Butterflies of Costa Rica Tour

[Woody Woods]

You may already know the Monteverde Butterfly Garden site at
http://mariposa.best.wwh.net/English.html  -- Jim Wolfe, who started the garden
over ten years ago, has a lot of regional conservation and agricultural
background knowledge; he was (is) a farmer, a happily transplanted American who
took root in Tilaran a long tme ago. He is a regular instructor, as is his wife
Marta, in the University of California Education Abroad Program. I am sure he
will be able to put together a rewarding visit for cloud forest (and other)
butterflies. You might also ask him about local guides for tours to good
butterflying areas. Wish I were able to be there--I miss the neighborhood.

You could also look up, through Jim, Mark Wainright (a longtime guide and field
guide author) and Bill Haber and Willow Zuchowski (an extraordinary biologist
couple who know Monteverde region plants and leps extremely well-- the
resources others turn to,  field guide authors-- Bill has a long-time
appointment to the Missouri Botanical Garden and has done much work with the
migrating butterflies-- for that matter, all of them--  of the region). I do
not think Bill is doing longer (overnight) field outings as a guide-- he is
focussing primarily on research presently--, but Mark might well do that. Let
me know if you can't find them.

One of the most restful and colorful stopevers I've used passing through San
Jose is Casa Maria-- email Bill Lawrence at costarica at costarica.org-- it's in
the suburbs, always has interesting people passing through, a sprawling
hacienda with a pool, nice quarters, food on premises, and good conversation
always  (mention my name, it's been too long since I was there!)-- I'm sending
this to Bill Lawrence, the owner, and you'll likely hear from him.

Woody Woods

Bus Goldberg wrote:

> I am a travel agent and natural history enthusiast. I am in the process of
> organizing a special tour to Costa Rica for butterfly enthusiasts, hobbyists
> and natural history buffs.. I've been to Costa Rica  five times and have a
> pretty good idea where to take people for butteflies- Monteverde, Tortugero,
> Manuel Antonio, Sarapiqui etc, The tour will include visits to a number of
> butterfly gardens as well as the butterfly farm in San Jose. I would like
> the tour to be both fun and educational  with the emphasis on the ecology of
> butterflies in the tropics. I was wondering if anybody on this board is
> familiar with Costa Rica and would like to give me some input as far as what
> areas to visit, best time of year as well as general suggestions for  tour
> content. I will be contacting O.A.S too on this matter. Also anybody know of
> any reference material on the mass migration off the Uranidae thru Central
> America?
> Thanx!
>
>
>  ------------------------------------------------------------
>
>    For subscription and related information about LEPS-L visit:
>
>    http://www.peabody.yale.edu/other/lepsl
>

--
*************************************************
William A. Woods Jr.
Department of Biology
University of Massachusetts Boston
100 Morrissey Blvd
Boston, MA 02125

Lab: 617-287-6642
Fax: 617-287-6650
*************************************************



 
 ------------------------------------------------------------ 

   For subscription and related information about LEPS-L visit:

   http://www.peabody.yale.edu/other/lepsl