Week 3: The Arribada

As I pass the halfway point of my study abroad, I have grown so fond of Guanacaste, Costa Rica and everything I have been able to experience. We have spent all of week 3 in Ostional, doing more turtle patrols and learning everything we can about the wildlife and culture in this area. 

As we got used to our regular turtle patrols, and the lack of sleep that comes with them, we also had a couple of day trip breaks. One of these, a trip to a local farm, was incredibly enlightening. We learned about the dedication, patience, and strength it takes to run an organic ranch and farm in this area. We were able to milk a cow and practice our lassoing skills on the farm as well. 

As the week progressed, we noticed a slow pick-up in sea turtle nesting activity. Then, on Wednesday, July 17, my group went out for our normal sea turtle patrol at 12am. We quickly realized this was not just any normal shift, however, as we saw more than triple the amount of turtles we normally see. We saw over 20 turtles in a short amount of time, while we normally would see 2-5 turtles. We worked quickly, trying to collect data fast. We finished at around 3:30 in the morning, and about an hour after, an Arribada, the mass nesting event for the olive ridley sea turtles, was officially declared. They are not possible to predict, so we were unsure if we would get to witness one before leaving the area, but we were incredibly lucky to work one before our departure.  

An Arribada shifts the entire town, our entire schedule, and the entire data collecting protocol. After finishing around 3:30 in the morning, we were called back to the research center at 9 in the morning that same day. We were taught proper protocols to follow when dealing with hundreds of turtles around the beach. Although we were a little tired, the excitement definitely pushed us through. That same night, at 3 in the morning, my group went out again to tackle more data collection. We measured turtles, counted their abundance and eggs, and even saw baby turtles make their way to the ocean in three whirlwind hours. We were even able to see the sunrise with the turtles. Seeing the turtles nest in the daylight was very special, as they only nest into morning if it is an Arribada. Below is a picture one of our guides, Sergio, took the morning of the Arribada announcement showing the amount of turtles that come up onto the beach. The other picture is one I took of a baby olive ridley making its way to the ocean. 

We unfortunately left Ostional this Sunday, and headed back to San Juanillo for another week. I will never forget my time in Ostional with the sea turtles, and will miss it dearly. The sea turtle night patrols solidified my love and passion for field work. However, I am excited to be back in San Juanillo with my first host family, and can't wait for what else is to come!