ATV tour of NatureWalk

Using ATV's to tour NatureWalk

Inspecting some of the road improvements at NatureWalk

Bird that calls the rain has a wide repertory of calls

By Dennis RogersSpecial to A.M. Costa Rica The arrival of the rainy season brings a phenomenon intimately familiar in Costa Rican folklore, as the national bird “calls the rain.” The clay-colored thrush responds to the change of seasons by starting its breeding cycle with frantic bouts of singing while the matter of establishing a territory and finding a mate is settled. The yigüirro was named the national bird in a vote of schoolchildren in the 1960s. It sometimes fails to time the first burst of singing with the rains, though this year was more accurate than the Instituto Meteorológical Nacional, which said there wouldn’t be storms until May. The clay-colored thrush has profited greatly from habitat changes caused by humans and is now abundant in non-forested areas of low- to middle-elevations. Its association with inhabited areas makes it one of the country’s most familiar birds. It will come to feeders with bananas for a closer view. Despite the species’ omnipresence in the Central Valley, few people are much aware of its habits, which include one of the largest vocal repertories of any Costa Rican bird.  The most important is the territorial song, an extended caroling that makes birds that actually were everywhere but inconspicuous suddenly obvious as the males sing from telephone wires, high in trees, and rooftops. Unlike many resident birds which can keep a territory year-round, the thrush wanders widely in search of food in the non-breeding season, and individuals are even faithful to different areas during their winter, as documented by banding studies in Costa Rica’s Caribbean lowlands. So it is imperative to get nesting underway and profit from the burst of insects associated with the arrival of the rain. Singing often starts well before dawn and lasts all day, until a few weeks into the season when they relax a bit. The song so beloved by the Ticos can be heard here at the Xeno-canto Web site. Any of the tracks labeled song from Costa Rica or Panamá are good examples, while those from further north are a different subspecies with a somewhat different territorial song.

Photo by Steve Heinl Clay-colored thrush is a master musician. Occasionally a bird sings a quiet version of the song, almost whispered. This is mostly heard just before the season starts, perhaps to tune up for the coming bout of action. Heard year-round is a call “tock-tock-tock” with a varying number of notes. Sometimes this is sped up and prolonged when the effect is rather different. The third xeno-canto track, from Oaxaca, is a good example. Click HERE! Another common call heard mostly at dawn or when the thrush is concerned about a predator is a meowing churrrup. This can be heard at the end of a song recording from Santa Rosa National Park or also a track from Las Cumbres, Guatemala. Click HERE! Less likely to be heard by anything but a predator is a squealing distress call when captured. It is, of course, normal for banders to have a bird in hand and it tends to presume the worst about its impending fate. Another track from Oaxaca gives this call. HERE! Begging juvenals can be seen as the breeding season progresses, as they are still dependent on the parents for food even after they are full-size and have left the nest. The juvenile plumage is characterized by dark spots over the otherwise tan plumage of the adult. The begging call is the fifth track. Nestling chatter is the first or last on the list, after all, “what came first, the yigüirro or the egg.” The blind and helpless nestlings put their orange mouth linings in the air to be fed when they feel an adult arrive at the nest.   Read the full story By Dennis Rogers on A.M. Costa Rica

HILL TOP PLANTATION ESTATE AT ESTANCIA MONTANA

ON LOT number 30: Features:

• Lot: 3.89 hect (9.6 acres)
• 400’ circular hilltop pad.
• Spectacular views of Valleys and ocean.
• To be planted with intercrop Jatropha and Coffee for plantation income of Year 1 - $20,000, Year 2 - $25,000, Year 3 - $30,000 (for full projections please contact us)
• Includes infinity swimming pool and deck

TIMING: 10-12 months
Home Plan
Program for Custom Construction

GENERAL
Lot 30: 3.89 hect
Coffee and Jatropha Plantation

OVERALL SIZES
House: 4,500 sq. ft inside
Pool House: 1000 sq. ft.
Decks 800 sq. ft.
Pool: 800 sq. ft
Covered Auto: : 600 sq. ft.

MAIN HOUSE
5 bedrooms
5 1/2 bathrooms
Great Room
Media Room
Kitchen included in great room / Kitchen eating area
Formal Indoor Dining Area
Office
Large Master Bedroom Suite with sitting area, walk in wardrobe
Maid area, laundry room and cleaning staging area

POOL HOUSE
Studio Suite
Gym
Kitchen
Outdoor Dining Pavilion

OTHER
3 car garage
include caretaker suite


PRICING
Lot 30 $399,500
ESTATE FARM HOME $750,000
TOTAL $1,149,500

For more information please contact us on info@costaricainvest.ie or alternately on USA +1-866-990-1123 (toll free) or Europe +353-1-272-4184

OKAY Industries invests $1.5 million in Costa Rica plant

Posted: Monday, April 16, 2012 - By Tico Times

OKAY becomes the third company in the medical supplies sector to launch operations during the first quarter of 2012.

Okay Industries Inc., a company that specializes in the production of high-precision metal components for the medical supplies industry, last week inaugurated a $1.5 million, 1,400 square-meter plant in Costa Rica. The new facility – the company’s first plant outside the United States – is located in Free Trade Zone Z, in the province of Alajuela, north of San José.

“Today, we have 41 [international] companies operating in Costa Rica with more than 122 different products that are being exported to 73 destinations in the Americas, Asia, Oceania and Europe,” Foreign Trade Minister Anabel González said. “We will continue consolidating our country’s prestige as a leader in the medical supplies industry on an international scale.”

Okay Industries President Jason Howey said the decision to start operations in Costa Rica was a result of the stability the country offers investors, the strong medical-device industry that already operates here, and the availability of highly educated workers.

