Reflection Journal

It's time for you to crack open the brand new journal and make your first entry. Here is what you need to do:
1. Find a quiet place outdoors
2. Sit without talking for five minutes and observe your surroundings.
3. Stay seated and close your eyes for the next five minutes. Listen, smell, even touch your surroundings but do not talk or open your eyes.
4. Open your journal and write!
5. Comment on your experience in the comment section of this blog. Do not rewrite what you put in your journal, just comment on the overall experience.

Addie W. Is Most Excited To See An Ocelot!!

The animal I’m hoping, and most excited to see is the Ocelot. I have admired and studied these beautiful cats for a few years and greatly desire to see one in real life. Their gorgeous coats and beautiful eyes stun me as well as their athleticism and camouflage.

The Ocelot is a medium sized cat and is found from Texas to North Argentina. They weigh between 20-40 pounds depending on gender, males being heavier. Ocelots have 30 teeth and have an incredible bite strength for their size. Mostly a nocturnal creature and most are solitary hunters, though some hunt in pairs and take down larger prey than their average 2 pound meal. I am extremely excited to see if we can find one of these amazing and beautiful cats!

Jordan S. is Looking Forward to Seeing a Squirrel Monkey!

I am looking forward to seeing a squirrel monkey. They aren't very big at all, but have the highest brain to size ratio of any primate at 1:17 (humans have a 1:35 ratio).

They live in the canopy layer of the rain forest, high off the ground and away from predators. They live together in groups that can get as big as 500 members, though they sometimes split into smaller troops.
Personally, I think seeing a swarm of 500 tiny monkeys would be pretty cool.

Camryn D. Is Most Excited to See This Incredible Bird!

I'm most excited to see the Scarlet Macaw. It is considered one of the most beautiful birds in Costa Rica. Scarlet Macaws can live up to 50 years. It is an endangered species becuase of pet trade. You can only seen them in a few areas because most are in wildlife reserves though they prefer living in the rainforests. They can fly up to 35 miles an hour. Also the males and females look the same. They eat clay from rivers, fruits and seeds.

Cam, I hope you don't mind that I added my own picture. The Belize Zoo provided me with an up close and personal interaction with the Scarlet Macaw last summer.

Costa Rica Jungle Wildlife

Erin A is Looking Forward to an Encounter with a Jaguarundi!

The animal I am most looking forward to seeing is the jaguarundi. It looks like a cross between a cat and a weasel. It's only about 30 inches across.
It can typically be found in the lowlands and shrub areas of Mexico all the way down to South America. It is good at catching fish with their front paws. Oh, and when they are born they have spots like some of their big cat relatives, but lose these spots around four months of age.

I don't know why I'm so excited to see them, but they are so gosh darn cute and I love big cats, and it's especially fascinating how this one looks like a cross between a puma and weasel.

Erin, this is a very handsome animal - hope we get to see one!

Sam H. Is Excited to Catch a Glimpse of the Blue Morpho Butterfly!

The Blue Morpho butterfly is considered to be one of the largest butterflies with a wingspan from five to eight inches in width. An adult Blue Morpho butterfly uses its long proboscis to suck juice from rotten fruits.( I think that is kinda gross but if they like it, they like it.) The underside of their brillant, iridescence blue wings is a brown shade.

It is determined by some experts that the Blue Morpho may be considered as an endangered species! When they are catepillars, they are a red brown color. Which is cool to think of because when they are in the cacoon, the not only develope wings and a totally different body structure, but they change colors too! Their entire life cycle from birth to death is 115 days! Once dead, their wings are used to make jewlery and as inlay in wood working.