wins the same prize offered last time: one dozen home-made Chocolate Chip Cookies!

Listo? Algunas pistas estan: mas pequeno de un yiguirro, foto de Linda Vista cerca una casa con arbustos y arbolitos pero falta jardin; este pajaro canta muy bien!

Lo mismo premio: 12 galletas de chocolate, hizo de mano!

 

SEND YOUR ANSWER to: sanvitobirdclub@gmail.com or click here to contact us.

ENVIA SU CONTESTA a: sanvitobirdclub@gmail.com o haga clic aqui para contactarnos.

 

 

Bird Report: Tropical Mockingbird

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Mimus gilvus: Tropical Mockingbird.

Mimus gilvus: Tropical Mockingbird.

A Tropical Mockingbird, Mimus gilvus, has been spotted on the grounds of the Catholic church in downtown San Vito by Wally Barton. It is slightly larger than a thrush, predominantly gray on the back with white bars on blackish wings, white below, white patches in the wings and tail.

Historically this interesting species has had a discontinuous two-part range from Mexico to Honduras and then in northern South America, however, in the 1930s an introduced population was found in Panama. This might explain its occurrence here. The Birds of Costa Rica by Robert Dean and Richard Garrigues suggest this species is becoming established in Costa Rica where breeding pairs have been reliably found in Siquirres and Limon for many years. Reports of sightings have come from disparate locations like Bagaces, Arenal, San Isidro de General and Cartago and a breeding pair has been seen in La Union de Sabalito for the past five years. Closer to home, one or two of them have been visiting feeders near the San Vito Hospital and these (or this individual) may have taken up residence in the church yard.

They like open habitats with trees and shrubs so town parks and gardens are ideal. Readily visible, they often perch out in the open on telephone/electric lines or tops of bushes and trees.

Eating a small lizard!

Eating a small lizard!

Mockingbirds eat insects, small vertebrates and fruit. Their song is unmistakable: a long musical series of repeated phrases. Apparently, unlike Northern Mockingbirds, they do not mimic other species.

Escuela Lourdes Festival del Maiz este fin de semana 25-27 julio!

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Festival del Maiz at Escuela Lourdes!

Festival del Maiz at Escuela Lourdes!

Please join us at the Festival del Maiz this weekend, July 25-27, at the Lourdes School on the left-hand side of the road to Sabalito! This event is the school’s fund raiser for the year and it will be filled with delicious local food, games, prizes, music, dancing and other events!

Friday evening starting at 6, the event will open with a coronation as one of the students is crowned King of the Corn Festival. On Saturday from 1:00 pm on, the fun continues with games, prizes, activities, food and music. That night will feature a Dance Exhibit with several different kinds of Latin dancing and North American jitterbug and swing starting at 6:00 pm. On Sunday, the festival continues throughout the day and will feature a Marimba Band at 1:00 pm.

All by themselves, the chorreados (a typical local food at this time of year, these are pancakes made with ground young corn) will be worth the trip — you can have them sweetened with syrup, doused with sour cream or just the way they are = DELICIOUS!

CORN! YUM! COME ONE, COME ALL!

CORN! YUM! COME ONE, COME ALL!

Students in the 5th grade at Escuela Lourdes have just finished the ‘Detectives de Pajaros’ course taught by Roni Chernin. Please come to support this wonderful school!

 

Festival at Las Cruces/Wilson Garden Saturday, June 28!

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Festival_Eco_Cultural_2013 036Come one, come all to the OTS Las Cruces Biological Station/Wilson Botanical Garden Festival de la Conectividad Saturday, June 28.

We will be painting faces and selling yummy cookies and cakes to support our education class ‘Detectives de Pajaros’! Hope to see you there!Festival_Eco_Cultural_2013 039

 

Quiz Bird Revealed/La Respuesta del Prueba!

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Thanks to new member Jo Davidson for her photo of a female Blue-black Grassquit!

Female Blue-black Grassquit. Photo by Jo Davidson

Our contest had four entries — all wrong, so we are eating the cookies ourselves and hoping for better results next time.

