Back in DC

Carlos and I returned to Washington DC a few nights ago and we have been incredibly busy ever since. I still have a bunch of pictures to post from our last week at Las Cruces (and our short visit up in the Talamanca mountains at Las Alturas). I will download those pictures soon to post them on the blog. Our stay in Las Cruces was incredibly productive and we have data for (at least) two papers and all of it is very exciting. More soon about that too!

We currently have a house guest (my friend Amy is staying through the week) so things are busy here with getting back into the routine of Museum/DC life and hosting a guest. It snowed a bit (>2") here in DC yesterday and it was pretty nice. The cherry blossoms (Prunus spp.) are beginning to bloom and we will be enjoying some of the annual Cherry Blossom Festival festivities.

It was excellent to be in Costa Rica for 2 months, but it is also nice to be back in our cozy apartment and in this interesting/fun city!

Las Cruces cabina

About a week ago, Carlos and I arrived in Las Cruces Biological Station, San Vito, Costa Rica after a long, surprisingly warm 7-hour drive through the backbone of the country. We stopped at the grocery store in town before checking into the station and getting settled into our cabina (named Tinamu). This is one of four really gorgeous researcher cabinas that are situated in a pretty part of the garden and very near to the entrance of my favorite forest trail. We have our own living room, bathroom, kitchen, bedroom, and little outdoor porch in Tinamu. Sitting on the porch and watching agoutis, coatis, and lots of birds is a really lovely way to start the day.

We have about 2 more weeks here in Las Cruces and Carlos' and my projects are running very well. The agoutis here really like to eat, disperse, and hoard the artificial fruits I made. I will take some some pictures and have more of an update on that a little later...internet-willing!