Issue 40, Spring 2008

RICA Students Achieve a First

by Nancy Grayum with Troy Abel

When twenty-four students enrolled in Huxley's Rainforest Immersion and Conservation Action (RICA) program for summer quarter 2007, little did they know their projects would excite worldwide interest and an invitation to return for more research opportunities with the Carara National Park in Costa Rica, Professor Troy Abel of Huxley's College of the Environment reports.

Mounting an infrared "camera trap" on a tree resulted in the first-ever photos and video clips of an ocelot browsing and night-hunting just outside the park compound.

After viewing the video and considering future possibilities, astonished park officials requested future monitoring of the Scarlet Macaw, which is listed on The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Continuing field work resulted in the first filming of a Scarlet Macaw defending a nest against predators and can be viewed at www.youtube.com/watch?v=i32dNyNgs8I.

Previous strategies for observing behavior at nesting sites utilized opportunistic methods such as human eyes, mirrors on poles, binoculars and spotting scopes. Infrared video monitoring of bird nesting sites is a relatively new technique that allows for uninterrupted day and night nest observations assuring that the presence of humans does not affect the behaviors of the subject species.

The use of a wide array of video cameras, digital audio recorders and laptop computers from ATUS Classroom Services supports the collection and processing of information for use in web-based formats that are shared worldwide. The addition of a new compression zone microphone aids in capturing and recording bird calls in a 360 degree range. This method meets one of the over-reaching goals of obtaining good scientific data that can be distributed worldwide. Ornithologists then perform sophisticated analysis to determine trends and look for cause & effect relationships in population changes.

Enrollment for the RICA course for Summer 2008 has filled, with 24 students ready to continue the mission of collecting scientific data, strengthening relations between the park and the community regarding protection of species, and providing service in support of park maintenance. Further details are available at www.acadweb.wwu.edu/eesp/summer/rica/rica_eco.shtml or by contacting Troy Abel at 650-6133.

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