Entrant #1 and #3 thought our bird was a female Indigo Bunting to which we say, “Good try, but please note the description in A Guide to the Birds of Costa Rica by Stiles and Skutch saying ‘ . . . females below much less streaked than female Blue-black Grassquit.’ ”

Entrant #2 postulated a female Slaty Finch but, again, note bill shape and description, “. . . faint, sparse dusky streaking on breast and sides. . . Upper mandible blackish. . .”

Entrant #4 threw caution to the wind calling our grassquit a Bobolink. Bobolinks are quite a bit bigger than grassquits although I will happily admit discerning size in a photograph is often more difficult than in the field and all our contestant had to go on here for comparison were some leaves.

Gracias a nuestra miembre nueva Jo Davidson para su foto de una hembra Volatinia jacarina!

Todos los respuestos estaban incorrectos, entonces vamos a comer las galletas yo mismo y esperar una resultada mejor proximo vez: jajaja!

Pop Quiz: What Bird Is This?/Una prueba: cual ave es?

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OK — ready? First person to correctly identify this bird wins a prize: one dozen home-made Chocolate Chip Cookies! Ummmmm, I can smell them right now baking away in the oven.

Quiz Bird! Photo by Jo Davidson

Quiz Bird! Photo by Jo Davidson

Listo? Identificar este ave y gana 12 galletas de chocolate, hizo de mano! Ellas estan en el horno ahora — mmmmm, huelan rico!

SEND YOUR ANSWER to: sanvitobirdclub@gmail.com or click here to contact us.

ENVIA SU CONTESTA a: sanvitobirdclub@gmail.com o haga clic aqui para contactarnos.

 

 

Annual Meeting 2014/Reunión Anual 2014

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“Bird Walk and Breakfast” was the theme of this year’s Annual Meeting, celebrating 10 years of birding in San Vito!

'Bird Walk and Breakfast.' Photo by Harry Hull

‘Bird Walk and Breakfast.’ Photo by Harry Hull

President Alison Olivieri reviewed Club activities in 2013, including twice-monthly Bird Walks at the Wilson Garden, several day trips to locations such as Rio Negro and Las Alturas, and an overnight trip to Alexander Skutch’s farm Las Cusingas. The mist netting team completed the ninth year of its Avian Monitoring Project, with Principal Investigator Dr. Steve Latta of the National Aviary in Pittsburgh, PA, and his Connecticut collaborator Judy Richardson of the Connecticut Audubon Society. A new initiative, pilot programs of BirdSleuth-International – “Detectives de Pajaros” in San Vito – ran in five schools: Linda Vista, Canas Gordas, La Pintada, Las Brisas and Tres Rios.

The Grand Prize for the Big Bird Feeder Competition 2013 went to Pat Morgan with Gail and Harry Hull of Finca Cantaros as runners-up.

Executive Committee Members were elected as follows: Alison Olivieri, President; Harry Hull, Vice President; Fred Schroeder, Treasurer, and Lydia Vogt, Secretary-in-absentia.

Newly-elected Vice President Harry Hull. Photo by Gail Hull

Newly-elected Vice President Harry Hull. Photo by Gail Hull

We are pleased to have Harry join us on the EC, as his contributions to our Communications Committee in general and specifically the website have been enormous and are greatly appreciated.

Treasurer Fred Schroeder reported the Club as “financially healthy” for the Fiscal Year ending September 30, 2013. He also pointed out the Club’s biggest asset is our collection of donated binoculars!

Roni Chernin, “Detectives de Pajaros” teacher, gave a comprehensive report of our efforts in local schools in 2013 and the plans, now underway, for teaching this Cornell University education program in eight schools in the just-started academic year 2014. With Roni’s encouragement, meeting participants played “The Habitat Game” and another “Detectives de Pajaros” teacher, Kelley Rasch, was the victorious bird, gathering Water, Food, Air and Shelter faster than her competitors!

