FAUNA OF ATENAS PART l....

Often times Gerardo and I talk about our work and we both agree that we are in the dreams business. We sell people their idea of Costa Rica. For me that is nature. For our good friends (and clients) Frank and Karen Grayczk, found their piece of paradise her in Atenas. We knew they were big nature lovers so we found them just the right lot with a huge conservation area across the ravine from them. I am so inspired by the wonderful photos they take that I asked her if she would send me some of her best ones so I could write about some of the wonderful species we have here in Atenas. Karen was flattered and sent over a sample of what they and so many others enjoy about Costa Rica. Thanks guys for the friendship, and for being such great clients. You are the picture of what it takes to live in this paradise.

So when most people think of the tropics, they think of monkeys. I have lived in Atenas 3 years, and have been coming here for over 6 and saw my first monkeys about one month ago. White faced Capuchin's. This is a very common monkey here in Costa Rica and is considered a New World monkey. They are found through out Central America and South America, as far south as northern Argentina. Their name comes from a group of friars, the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin, because of their coloring being similar to that of the robes (with hoods) that the friars wore. Capuchins are considered the smartest of the New World monkeys because of their use of tools. Their diets include fruit, nuts, bugs, birds eggs, and small vertebrates. In captivity they can live up to 45 years, but in the wild they have a 15-25 year life expectancy. Interestingly enough, Capuchins are sometimes trained to be used as service animals. They are trained to help quadriplegics with tasks such as microwaving food, opening drink bottles, and washing the disableds face...Amazing, not so different from humans...
Toucans are big in Costa Rica. Every time I see one I am transported back to my childhood eating Fruit Loops cereal and thinking about Toucan Sam. The Keel Billed Toucan is what most people think of when they think of, however there are about 40 species of toucans. The Keel Billed are very common around Atenas. We see them on a daily basis. This particular species can be found from Mexico, to as far south as Colombia. They live in elevations up to 1900 meters (6,200 feet) with a diet of fruits, eggs, small birds, insects, and reptiles. Very social, they travel in small flocks ranging in size from 6 to 30 birds.
Three toed sloths are so cute and cuddly, once you get past the green mold on their backs. We have a great house we property manage in Pica Flora that has a huge Guanacaste tree that is the vacation home to 2 three toed sloths. Every few months, they make their way across the canopy to "hang out" for a few days. According to Wikipedia, there are 4 living species of three toed sloths (I did not know that). They can be found from Central to South America. Sloths are arboreal, living in trees, coming down once a week only to defecate. They feed on leaves of a variety of trees, liking those that are high in alkaline, which contributes to their "laid back" lazy nature..PURA VIDA!!!

Pura Vida,

Dennis