RTPI in FrogLog
RTPI tropical frog research is in the news today! Many of you are likely aware of RTPI’s research, education and conservation efforts focused on our region’s flora and fauna. If you regularly visit this page or our website, then I’m sure you have also read about our work elsewhere – such as the coastal bird conservation and outreach efforts we carry out with our partners from the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds in CT. But you may not be aware of the important work RTPI does with critically endangered amphibians in Central America. RTPI is a partner...
Read MoreLesser Sac-winged Bat (Saccopteryx leptura)
This is a Lesser Sac-winged Bat (Saccopteryx leptura), very commonly found in the bathrooms and facilities at Cocobolo Nature Reserve! This individual started to call a bit after having been netted, and a few more bats quickly came to investigate. Sean was surprised how close some of them got to him on his way out of the bathroom with his new friend, but it sounds like it was a friendly mammal meeting nonetheless. Photographed by RTPI Affiliate Sean Graesser for the Meet Your Neighbours global biodiversity project in Panama while on assignment for the Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural...
Read MoreCocobolo Nature Reserve Education
Our tropical field season is coming to an end and, even though it is snowing outside in Jamestown right now, we are gearing up for field work here. The latest findings from our work in Panama and Costa Rica will be revealed soon as we work through data. but I can tell you already that there is all sorts of exciting news to report on. In the mean time, I wanted to share this picture, taken by Laurie Doss, during a February trip to Cocobolo Nature Reserve with students and staff of the Marvelwood School in Connecticut. Not only were the students actively involved in monitoring and banding...
Read MoreSnowy-bellied Hummingbird (Amazilia edward)
This is an appropriately named tropical hummingbird for what we have seen in the Northeast in the past several weeks: the Snowy-bellied Hummingbird (Amazilia edward). This species was captured infrequently during the early years of banding at the Cocobolo Nature Reserve in Panama. The Rufous Hummingbird, another Amazilia species, was the most commonly caught hummingbird. Things have changed in the past few seasons, and the Snowy-bellied is the most commonly captured Amazilia at Cocobolo. Sean suspects the main reason for this shift is the maturation of the forest where banding takes place....
Read MoreGreater Mastiff Bats (Eumops perotis)
Our crew caught a few Greater Mastiff Bats (Eumops perotis) while in Panama at the Cocobolo Nature Reserve. This is the largest North American species of bat, but it is in the mid-size range in Central America. They are primarily insect foragers, with a particular sweet tooth for moths. They need a lot of space to be able to take off and can even be found foraging on the ground. Photographed by RTPI Affiliate Sean Graesser for the Meet Your Neighbours global biodiversity project in Panama while on assignment for the Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History.
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