Animal Rescue XI: White-winged Dove

Lots of wild animals in Nicaragua suffer from casual threats such as boys with slingshots. Almost all Nicaraguan boys carry slingshots and use them whenever they see an animal within reach. This pastime kills wildlife but even more wildlife manage to escape with injuries which weaken the animals and leave them as easy prey for others. Our rangers at Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve exercise the prohibition on slingshots, but their work is not easy, because this protected area is within walking distance of thousands of people on all sides. 

   

This White-winged Dove suffers from an injured right wing. Photo by Pablo Somarriba.

There are many special animals, rare and endangered in our area. The White-winged Dove (Zenaida asiatica), however, is not one of them. It is among the more common of the birds in the Pacific region of Nicaragua. It is common in areas with sparse trees, inside cities and even in deserts. But as a wild animal, it deserves to live and die in its natural setting. And up close, it is a beautiful bird!

This White-winged Dove took months to recover from an injury caused by a slingshot, but it eventually  recovered and flew away. Photo by Pablo Somarriba.

Taking care of wounded wildlife is frustratingly difficult. Many animals die, without any apparent reason. We kept him almost two months at Estacion Biologica Laguna de Apoyo. This bird was accompanied by another brought to us from Masaya, but the second bird succumbed to its injuries. Sometimes, we have successes, though; this bird eventually recovered and flew away to live once again in the forest.

The White-winged Dove heals from its injuries-victim of a slingshot. Photo by Jeffrey McCrary.

The White-winged Dove was content enough in the cage, but he deserved to return to the wild, if he could. After a few months, his wing was healed enough to fly. We released him, and children of the local school watched as he flew away!

Feeding and caring for rescued wildlife is not simple, and sometimes it is costly. Would you like to volunteer or donate to our wildlife rescue project? Please write us if you would.

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Saving Wild Nicaragua by Reforestation in Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve, Nicaragua

The rainy season has begun in Nicaragua again, so we have begun planting our small trees in the deforested areas of Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve. Our volunteers at FUNDECI/GAIA are busy taking the small trees from the vivero (tree nursery) to the reforestation sites.

Nils examines the trees in our vivero, choosing the most robust to be planted in one of our reforestation plots. Photo by Frank Lindt.

We grow native species from seeds harvested within the Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve, thereby protecting the genetic pool in the area. Our volunteers do all this work, for which they do not receive any salaries. 

Our volunteer at Estacion Biologica, Nils, shows off the next candidate tree for replanting in the Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve. Photo by Frank Lindt. 

 We grow trees in our vivero using recycled materials whenever possible. Nils demonstrates in the above photo how we reuse milk bags as reforestation bags. The milk bags are stronger than plastic reforestation bags and by using them, we do not generate additional plastic waste.

FUNDECI/GAIA volunteer Nils hikes up the Apoyo volcano crater to one of our reforestation sites. Photo by Frank Lindt.

Most of the more than 2000 hectares of land in Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve is owned privately. Many small agricultural plots are found throughout the area, and areas deforested for timber or firewood harvesting, housing or cattle pasture. We develop agreements between landowners inside the Reserve, the municipal government of Catarina, and the Ministry of Natural Resources and the environment, to dedicate plots of land back to natural forest. This negotiation is important, because otherwise, we would not be able to resolve the reasons why the forest went away from the site in the first place. The landowners participate voluntarily in our reforestation program.

Nils negotiates his way past a cow to reach the reforestation site. Photo by Frank Lindt.

The plots we reforest are selected by the owners without any encumbrance from us. We simply perform the service of reforesting for them, and we monitor wildlife populations in some of them as they return to multistory forests. 

Frank carries trees up the slopes to their new home in one of the reforestation sites. Photo by Frank Lindt.

Helping natural forest to return to its most glorious state is not easy work. Some of the plots we reforest are distant, so we may plant only a few trees at a time. But reforestation of a natural habitat means doing more than planting trees-we also care for them until they are large, but providing frequent visual inspections, cleaning planted areas of vines which may choke out the small trees, and removing fire hazards such as dry organic matter, especially in the dry season when forest fires may spread easily. 

