DISCOVER THE WILDER SIDE OF COSTA RICA:  An Uncommon and Very Personal Adventure into Remote Natural Realms 

By Betsy Ballard

Imagine signing up for a lifetime trip to Costa Rica with an ecotourism company and when you arrive you discover that you are the only participants! That’s exactly what happened to Betsy Ballard, her husband and her sister in the Spring of 2017. They had a private tour with guides and a driver all provided by Natural Habitat Adventures Company. The trip included flying in a small private plane, staying in remote lodges and hotels, hiking in rain & cloud forests, floating down rivers, visiting archeological sites as well as, of course, hiking and bird/wildlife watching. On May 20^th, Betsy will share some of her stories and pictures of this amazing adventure at the Bitterroot Audubon meeting.

Though relatively small in size, Costa Rica is home to one of the highest levels of bio-diversity in the world. The country’s cloud forests, humid lowlands, dry forests and mangrove swamps are some of the 6 ecological zones and more than 12 ecosystems that are home to more than 900 species of birds. That is more than the United States and Canada combined! 

All of this is in an area about the size of West Virginia. Costa Rica is on a volcanic land bridge that united the continents we call North and South America millions of years ago, the formation of which played a large role in the diversification of avian species. Birds were able to travel and mingle; for example, hummingbirds came from the south, while birds like the jay came from the north. The populace of the country is highly literate (93%) and sincerely interested in conserving its natural resources. It may be the only country on Earth that has an organization dedicated to conducting an inventory of its entire biota.

Betsy grew up in Wisconsin, near the shores of Lake Michigan. She stated that she owes her love of the outdoors to her parents who took the family on hikes and canoe trips and they became “Birders” later in life. Betsy went on to volunteer with the U.S. Forest Service and eventually got a degree in Forestry and Natural Resources. Her subsequent Forest Service career spanned 4 western states.  She then spent 2 years with the Bureau of Land Management to work on the Management Plan for the newly created Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument in Utah, where she concentrated on Wilderness study areas. After the Management plan was completed, she moved to Montana to work on the Bitterroot National Forest, Stevensville Ranger District and retired 5 years ago. She is married, has a dog, 2 horses and a pair of Red-tailed hawks that nest in her front yard. Betsy is the Education Chairperson for BAS.

Come join Bitterroot Audubon on May 20^that 7:00 P.M. to hear about this very unique adventure and to see pictures of some of the birds, plants and wildlife that inhabit Costa Rica. The meeting will be in the Visitors’ Center of the Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge, just to the west of the Eastside Highway, north of Stevensville on Wildfowl Lane. The Public is invited. Contact Kay Fulton for more information (360-8664).