Caño Palma Biological Station - Wildlife Conservation Volunteer Program

  Costa Rica

• Eastern Lowlands: 
Tortuguero

Term: Throughout the year 
Duration of Program: 2-4 weeks
Typical Duration of Program: 2-4 weeks
Dates: Windows of time throughout the year. Please inquire for more information.

Description: Volunteers stay at the Caño Palma Biological Station, located within the Barra Colorado Wildlife Refuge and Meso-American biodiversity hotspot. The station is adjacent to Caño Palma, a narrow, palm-filled canal which separates the Station from the Caribbean Sea by a mere 200-300 metres. The globally endangered green, leatherback, hawksbill and loggerhead sea turtles come ashore to nest on beaches accessible from the station. Living facilities are clean and comfortable but basic. Volunteers, researchers and students share a dormitory which can accommodate 30 people. The rooms are equipped with bunks and the station provides mattresses and bedding. A large airy dining room which connects to the kitchen and office is the central meeting area on the station's one acre compound.

Marine Turtle Monitoring &Tagging Program
This project is conducted in co-operation with Global Vision International (GVI) and the Caribbean Conservation Corporation (CCC). The project supported by the Ministry of Environment & Energy (MINAE) of Costa Rica. Data is shared with the Caribbean Conservation Corporation (CCC) as well as with other conservation organizations in the country to help understand population dynamics and augment protection for the turtles on the beach. Turtle species include leatherback turtles (Dermochelys coriacea), green turtles (Chelonia mydas), hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) and loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta).

Resident & Migrant Bird Monitoring
This study is conducted with various partners depending on the time of year. During migration season (August December & February May), birds are trapped in mist nets placed on station trails on a bi-weekly basis. A total of 3,822 captures from 113 bird species have been captured at the Caño Palma Biological Research and Education Station from 1994 to 2006. The study is conducted with the Tortuguero Integrated Bird Monitoring Program. During other times of the year area searches are conducted in various locations surrounding the station. The beautiful swamp forests, freshwater sloughs, beach, river mouth and primary and secondary forest habitats support over 300 resident and migrant bird species. Bird enthusiasts visiting Tortuguero can expect to see most of these bird species within a relatively small area from a variety of comfortable lodging options.

Avian Nest Monitoring
This project is conducted with guidance from Dr. Steve Furino of the University of Waterloo. Many species of resident/tropical bird nesting behaviour is poorly understood. The goal of this project is to collect relevant breeding/nesting information as well as to observe avian breeding behaviour. Nest observation allows researchers to determine the length of time adult birds spend nest building, incubating and time taken to fledge. With sufficient nest records, breeding density and survival rates can be determined and shared with the conservation community. Only one nest of Rufescent Tiger-Heron (Tigrisoma lineatum) was known world-wide prior to the discovery of eight nests in the immediate vicinity of EBCP in the period from 2001 to 2005.

Large Mammal and Primate Monitoring Program
This project establishes baseline data on the presence and absence of the large mammals and each of the three primate species ranging in and inhabiting the lowland rainforest of the Caño Palma and Tortuguero region. Volunteers will follow a standardized protocol while conducting presence/absence data along the black water canals and established forest transects of Caño Palma. Project data provides an improved understanding of demographic parameters, distribution, habitat use, and foraging behaviour. There are numerous projects in the large mammal and primate program to accommodate Masters and PhD students. They are invited to work with current baseline data and flesh out detailed projects. We invite other researchers to inquire about potential research at the station.

Highlights: Marine Turtle Monitoring and Community-Based Conservation Program
No long-term systematic study and resources have been targeted to understand sea turtle nesting patterns within the Barra Colorado Wildlife Refuge apart from the efforts of COTERC. Our turtle conservation efforts began in 2004 with morning surveys on the North Beach to better understand sea turtle nesting patterns, abundance and poaching rate. The program has expanded to include coordinated and intensive monitoring, tagging and community-based conservation efforts.

Monitoring results reveal significant numbers of leatherback (50-100) and green sea turtles (400-1000), nesting just within a three mile stretch of beach, with fewer hawksbill and loggerhead turtles (<25). Annual abundances per kilometer are variable, with trends and densities of leatherback, hawksbill and loggerhead turtles closely resembling those of Tortuguero National Park. Poaching rates of females and eggs is a serious threat; however, our monitoring presence and community work has resulted in a significant decrease in poaching rate.

Larm Mammal Monitoring
Baseline data show a rich diversity of large mammals inhabiting the rainforest surrounding the Caño Palma Biological Station. The three Costa Rican primate species are found to inhabit the area, including; mantled howlers (Alouatta palliata), white-faced capuchins (Cebus capucinus) and spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi); other large mammals include the jaguar (Panthera onca), the tapir (Tapirus bairdii), and white-lipped peccary (Tayassu pecari) and many others beyond this (see the large mammal checklist).

Migrant Bird Monitoring
Since 1994, the Tortuguero Integrated Bird Monitoring Program has been monitoring birds in the coastal lowland rainforests of northeast Costa Rica. The Program has combined the use of area searches, constant effort mist netting, and migration counts into a long-term monitoring and training program following the recommendations of the Partners In Flight Aves de las Américas monitoring guidelines. A total of 3,822 captures from 113 bird species have been made at the Caño Palma Biological Station 1994 to 2006.We have had one banded bird recovery in North America, a Gray-cheeked Thrush near Toronto, Canada, 18 months following its original capture at Tortuguero in October 1996.

Resident Bird Nesting Behaviour Program
Monitoring and study is ongoing throughout the year with close to 100 nests being monitored in the 2007-2008 season. Never before has such comprehensive data been collected on the poorly understood breeding and nesting behaviour of resident birds of the lowland rainforest.

Qualifications:
- Volunteers are expected to commit at least one week of their time and two-three weeks is preferable. This ensures that necessary training is completed and volunteer station staff time is most meaningful.
- A basic understanding of Spanish is recommended.
- Given the nature of our biological monitoring, individuals with biology education and training are most sought after; however, volunteers are not expected to be biologists.
- Individuals should be in good physical shape given the nature of wildlife field studies.

Cost in US$: 250/week

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: Volunteers have a genuine interest in tropical biology and conservation. They are willing to work long hours on each of our monitoring programs. Most have an interest in the local culture, wish to learn Spanish and understand the importance of community-based conservation. Everyone understands that living conditions are rustic, but comfortable.

Age Range: Over 18 years

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Families, Couples and Individuals

Participants Travel to Costa Rica Independently

Typically Participants Work in Groups of <10

Application Process Involves:

• In-Person Interview when Feasible
• Other

Canadian Organization for Tropical Education and Rainforest Conservation's Mission Statement: The mission of the Canadian Organization for Tropical Education and Rainforest Conservation is to provide leadership in education, research, conservation, and the educated use of natural resources in the tropics.

Year Founded: 1991