Nils have arrived at the reforestation site after a long walk uphill. Photo by Frank Lindt.

Some seeds will fall within any deforested area, transported by wind, birds, or other animals, but the plants may not survive harsh dry seasons, especially when forest fires are frequent. Some people clear land clandestinely to use as cattle pasture, and they may encroach on the private land owned by others. 

FUNDECI/GAIA volunteers discuss our reforestation activities with one of the landowners in our program. Photo by Frank Lindt. 

By working with private landowners, we form alliances in which local farmers can continue to plant in areas they wish, while we reforest in area that the landowners find unproductive or wish to obtain the environmental services of a forest. Forests help protect against erosion, fires, and dehydration of the soils, creating humid microclimates more productive for small agriculture plots. The landowner decides where to plant trees and where he wants to continue his agricultural or other activities, and we respect his wishes.

A local landowner explains where he wants to have trees planted and where to leave land available for agriculture. Photo by Frank Lindt.

We consider our reforestation program to be a type of enrichment planting, because some trees will regenerate without our assistance. We add diversity to the tree species found in our plots, and we also promote rapid growth of the trees by clearing them of vines and reducing the effects of forest fires. We can also call this kind of activity ecological restoration, which means making the natural forest return to an area affected by man. 

A FUNDECI/GAIA volunteer plants a small tree. Photo by Frank Lindt.

Our volunteers are the backbone of this project. They provide much of the labor and help greatly to define it. The wildlife of Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve deserve more trees as habitat and food sources, and we are helping to provide them.

Nils removes a small tree from its plastic bag in a reforestation planting activity. Photo by Frank Lindt.

By planting the trees during the early months of the rainy season, the small trees have a greater opportunity to become larger and more resistant for their first dry season. We work to make the replanted trees grow as quickly as is possible. During the dry season, we will even bring small amounts of water to them. 

A baby tree becomes part of the forest . Photo by Frank Lindt.

Not all the trees planted in our reforestation activities survive. We plant many species which experience high mortality rates, and we plant in places which are not ideal for tree planting. Nonetheless, by recreating shade and protecting soils, we slowly improve the forest quality. We see the difference, too. Monkey populations have been expanding in Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve, thanks in part to increased forested area. Landscapes are more beautiful, and the lake is protected from excessive quantities of eroded soils.

Nils is proud of his newly planted tree in one of our reforestation plots. Photo by Frank Lindt.

Would you like to help us protect the forests of Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve? By contributing your time and efforts to reforestation, you help to protect this beautiful spot for the wildlife and for the children of Nicaragua. Please consider volunteering with us. It's a great way to spend some time, getting in great physical shape, and enjoying the beautiful Lake Apoyo between tree plantings!

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Amphilophus chancho

The Midas cichlid (Amphilophus) species flock is composed of several species, and the research group at Estacion Biologica has been working on describing new species in the group. The largest of the Midas cichlid complex found in Laguna de Apoyo is the mojarra chancho, Amphilophus chancho Stauffer, McCrary & Black 2008. It is named after the Nicaraguan local name for pig, for its corpulent appearance.

Mojarra chancho in breeding coloration. Photo by Adrianus Konings.

Like other Midas cichlids in Nicaragua, the mojarra chancho find mates near breeding areas, then establish a breeding site with a natural or dug hole. They usually make nests at between 12 and 25 meters depth, in areas of massive nesting. The parents are sequentially monogamous, with both male and female staying on nest to care for the fry around forty days after free-swimming.

Juvenile mojarra chancho. Photo by Adrianus Konings.

 The mojarra chancho can be as large as the large-mouthed predator in the lake, the jaguar cichlid (Parachromis managuensis). Its only habitat is Lake Apoyo, Nicaragua, where it evolved sympatrically with a least five other members of the Midas cichlid species complex. This species is distinctive among the crater lake cichlids for its size and behavior: notice two of the fishes in the photo below, looking at the photographer with both eyes!

