Our 2009 project in Corozalito is from July 1st to December 20th, 2009.

Playa Corozalito is located in the southern region of the Nicoya Peninsula on the Pacific side of Costa Rica.  In response to community anecdotal reports of high levels of sea turtle nesting activity, PRETOMA researchers initiated a monitoring study in August 2008.

In spite of its small size, Corozalito hosts a significant population of olive ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea) sea turtles, with an estimated 1,420 events nesting events over a 4 month period (August 13 – November 11, 2008), ranking as one of the highest density olive ridley nesting beaches in Central America.  Several Pacific green (Chelonia mydas) sea turtle nests have also been documented at Corozalito, along with unconfirmed local reports of nesting leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) and offshore hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) sea turtles.    

Project Site

Playa Corozalito is an 800 meter beach protected by several rocky outcroppings, resulting in relatively mild wave intensity.  The beach is primarily sand, however drift wood and other marine debris may on occasion wash ashore.

The southern area of Corozalito has a mangrove estuary which flows into the sea during the rainy season.  This particular habitat is visited by migratory birds (such as the critically endangered Jabiru) and small vertebrates typical of the Guanacaste region (coyotes, coatimundis, raccoons, skunks, ant eaters), which are commonly spotted on the beach in search of turtle eggs.  Unfortunately, the estuary ecosystem has been considerably deteriorated during recent years.

 
Two RESEARCH COORDINATORS , who are either advanced students or recent graduates in biology or a related field, coordinate all project activities.  RESEARCH ASSISTANTS ,who are selected from all over the world, provide additional personnel to ensure the success of the project. Research Coordinators and Assistants are based out of a small field station near the nesting beach.  Researchers live with 2-3 other project workers, and oversee the orientation and education of PRETOMA’s VOLUNTEER PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS.

A Day in the Life

Corozalito Research Field Station

Nightly patrols are held by field workers in two (3-4 hour) shifts, scheduled to follow the rising and falling tides when nesting is more likely.  All sea turtles are identified, with the date, time, beach sector, and tide recorded.   Nests are either left “in situ”, or relocated to other areas of the beach which are safer from tidal erosion.

All nesting activities are classified as either successful or as a false crawl, aborted, poached, or depredated.  If time permits, sea turtle foreflippers are tagged for future identification, and additional information and measurements are recorded. Nests are tagged using the triangulation method, which permits the reliable follow up of nest destiny as well as localization of tagged nests for hatching success studies.  Daily patrols are held to follow up on the in situ nests, to ensure that they have not been poached or depredated.

(ADDITIONAL INFORMATION COMING SOON!)

If you would like more information on the Corozalito participant programs and/or to receive a participation form please write to voluntarios@pretoma.org.  For more information on Research Coordinator and Research Assistant positions, please contact Jeff Kutz at jkutz@pretoma.org AND info@pretoma.org