Read the full story on the Tico Times

Costa Rica Biodiversity

Bambu Patio Home on Lot 23

You can own a beautiful Hibiscus model Bambu Patio Home on Lot number 23 Estancia Montana for US$235,000.

The highlights are:

• Lot: 5360 m2 (1.32 acres).
• 150 ft along ridgeline.
• Spectacular views of Valleys and ocean.
• Planted with Jatropha and Taro providing a yearly income.
• Includes infinity swimming pool and decks .

To find out more about the income from the Taro and Jatropha and this package offer e mail us at info@costaricainvest.ie or give us a call on USA +1-866-990-1123 (toll free) or Europe +353-1-272-4184

Building a community in NatureWalk

As NatureWalk has progressed through it’s current 3 phases, more and more of our clients have expressed an interest in becoming involved in various businesses associated with NatureWalk.

We currently have clients involved in the establishment of the NatureWalk Adventure Centre, the NatureWalk river adventure centre, a microlight airport, a health and wellness retreat and electrical engineering works. We are speaking with a number of other clients about their business aspirations when they move to NatureWalk.

Just one of the beautiful waterfalls in NatureWalk

If you are interested in moving to Costa Rica and want to start a business, why not contact us and see if NatureWalk might be your ideal home.

Just drop us an e mail on info@costaricainvest.ie or call us on USA +1-866-990-1123 (toll free) or Europe +353-1-272-4184

Infinity Home on Lot 28

NatureWalk has launched a series of home and land packages. For example you can own a beautiful infinity home on Lot 28 Estancia Montana for US$420,000.

The highlights are:

• Lot: 11,315 m2 (2.8 acres)
  
• 300 ft along ridgeline
• Spectacular views of Valleys and ocean.
  
• Planted with Coffee for plantation income of $10,00
• Includes infinity swimming pool and decks

View from Lot 28

Infinity Home - Exterior

Infinity Home - Living Room

Infinity Home - Kitchen

Infinity Home - Deck and view to Master Bedroom

To find out more just drop us an e mail on info@costaricainvest.ie or call us on USA +1-866-990-1123 (toll free) or Europe +353-1-272-4184

Fully Managed Investment in Bambu Eco Community

A fully managed investment opportunity is available in the Bambu Eco Community:

The highlights are:

• Fully Managed
• 15 fully furnished homes for US$1.23 million
• 10 fully furnished homes for US$1.10 million
• Guaranteed yield of 9.5% pa for 3 years (bonded)
• Projected yield 11.46% pa for 15 homes
• Projected yield of 11.28% pa for 10 homes
• Fully managed as a limited service hotel by PRG Hotel Management Ltd.
• Multiple traffic drivers
• Flexible with multiple exit strategies.

To see more visit our website : http://www.costaricainvest.ie/our_projects_nature_walk_bambu_investment.html or send us an e mail to info@costaricainvest.ie

Costa Rica ranks no 1. in Average Life Satisfacton

Costa Rica ranks number one in the world in average life satisfaction in the world happiness report issued this month.

To read the full report and see how Costa Rica (and your home country) ranks in the report, just click here.

La Semana Santa

By Jaz Chopra for the Costa Rica News

La Semana Santa’ translates simply as ‘The Holy week’ and refers to the 7 days preceding Easter Sunday. In a predominantly catholic country, Easter is a very significant event arguably even more so than Christmas. It is a time when the devout and the pious indulge in religious activity, each day bringing yet another mass to attend and plenty of social activities. Street parades with holy figurines are the most obvious indication of the holy week with congregations of people following the sacred procession obediently. Though the main honour of maintaining and carrying the statues lies amongst those who are part of a ‘brotherhood’, the procession as a whole is regarded as a duty by most worshippers and therefore participation forms an honour in itself.

In Costa Rica, this particular week is of great importance especially amongst the older generations. It has been noted universally that the youth seldom participate in religious events, however, the street parades are often popular with younger children as it brings in an element of fun through a sense of community spirit. The added bonus of it being an annual event means more people feel inclined to participate through fear of missing out on something good!

It is known that La Semana Santa is popular both in Spain (where Seville hosts the most flamboyant celebrations) and in the Latin American world however, it is also celebrated discreetly in other countries where minorities of Catholics can be found. Speaking with relevance to my childhood in India, I remember taking part in events of a similar nature. As a young girl, I remember the procession growing rapidly in numbers the further we travelled and the streets filled with children in their best ‘church clothes’. This is a fine example of the importance of this tradition, where religion sometimes works positively in bringing together people of various cultures. It helps one realise that certain traditions aren’t confined to a respective country and can in fact be witnessed across the globe, in places least expected.

For tourists headed to Costa Rica, it is the perfect opportunity for them to witness some authentic cultural activity. Though it is likely that travel to Costa Rica during this period is considerably more (because of inbound tourists looking for an Easter break), it is believed the cultural experience and the lively atmosphere will only add to the appeal.

With the Easter holidays soon upon us, there is no doubt that students on break from their educational establishments will indulge in fun and games. However, in reality it is a time for reflection, for family and friends and a time to believe in miracles. You don’t have to be religious to be involved in La Semana Santa…you just need to have an appreciation for culture and tradition…and above everything, have respect for the country you reside in.

By Jaz Chopra for the Costa Rica News

Ginger Home exteriors

For more information on any of the homes in NatureWalk just e mail us at info@costaricainvest.ie

Photos of NatureWalk 3

Huge increase in Tourists visiting Costa Rica through Liberia Airport

Government statistics just announced showed that 80,272 tourists came into Costa Rica through Daniel Oduber International Airport, Liberia. This is 36.5% more than in February 2011 (58,790 pax) and 73.4% more than in February 201o (46,296)

You can download the full report here