Volume 1 Issue 1 August 2006

Our Vision:
Providing a forum for bird enthusiasts to appreciate and study birds in natural habitats and to support conservation of natural resources.

Welcome

SVBC Newsletter

Welcome to the first issue of your SVBC newsletter. After months of deliberation (some are wont to describe it as procrastination), we are delighted to see this inaugural issue come to life. Its primary objective is to keep you, our members, up to date on Club activities or as our esteemed President has so aptly stated, People just want to know what the h--- were doing with their money! (Note to Secretary-Treasurer: You may have to come up with some creative accounting for those wine purchases from the last executive meeting) We will concisely chronicle the news and events of your Club and will publish twice yearly, si dios quiere. We promise not to take ourselves too seriously and to that end we absolve our executive forthwith of any editorial responsibility. Your editor accepts full responsibility for any and all errors including any illdefined attempts at humor. Your comments and contributions for upcoming issues are most welcome subject of course to the high editorial standards (our Presidents words) that we will be employing notwithstanding that your editor is somewhat less inclined. In the meantime, we sincerely hope you enjoy your newsletter. Editor

Volume 1 Issue 1 August 2006

The Beginning - En vino, veritas! It all started in early 2004 when Alison Olivieri, a relatively new San Vito gringo, totally immersed in the local scene, agreed it was time to share her passion for birding and conservation issues in a slightly more organized manner with a few like-minded friends. Two people in particular had been accompanying her on bird walks over the past year and had not shown any signs of burnout. On the contrary the two, Terrie Moss and Julie Girard were pestering her to do more. Alison didnt need any more encouragement than that and the seed was planted. The three floated ideas over the next six months to determine what a future San Vito Bird Club might look like (aided by occasional Chilean and French libations). On December 21, 2004 it all came to fruition when the San Vito Bird Club was officially launched with Alison as President, Terrie as VicePresident and Julie as SecretaryTreasurer.

Mission Statement The San Vito Bird Club will promote the appreciation and study of birds through field trips, research projects and environmental education programs. The Club will actively encourage local and international member participation and work with community leaders and educators, OTS personnel and AOCR members as well as international organizations that share the Clubs objectives and principles.
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Volume 1 Issue 1 August 2006

Mist Netting Projects Two very successful mist netting sessions under the local leadership of Alison Olivieri were carried out in the first half of 2006. Finca Moss, Finca Cantaros and Finca Corteza were once again the three locations used and our sincere thanks goes out to the owners of those properties. Participation was fantastic from members and non-members alike. A very special thank-you goes once again to Judy Richardson (photo at left) for her much appreciated across-the-board assistance and of course also to Dr. Steve Latta of PRBO for his overall leadership and guidance.

Summary of Bird Captures: San Vito, Costa Rica Long Term Avian Monitoring Project

January 2006 All Sites Netting Dates Net hours Resident Species Migrant Species Total Species Resident Individuals Migrant Individuals Total Individuals 3-9 Jan 450 42 13 55 131 _52 183

March 2006 All Sites 11-17 Mar 480 53 13 66 239 _49 288

Volume 1 Issue 1 August 2006

SVBC Field Trips First half of 2006

The first half of 2006 saw nine field trips successfully conducted over and above the weekly bird walks. Each trip had its own highlights and the bird counts were impressive. Trip records are maintained by Julie Girard as part of her vice-president duties and are available on request. In the future it is planned to post these on our yet-tobe-developed website. (Editors note: The President has asked that only species numbers be recorded in the newsletter as we wish to maintain some semblance of club decorum by not relating the gaffes, miscues and other potentially embarrassing situations that occasionally occur on these trips.)
January 11 -12, 2006 Sierpe Golfito - Paraguas Species: 117 Participants: Luis Sandoval, Nancy Orias Higaldo, Cecilia Sansonetti, Julie Girard January 14 -15, 2006 San Vito Durika Chocuacos Species: 93 Participants: Alison Olivieri, Julie Girard February 6th 2006 Las Alturas and more Species: 100 Participants: Jim Zook, Alison Olivieri, Julie Girard February 8th 2006 Valle Eden y Gambas Species: 91 Participants: Jim Zook, Alison Olivieri, Julie Girard March 1 - 3, 2006 Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui (La Selva) Species: 85 Participants: Jim/Pauline Garton, Terrie Moss, Alison/Michael Olivieri, Julie Girard/David Woolley March 16th 2006 Las Alturas Species: 56 Participants: Pablo Elizondo, Julie Girard, James Kamstra, Fred and Peggy Sibley
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Volume 1 Issue 1 August 2006

April 5 - 6, 2006 Species: 132 Puerto Viejo - South Caribbean Participants: Julie Girard, David Woolley, Daniel Martinez April 13, 2006 Wilson Garden to San Vito through forest Species: 41 Participants: Julie Girard, Daniel Ruiz, Cecilia Sansonetti, Elidier and Irina April 15, 2006 Conception Paraguas Species: 53 Participants: Alison Olivieri, Julie Girard

Mark your calendars

2006 October 4 - SVBC Executive Committee 4th Qtr meeting November 27 - December 3 - Mist Netting Session San Vito November 30 membership fees due for 2007 December 13 - 2006 SVBC Annual General Meeting (AGM) - Location tba) 2007first half January 3 SVBC Executive Committee 1st Qtr meeting January - mist netting (dates to be confirmed) March - mist netting (dates to be confirmed) April 4 SVBC Executive Committee 2nd Qtr meeting
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2007 first half (Contd) Potential Overnight Field Trips (tbc at AGM in Dec) 1. Volcan, Panama at Los Quetzales Lodge (local guide) 2. Cano Negro at Heliconia Lodge (special guide to be confirmed) 3. Pelagic Trip out of Golfito (special guide to be confirmed) Potential Day Trips - dates tba 1. Las Alturas 2. La Gamba 3. Concepcion-Paraguas 4. Las Cruces Forest (new trail) 5. Los Chocuacos 6. Rio Negro 7. Altimura Ranger Station, Parque Nacional Amistad

Volume 1 Issue 1 August 2006

Banned Substances?

