Bird Walk Sunday, October 19 — Hope to See You There!

Please join us for a free guided Bird Walk at the Wilson Botanical Garden, aka OTS Las Cruces next Sunday, October 19.

We will meet at the Reception Building at 7:00 am and have binoculars to share.

After the walk, we will have a coffee/tea Social Hour in the dining room and make a bird list.

This beautiful photograph — of an even more beautiful bird — was taken by Eugenio Garcia, a longtime friend of the SVBC, natural history guide and nature photographer. If you can identify this bird, tell us at the Bird Walk and you might win a prize!

Name That Red: a New Birding Challenge!

Introducing a Brand New Contest

You send us a list of all the birds you can think of with red-related names.

Rule #1: have to be real birds

Rule #2: doesn’t matter how weird the color sounds as long as it’s kinda red

Ready? Set? GO!

We will wait a week from the first submission and then announce the winner. A local winner will be treated to a fancy barista-type coffee; an international winner will receive some local coffee in the mail.

HONORABLE MENTION: The Bird FKA Cherrie’s Tanager — don’t even try this one; let us introduce you to George Kruck Cherrie (1865-1948) who endured upwards of 40 Central and South American expeditions, including Theodore Roosevelt’s South American Expedition of 1913-14. From 1889-1897, he worked as a bird curator at the Costa Rica National Museum in San Jose (!) and the Field Museum in Chicago . . . there’s more — he was busy.

Reminder: Bird Walk Tomorrow!

Don’t forget to join us for a Bird Walk at the Wilson Botanical Garden tomorrow — Sunday, June 22 at 7 am.

We will meet at the Reception Building and have binoculars to lend you and your friends.

The walk will take at least an hour; after that we’ll have coffee and a ‘social hour’ at the Las Cruces Dining Room. You never know — there might be cake!

Hope to see you there!

We’ll probably see one of these amazing birds — a Fiery-billed Aracari, endemic to southern Costa Rica and Panama.

Come for a Bird Walk on Sunday, June 22!

We will wait for you at the Las Cruces Biological Station Reception Building at 7:00 am.

As usual, we’ll have binoculars to lend plus birds to see and hear.

After the walk — about an hour — we’ll have coffee and a social hour in the Dining Room.

Cake may appear — you never know!

If you would like to join the Bird Club for 2025, please bring $40 or C 20,000 for an individual or $50 (C 25,000) for a family. Thank you in advance for your support!

Quiz Bird!

Well, well, it has been some time since we have put up a Quiz Bird for you!

It is hard to resist this one as it is: 1) too far away, 2) unlikely positioning and 3) a terrible view. Nonetheless, please send your guesses to: alison.w.olivieri@gmail.com — you might win something!

Here’s a hint: these birds were found on the grounds of the Colegio CTP Umberto Melloni in San Vito about two weeks ago.

Watch this spot for a Bird Walk announcement later this week. It will be Sunday morning, as usual, and we hope to see you there.

Sunday Morning Bird Walk!

Take advantage of the morning sun and join us for a guided Bird Walk this Sunday, May 11, at Las Cruces/Wilson Botanical Garden.

We will meet at the Reception Building at 7:00 am and have binoculars to share.

This walk is free and open to the public, so please bring your friends, neighbors and family.

We have an excellent chance to see AND hear the beautiful Streak-headed Woodcreeper while we are there.

This photo was taken by Helen LeVasseur.

Coffee and social hour follow the Bird Walk — come one, come all!

Upcoming Art and Nature Events: Saturday and Sunday

On our last Bird Walk (Sunday, January 12) we were surprised and delighted to have seen a White-winged Tanager. These beautiful birds stay high in the canopy and are easy to miss, but this one was lower than usual and gave us a thrill.

Photo by Charlie Gomez

This Sunday (January 26), we will have another Bird Walk at the Wilson Botanical Garden/OTS Las Cruces Biological Research Station, at 7:00 am. As usual, we’ll meet at the Reception building and have binoculars to lend. Who knows what wonder awaits — this is why we go!

Dinner to Support the Arts

From natural beauty and art to created beauty and art, please make a reservation for a fundraising dinner at Cascata del Bosco on Saturday, January 25 to support the forthcoming Arts Fest Coto Brus 2025. Go to the website: http://www.artsfestcotobrus.com or use WhatsApp +1 (970) 759-9262 to reserve your dinner choice. In addition, music to dine by will be provided by Roger Madison — a wonderful evening is in store

And here is the White-winger Tanager again, from a different angle (because we just can’t get enough of this bird…..):

Another photo from Charlie Gomez

Bird Walk on Sunday, November 17

Take Two: we will try again this Sunday for a Bird Walk — wish us luck!

Our last attempt was two weeks ago and we were chased away by rain (continuing to fall as I write . . .).

In between drops, however, birds and butterflies are still about so please meet us at the Las Cruces Reception Building at 7:00 am.

We’ll be there for the usual free, open-to-the-public Bird/Nature Walk — your friends and family are invited.

We will have binoulars to lend and, as always, beautiful sights to see.

Crimson-fronted Parakeet, a Wilson Botanical Garden/Las Cruces regular.

Let’s Walk and Look for Birds on Sunday!

Please join us this Sunday, November 3 at 7 am in the Wilson Botanical Garden at the Tropical Studies Las Cruces Biological Station.

We meet at the Reception Building and have binoculars to share.

On our last Bird Walk, we saw two of these beautiful birds and one of them was carrying nesting material. Let’s go look for a glimpse of one, sitting on the nest!

After walking for about an hour, we will have coffee and social time in the dining room. These Nature Walks are free and open to the public. Please bring your friends, neighbors and families.

Hope to see you there.

Crested Caracaras. Photo by Helen LeVasseur

Bird Walk Sunday, October 20!

Please join us for Bird and Nature Walk at the Wilson Botanical Garden this Sunday, October 20.

We will meet at the Reception Building at 7:00 am.

Binoculars will be available, as always. These Walks are free and open to the public so please invite your friends and families.

After the Walk, we will repair to the dining room for coffee and chatting. And maybe we will spot these beauties along the way!