Newly-elected VP Harry Hull manned the audio-visual equipment to show one of Andrew England’s many classroom videos, ‘Migration Obstacles’ with a Question and Answer session fielded by Roni.

Undoubtedly the most exciting part of the morning was the announcement of an anonymous Matching Gift of up to $350 – the cost of running the program in one school. Thanks to our caring and generous members, the match was reached almost immediately so we can now fully fund the targeted eight schools for this year!

It was a hard row to hoe for VP Hull to follow this excitement but he gave an interesting and succinct report on our website (now two years old) that shows both visitor numbers and followers growing. Click here to see the document he showed to illustrate the past year’s website activity:

Espanol aqui

“Caminata para Pajarear y Desayuno” fue el tema de este año de la Reunión anual, ¡Celebrando 10 años de pajarear en San Vito!

Making Breakfast: Chef George Alcock. Photo by Jean Schroeder

Making Breakfast: Chef George Alcock. Photo by Jean Schroeder

La Presidenta Alison Olivieri repasó las actividades del Club en el 2013, incluyendo caminatas bimensuales para ver pájaros en el Jardín Wilson, varias excursiones como la del Río Negro y Las Alturas, y una excursión nocturna a la granja Los Cusingos de Alexander Skutch. El equipo de redes de niebla completó el noveno año de su Proyecto de Monitoreo de Aves, con el Investigador Principal Dr. Steve Latta del National Aviary en Pittsburgh, PA, y su colaboradora de Connecticut, Judy Richardson del Connecticut Audubon Society. Una nueva iniciativa, programas piloto del BirdSleuth-International – “Detectives de Pajaros” en San Vito fueron ejecutados en cinco escuelas: Linda Vista, Cañas Gordas, La Pintada, Las Brisas y Tres Ríos.

El Gran Premio para la Competencia de Alimentadores de Pájaros fue para Pat Morgan con Gail and Harry Hull de Finca Cántaros como subcampeones.

Los miembros del Comité Ejecutivo fueron elegidos de la siguiente manera: Alison Olivieri, Presidenta; Harry Hull, Vicepresidente; Fred Schroeder, Tesorero y Lydia Vogt Secretaria-in-absentia. Estamos felices a tener Harry como vicepresidente asi como su trabajo sobre el Comité de Comunicaciones en general ha sido grandemente apreciado, específicamente, el sitio web.

Treasurer Fred Schroeder, Gail Hull, 'Detectives de Pajaros' Teacher Roni Chernin. Photo by Jean Schroeder

Treasurer Fred Schroeder, Gail Hull, ‘Detectives de Pajaros’ Teacher Roni Chernin. Photo by Jean Schroeder

El Tesorero Fred Schroeder reportó como “financieramente saludable” el Año Fiscal que terminó el 30 de Septiembre del 2013. El mencionó también que el acierto más grande del Club es ¡Nuestra colección de binoculares donados!

La profesora de “Detectives de Pájaros” Roni Chernin, dio un comprensivo reporte de nuestros esfuerzos en escuelas locales durante el 2013 y los planes, ahora en marcha, para enseñar este programa educativo de la Universidad de Cornell en ocho escuelas en el recién iniciado año académico 2014. Con el estímulo de Roni, se reunieron participantes para jugar “The Habitat Game” (“El Juego del Hábitad”).

Otra profesora de “Detectives de Pajaros”, Kelley Rasch resultó el ave ganadora, recogiendo Agua, Comida, Aire y Refugio ¡Más rápido que sus competidores!

'Detectives de Pajaros' Teacher Kelley Rasch: winner of 'The Habitat Game'! Photo by Jean Schroeder

‘Detectives de Pajaros’ Teacher Kelley Rasch: winner of ‘The Habitat Game’! Photo by Jean Schroeder

El recién electo vicepresidente, Harry Hull condujo el equipo audio visual para enseñar uno de los muchos videos de clase de Andrew England. “Migration Obstacles” (“Obstáculos Migratorios”) con una sesión de Preguntas y Respuestas por Roni Chernin.

