Many types of whales breed and recuperate from birthing in Costa Ricas vital tropical waters.
Do you believe enough protection is being offered to these mysterious cetaceans in Costa Rica?
How about in the World?
What would you like to see happen in the world to favor the majestic giants of our water planet?
Please leave your comments here, thank you for reading,
cordially, Capt. Richard Barone
Worlds Longest Whale watching season, now LIVE in Costa Rica!. from August to April with just a 3 month break!
via Worlds Longest Whale watching season, now LIVE in Costa Rica!.
I have seen 8 whales today including a gorgeous female with a calf. I am editing photos to make a gif so stay tuned.
Whales are currently being sighted off Jaco beach, Herradura and Punta Leona moving south. I have seen them myself from my balcony about 200 yards offshore.
Making local news for their famous journeys http://news.co.cr/whale-watching-season-starts-in-costa-rica/24072/ these behemoths of the deep have come from as far away as Antartica for a vacation or honeymoon or maybe a bigger ritual than those every year since we remember and more, hopefully forever.!
Please remember these are wild animals that need their privacy and safety to recuperate from human pressure, keep your distance and absolutely no fishing around them of any kind.
Costa Rica holds the longest season for humpback whale watching in the world. This whale specie comes to migrate in this country whenever winter comes in the Antarctica (between August to October). Come December to April, other whales come in to Costa Rica from Antarctica to mate and nest.
There aren’t only the humpbacks to see here. Sperm whales, killer whales, pilot whales (which actually come from the family of dolphins) along with dolphins can also be sighted in Costa Rica http://www.costaricajourneys.com/whale-watching/
More pictures from Punta Leona
Observe the 1000 meter rule and use telephoto lenses particularly where calving is occurring.
This may not seem touristy but it is the ecologically responsible humans criteria that allows us ALL a time to adjust to our new, (hopefully friendly) behaviors toward each other after so many centuries hunting them down without regard to their innate citizenship.
These mystifying Giants of the marine world should be GPS tagged and declared non human citizens and watched with satellites to protect them wherever they go.
They could then earn a taxable income and pay for their own protection worldwide.
We are the ones that have to convince ourselves first that it is worth it.I know it is when I see them and my heart jumps for joy. Cordially, Capt. Richard Barone in Punta Leona
currently spotting three whales moving south along Jaco coast.
A very old scarlet Macaw nesting ground has been invaded by a small colony of ctenosaurs. Five adults, one very large male and four females sleep in the nest and fight off the two macaws who have tried in vane to reclaim it.
At this point I am documenting and photographing See the Macaws album on Flickr here it to document their behaviors and studying the situation to develop a relocation strategy.
Currently feeding fruit scraps to accustom the Ctenosaurs to a cage and fatten them up so they don’t fit the nest site comfortably.
Punta Leona, playa blanca
Punta Leona, a is an exclusive (albeit controversial) gated community surrounded by nature reserves and marine sanctuaries on Costa Rica’s central Pacific coast.
Punta Leona has a rugged coast to challenge inexperienced boaters
It is a coastline of rugged beauty and natural diversity in the Nicoya Peninsula bathed by Pacific oceanic currents and fed by many large freshwater rivers.
Protected Marine habitats must be comprehensively marked wherever intrusion may occur in order to apply sanctions to violators if necessary.
Part of the dynamic that makes its rugged nature so fertile are the constant Pacific Ocean tides renewing the areas vast shallows with fresh cool seawater.
The danger many of the hidden rocks pose to shipping, boating and recreational sports is very real not only for the equipment and human lives at risk directly but to the vast pristine nature zones and marine nurseries that can be permanently damaged by a serious marine “accident”.
rugged fishing coast is actually a protected marine habitat that needs law enforcement
To Illustrate this look at the following pictures and compare them to see the sea’s state from tide to tide.
Tides covering rocks at Playa Blanca, Punta Leona
Rock uncovered by tide at Punta Leona
Playa Blanca low tide rocks exposed
Unfortunately it is a luxury to have a good navigation chart of the area.
underwater Playa Blanca
As a Captain I need not repeat,,be very careful, place your watchmen up front and low and go slow if you don’t know.
Scarlet Macaws flying to nest over Punta Leona, Costa Rica. I am currently documenting the trajectory of a young flightless scarlet macaw that recently was blown out of its nest during a storm. The young bird was rescued by local conservation personnel and is currently in a rehab center being fed and paired up with a mate.
Young scarlet macaw rescued after a storm blew it from its nest.
The birds release is planned to be in the area of its original home with the acquisition of a specialized release and quarantine cage. Stay tuned for more pics and eventually an HD video! These glorious creatures are a marvel to behold in their natural habitat. It is an incredible privilege to participate in these conservation efforts.
Scarlet macaw conservation in Costa Rica requires a variety of protected habitats for successful nesting. This ocean view nesting colony may be many macaw generations old and provide a key sanctuary for the species in this area.
Scarlet Macaw nesting in Ceiba tree over Punta Leona
Current Events in the nest site
July 18, 2013 entry 3 Ctenosaur Relocation planning begins.
The 3 member Ctenosaur family should be remove from the scarlet macaws nest. A camera should be used to inspect the nest. The birds should be encouraged to return by repeated cleaning of the site. A quarantine cage may be installed on the site after experts confer on inspection. Carara oficials will be contacted soon.
Costa Rica Nature Conservatory 