Gray-necked Wood-Rail stories!

By Terrie Moss On June 17th we had lunch at Cuenca de Oro, a local restaurant featuring a fish pond. While waiting for our meal we noticed one of the workers scattering eight pans of fish pellets into the pond. When he finished and the tilapia had calmed down from their feeding frenzy three Gray- Necked Wood-Rails ran out of the nearby forest, went directly to the ponds edge and started madly eating the remaining pellets! When they finished they strutted off along the side of the pond resembling a line of windup toy soldiers. Before reaching the forest two of them suddenly faced off and started attacking each other. After a few crazy minutes it came to an end and they resumed their march back to the jungle. Have you ever seen or heard of such bizarre behavior? Maybe there is something in those fish pellets that the Food and Drug people would be interested in!

Anyway we had a great lunch and our dessert was watching the Wood-Rails on parade!

Alarm Clock, Anyone?

Terrie Moss has another story to relate about Gray-necked Wood-Rails

.every morning between 4:30AM and 5:00 two Gray-necked Wood-Rails come to the exact same corner of our house nearest our bedroom and start s c r e a m ing. Some might call it singing but at that hour of the morning it sounds more like screaming. Being impossible to sleep anymore we haul ourselves out of bed. Once they realize we are up and moving around they stop with their wake-up calls and march off, their duty finished for the day, leaving us to a very early-morning coffee. (Editors note: Ask the SVBC Science Advisor if there is any record of cross-breeding between Gray-necked Wood-Rails and roosters!)

Volume 1 Issue 1 August 2006

Did You Know the SVBC has four membership classes: Resident individuals living in Costa Rica full or part time International individuals living outside Costa Rica Honorary community and business leaders Sponsored select Costa Rican residents, people employed in bird habitat venues and qualifying local students As of April 2006 Club membership stood at: Resident 8 International 4 Honorary Sponsored 1 The club is anticipating a doubling of these numbers for 2007

2006/7 SVBC Executive Committee and Roles President Alison Olivieri keeps the wheels of the organization turning smoothly Vice-President Julie Girard pushes Alison uphill on birding trips when Alisons knees give out Secretary-Treasurer David Woolley procures refreshments for the meetings along with being the token male on the Executive . Science Advisor Daniel Martinez helps with the spelling of Latin names. Editors note: For official roles and responsibilities you may wish to refer to the Clubs by-laws (that are probably already part of your normal bedtime reading)

Volume 1 Issue 1 August 2006

The Owl and the Woodpecker

By Alison Olivieri

Its simply amazing what

comes into a tropical house. In the past five years weve entertained butterflies, lizards, dragonflies, snakes, mice, frogs, birds, mouse opossums, moths and beetles galore. Our motto is: anything that can get in, will! Sometimes this ends in tragedy, as with a recent incursion by a tropical Screech Owl (Otis choliba), now dead and in our freezer, awaiting a representative from the Ornithological Association of Costa Rica to transport it to the National Museum. This started with a big brown moth that flew in the front door about 8:00 pm on June 28. It landed on the floor and was immediately pounced upon by our large dachshund Hazlenut Cappucino Van Pelt. Unbeknownst to us, the owl must have been chasing the

moth because the next thing we knew it was flying around the house. No doubt disoriented by the bright lights inside, it hit one of our glass walls, fell to the floor and was grabbed by the dachshund. She relinquished it immediately and we took it outside where it tried to fly but fluttered to the ground. We left it overnight in an open crate with food, water and shredded newspapers but in the morning, I am so sorry to report, it had died. A happier ending occurred for a Lineated Woodpecker (Dryocopus lineatus) the week of June 21. A pair of these large and impressive creatures had been visiting our banana feeders all week, churring loudly whenever they arrived. One of them sat on top of the feeder platform while the other clung to the post, bobbing and pecking in that peculiar woodpecker way.

One morning Hazie (the dachshund) and I were doing floor exercises in the bedroom. Suddenly we heard a loud crash and one of the woodpeckers had come through the open window and was standing on the floor! Hazie lunged forward, barking wildly, but, gracias a Dios, the bird had enough flight power to take off, sail through the window and land on a tree outside. We saw and heard them again a few more times that week but never on the feeders again: smart birds! The house, with all its lights, doors and windows is an attractive danger. Maybe our local doctor, whose house has no walls, has the best answer to this problem.

__________________________________________________________________________ Reminder Membership fees for 2007 will be due in November, 2006. E-mail reminders will be sent to all members in October. The good news is that despite inflationary pressures the Club will hold the line on fees. Cost-cutting measures are being put in place immediately, one of which is eliminating hors doeuvres and imported wine from future Executive Committee meetings. __________________________________________________________________________
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