Schooling mojarra chancho maraud in search of prey. Photo by Adrianus Konings.

Breeding is common from November through March. When not breeding, the fish may form monospecific schools and maraud the lake for prey. One of their most notable prey is the eyes of fish that have become blind by cataracts.
The conservation status of Amphilophus chancho has not been evaluated, but we expect it to receive status as an endangered species, given that its range and population are similar to those of the arrow cichlid, Amphilophus zaliosus, which has recently been declared Critically Endangered.

Mojarra chancho female with fry. Photo by Adrianus Konings.

Our SCUBA diving program has helped us determine that this is indeed a distinct species and to develop information about its ecology. We see several individuals each time we dive, and nests are not uncommon during the height of nesting season. By diving with us, you get to see some of the most interesting of animals in Nicaragua, in the water! If you are a certified open water diver, you can participate in a dive with us and help us learn more about the endemic fish species in Lake Apoyo. For more information on how to help us study this fascinating fish, please contact us.

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Underwater Lake Cleanup 15 and 16 October, 2011

Laguna de Apoyo is among the most beautiful places I have ever visited. Although most of us respect and care for this magical lake and the land around it as a reflection of our concern and care, some people do not. Trash is an unavoidable part of the underwater scenery, which is the habitat for the lake's very special animals.

We will be conducting a lake cleanup activity with volunteer divers 15 and 16 October, 2011. Certified divers are welcome to join us for either or both days. You will need to bring your own gear and your proof of SCUBA diving certification, and we will have compressors handy for tank refills. Non-divers can help with lots of above-water logistics and management of the waste that will be retrieved, and photodocumentation. This is a great opportunity to provide a small volunteer contribution to give back to the lake which we all love most. Please join us-write for reservations for participation and for rooms if you wish to stay overnight. Our "core group" of active military force divers has already signed on.

For those who can not participate in person, please consider making a donation to offset the costs of this activity. We will be spending hundreds of dollars in fuel consumption, logistics and planning. Your help in any way is greatly appreciated.

Watch Channel 13 VIVA LA VIDA Wednesday, October 5, at 8:30 am when we will be discussing the event.

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Biological Research Station Expands

The facilities of the Biological Research Station have just expanded! Our historic headquarters (and home to the program director Jeffrey McCrary) have been embroiled in a legal dispute four years, but as of last week, custody of the contested property was awarded to us again. We encountered the buildings in incredible disrepair. Roofs were falling, broken doors, leaking gutters, toilets out of service, piles of trash and mold throughout the building!

Jeffrey takes a broom to an upstairs room. The squatters from The Peace Project had left the Biological Research Station in terrible disarray.

This toilet did not flush, but that did not deter the caretakers who were inhabiting the building from using it!

Mildew coats the floors in this room! Cleaning up after an illegal invasion by people calling themselves The Peace Project. What a name for squatters! 

Perhaps the worst of all aspects of what we encountered was a 10-meter antenna placed on the roof, without adequate security. Whoever placed this antenna was asking for the death of someone! We had to hire professionals to take it down while tied to nearby trees. 

Illegal invaders acting under the supposed name The Peace Project Nicaragua illegally installed a communications antenna, which was removed immediately. It was installed unsafely, and fell during the process of dismanteling it. 

Jeffrey conversing with the local police. The occupants of the property, claiming to operate as The Peace Project Nicaragua, resisted leaving, even after receiving a judicial order and two visits by the police, but eventually, they got the message and departed. They removed all their possessions and piled them into a neighboring yard:

The caretakers of the squatters operating as The Peace Project Nicaragua eventually removed all their possessions and piled them into a neighboring yard.

We are grateful to all of you who have supported us in the conflict during the past two years (read here for more). We no longer work with former colleagues Kenneth R. McKaye and Eric P. van den Berghe! 

We are slowly preparing the property for use, with anticipated grand re-opening in several days. Please watch for coming announcements! And please visit us.