Indudablemente la parte más emocionante de la mañana fue el anuncio de un Concurso

de Regalos de $350 – el costo de ejecutar el programa en una escuela. Gracias a nuestros

considerados y generosos miembros, la meta se alcanzó casi inmediatamente así que ¡Ahora podemos costear completamente las ocho escuelas meta para este año!

Fue un largo trecho por recorrer para el vicepresidente Harry Hull pero, siguiendo su emoción, el dio un interesante y preciso reporte de nuestro Sitio Web (de dos años ahora) que muestra un crecimiento en ambos, número de visitantes y seguidores. Aquí se ve el reporte.

New Tee Shirts for Sale!/¡Nuevas Camisetas a la Venta!

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Help us teach environmental education and Citizen Science class ‘Detectives de Pajaros’ in local schools by placing your order now for our new 2014 SVBC tee shirts.

Little Black Tee Shirt SVBC 2014. Runway Model Michael Olivieri.

Little Black Tee Shirt SVBC 2014. Runway Model Michael Olivieri.

As you can see from this photo, the tee shirts are little black numbers sporting our stylish logo that is sure to be all the rage on the ‘birding shirt’ runway here in Costa Rica and beyond.

We ordered a total of 20, hoping for an instant sell-out so our supply is, as they say, ‘limited’. In men’s and women’s sizes we have 1 small, 4 medium, 3 large and 2 in extra-large.

For a mere $15 or C7,500 apiece, we think they’re reasonably priced and hope you agree.

To place your order, please email us at sanvitobirdclub@gmail.com. For residents, we will set them aside and deliver them promptly. For out-of-country orders, we will have to include shipping and handling costs @ $5 per shirt so all our profits will go to fund a ‘Detectives de Pajaros’ class in or around San Vito!

¡Nuevas Camisetas a la Venta!

Ayúdanos a enseñar educación ambiental y las clases de Ciencias Ciudadanas “Detectives de Pájaros” en escuelas locales ordenando ahora sus nuevas camisas SVBC 2014.

Como puedes ver en la foto, las camisas son pequeños números negros que hacen nuestro elegante logo más deportivo y que de seguro estarán en la pasarela de “la camiseta para pajarear” aquí en Costa Rica y más allá.

Ordenamos un total de 20 con la esperanza de una venta total instantánea así que nuestras existencias son, como dicen, “limitadas”. En tallas de hombre y de mujer tenemos: 1 pequeña, 4 medianas, 3 grandes y 2 extra grandes.

Por sólo $15 o C7,500 cada una, pensamos que están razonablemente valoradas y esperamos que estés de acuerdo.

Por favor envíanos un correo electrónico: puede hacer clic aqui para ordenar. Para residentes, vamos a apartarlas y entregarlas prontamente. Para órdenes fuera del país, tendremos que incluir costos de manipulación y envío pues ¡toda la ganancia irá a financiar una clase de “Detectives de Pájaros” en o en los alrededores de San Vito!

Pat Morgan Wins the Big Birdfeeder Competition 2013

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Pat Morgan's Golden-olive Woodpecker.

Pat Morgan’s Golden-olive Woodpecker.

SVBC member Pat Morgan is the Grand Prize Winner of the Birdfeeder Competition for 2013 with a total of 25 species! At the end of December, she spotted a Golden-Olive Woodpecker, took this photo and jumped into First Place ahead of six other entries.

Gail and Harry Hull of Finca Cantaros are the Runners-Up with a total of 24.

Because the counts were so close both competitors will be awarded a prize at the SVBC Annual Meeting in February (date to be announced shortly).

Now is the time to start your Feeder List for 2014! Have your binos, a notepad and a pencil at the ready so you can record all species in accordance with the rules: the bird must either land on the feeder (or hanging fruit) or be seen feeding on fallen pieces on the ground underneath.  Ready? Set? GO!

Northern Cardinal. Photo by

Northern Cardinal. Photo by Suzanne Dargie.

And just for a laugh, here is a species that probably won’t be seen on our lists any time soon.  Barb and Wally Barton’s niece sent it along to remind them of the frozen northland!