Laguna de Apoyo

The arrow cichlid faces threats from invasive species

2012-01-29T21:49:00.000-06:00

Lake Apoyo is home to several endemic fish species of the genus Amphilophus, as is Lake Xiloa. Evolution may have affected the fish in these two lakes differently, however, particularly because those from Lake Xiloa evolved in the presence of an important predator of cichlid fry, the bigmouth sleeper (Gobiomorus dormitor), whereas this predator was not present in Lake Apoyo during the two hundred or so centuries during which the several species of Lake Apoyo took form. The bigmouth sleeper was introduced into Lake Apoyo in 1991, by an individual with great plans for fishing and a bucket full of the sleepers just caught in a nearby lake.

In a collaboration between the University of Turku, Finland, the University of Konstanz, Germany, and FUNDECI/GAIA, we compared the responses of two ecologically similar Amphilophus cichlids in the two lakes. The defensive responses to predators of arrow cichlid, Amphilophus zaliosus, in Lake Apoyo were compared to that of Amphilophus sagittae in Lake Xiloa. The arrow cichlid demonstrated evolutionary naivete, allowing this dangerous predator of fry to reach closer to its nest than its counterpart in Lake Xiloa. The results were just published by Topi Lehtonen, Jeffrey McCrary, and Axel Meyer, in January 2012 in PLoS One, a journal of cutting-edge biological science research.

These results are of vast importance, because the arrow cichlid, is listed by the IUCN as Critically Endangered. Its population is extraordinarily small, its habitat limited to Lake Apoyo, and its threats now include an exotic predator. Our monitoring of this fish, and its fellow Midas cichlid species, is more important than ever. In the context of Lake Apoyo, the bigmouth sleeper is an invasive species with dangerous qualities.

Taken from the Abstract:

" Introduced species represent one of the most serious global threats to biodiversity. In this field-based study, we assessed behavioural responses of brood tending cichlid fish to an invasive predator of their offspring. This was achieved by comparing parental defence responses of the endangered arrow cichlid (Amphilophus zaliosus), a fish species endemic to the crater lake Apoyo in Nicaragua, towards the bigmouth sleeper (Gobiomorus dormitor), a formidable predator of cichlid fry, and all other potential fish predators of offspring. The bigmouth sleeper was recently introduced into Apoyo but naturally co-exists with cichlids in a few other Nicaraguan lakes. Arrow cichlid parents allowed bigmouth sleepers to advance much closer to their fry than other predators before initiating aggressive brood defence behaviours. Interestingly, parents of a very closely related species, A. sagittae, which has coevolved with bigmouth sleepers in crater lake Xiloa´, reacted to approaching bigmouth sleepers at comparable distances as to other predators of cichlid fry. These results provide a novel demonstration of the specific mechanism (i.e. naive parental behaviour) by which invasive predators may negatively affect species that lack the adequate behavioural repertoire."

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Nymphalidae in Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve, Nicaragua

2012-01-29T11:48:00.000-06:00

The brushfoots, as the butterflies of the family Nymphalidae are called, are easily studied, because many of them are attracted to traps with rotten bait as fruit. We have been studying this group in several locations in the Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve, with several objectives:

1. To determine which butterflies in this group are present in the area.
2. To determine the seasonal characteristics of each member of the group present.
3. To compare the communities in different parts of the reserve according to the forest structure and land use patterns.

We are using the brushfoots as a model system to evaluate the environmental impact of constructions and of deforestation on the local fauna diversity. We have a simple, quantitative method for field work which involves traps with rotten fruit bait. We count butterflies according to species and release them without harm. Would you like to help us monitor butterfly populations? Please contact us for more information.

Pictured are some of the species which commonly enter our traps in Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve.

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Xolotlan

2012-01-28T08:26:00.004-06:00

One of our students at Apoyo Spanish School, Douglas Haynes, writes professionally and is a professor of journalism at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, and one of his themes is life in Nicaragua. Our staff helped provide information and sources with this article he wrote about the grim fate of Lake Xolotlan, also called Lake Managua. "The Lake at the Bottom of the Bottom" appeared in the Virginia Quarterly Review.

The pollution of Lake Xolotlan is severe, but the poor people living in its vicinity have no choice but to use it. Haynes discusses the lake, its people, and an intent to remediate the levels of contaminants in it. What could have been a tourist attraction, is an environmental disaster. So much water, wasted!

