Today we entered the rainforest.
By way of a bumpy ride on a 15-passenger prop plane from San Jose, we landed this afternoon on an impossibly small dirt runway flanked by astonishingly unfamiliar forest. Even more astonishing was the 97 degree heat index that greeted us–giving new meaning to the idea of a warm welcome, especially having departed from minus 40 wind chills just two days ago. A very vintage Land Cruiser delivered us to our first night’s destination, a quaint open air bunglaow in the town of Drake, overlooking the Pacific Ocean, on the edge of Corcovado National Park.
Our young photographers, Ethan and Renny, wasted no time. Within the first hour, simply sitting on the porch of the bungalow, they spotted three of our target migratory species: A baltimore oriole, ruby-throated hummingbird, and indigo bunting. The oriole kindly posed for some great photos. Seeing “our” birds here for the first time, and having just completed the arduous journey ourselves, we were reminded of the power of the story we’re here to document.
It’s already evident that one of this adventure’s biggest challenges will be to stay focused on the migratory species we’re here to photograph. We are surrounded by so many charsimatic resident creatures! In just the several hours of daylight we experienced so far in Drake, we saw macaws, toucans, monkeys, vultures, 3-foot lizards, and over a dozen little birds that we can’t even begin to identify. Costa Rica’s Osa Peninsula is already living up to the hype as one the most biodiverse locations on planet earth.
After a brief swim in the ocean, and a supper of local Tico cuisine, we now sit back at the bungalow gearing up for the real adventure that begins tomorrow. We’ll meet our guide and take a boat an hour down the coast to the wild and remote Sirena Station at Corcovado National Park, one of Costa Rica’s–and this planet’s–natural gems. There, we’ll spend four days photographing the birds we followed south to this piece of paradise, united with them in our shared knowledge of north, now so profoundly distant.
We are so grateful to Tropical Wings for making this adventure possible, and for the logistical support of the National Park Service, SINAC (Costa Rican Park Service), and Rotary International. Stay tuned for more updates in the coming days!
-Ben Thwaits
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