Apoyo Spanish School is the oldest existing Spanish School in Nicaragua. If you would like Spanish instruction from a professionally-run school, please contact us.

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View from Apoyo Spanish School

2012-01-26T19:40:00.000-06:00

Laguna de Apoyo as seen through the lens of Leigh Baker, a student of Apoyo Spanish School at Estacion Biologica.

Leslie is a biology student at a university in Nicaragua and one of our teachers in Apoyo Spanish School.

Students of Apoyo Spanish School on an afternoon excursion with their teachers.

Lake Apoyo is beautiful from a distance, too!

The sun rises from Granada over Lake Apoyo at dawn.

Ficus trees can take root even on tops of large rocks.

Leigh joins a local family on washing day in Lake Apoyo.

Binoculars are required equipment for a visit to Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve.

The flowers of Aphelandra scabra are visited frequently by hummingbirds.

The red, peeling bark of a Bursera simaruba tree suggests the local name, Indio Desnudo.

The water of Lake Apoyo is transparent.

The project behind these signs, supposedly for "ecotourism", were fined for serious environmental violations.

Studying Spanish at Apoyo Spanish School is about Spanish, but it is also about more: nature, local people, water, and causes. What do you see when you visit Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve? Let us know, we are interested.

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Bat monitoring in Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve, Nicaragua

2012-01-13T17:04:00.001-06:00

We are learning a lot about the forests of Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve. At night, when other things are quiet, bats are busy and we are monitoring the bat populations in different areas in the forest. The past couple of years, we have counted on volunteers Lukas Betthauser and Florian Schmid to manage the bat study, among the more ambitious nature studies in Nicaragua. Here are some images from the bats we have seen in our monitoring program.

Albino short-tailed fruit bat, Carollia perspicillata. Photo by Florian Schmid.

An albino bat seems quite unlikely, given that most bats rely on stealth to catch their victim, or so we have been led to think. In fact, many bats enjoy the good life, consuming fruits and nectar and other things that don't run away when forewarned. The short-tailed fruit bat (also known as Seba's short-tailed bat) is one of those, and it only makes sense that an albino could survive in this species. The light color of this albino would alert predators to his presence, but would not affect his own prey, as the name suggests. Perhaps this albino guy was a little less lucky with the insects, but the 50-100 species of fruit, pollen and nectar would not have avoided him.

The roles in nature filled by bats may be quite diverse. They may disperse fruit, pollenate plants, and control populations of small animals. Some bats eat fish, others eat birds and other bats. There are dozens of species in Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve and they help sustain the populations of many other species groups. It's not easy to batwatch, but if you accompany our monitoring team, you will see the bats up close and personal. They are some of the more enignmatic animals of the forest, and suprisingly charismatic when seen from near.

A short-tailed fruit bat, Carollia perspicillata, is entangled in a mist net. Photo by Jayne Ricards.

By mist netting in different parts of the reserve, we are gathering information on the habitat use by the bats. We can see strong distinctions in the bat communities according to the way humans impact the forest. Bat communities in the deep forest, far from houses and deforestation, are considerably different than in other places.

Short-tailed fruit bat is being held by Florian. Photo by Jayne Richards.

Florian and a volunteer measure several parts of a bat. Photo by Jayne Richards.

Florian extracts a bat from the mist net. Photo by Jayne Richards.

Each bat in the study is measured before being released into the wild again. Photo by Jeffrey McCrary.

This is the first orange-throated bat (Lampronycteris brachyotis) captured in our studies in Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve. Photo by Jayne Richards.

In our research on bats, we are hoping to determine how bats and humans interact. For instance, we want to know whether the bat populations differ according to the land use patterns in different parts of the Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve. For instance, some bats, such at the orange-throated bat, have only been found in the deepest forest. The bats we have recorded here are in the following list.

Saccopteryx bilineata (Greater Sac-winged Bat)

Noctilio leporinus (Greater Bulldog bat)

Pteronotus parnellii (Parnell's Mustached Bat)

Micronycteris minuta (White-bellied Big-eared Bat)

Lampronycteris brachyotis (Yellow-throated Big-eared Bat)

Phyllostomus discolor (Pale Spear-nosed Bat)

Phyllostomus hastatus (Greater Spear-nosed Bat)

Glossophaga soricina (Pallas's Long-tongued Bat)

Glossophaga leachii (Gray Long-tongued Bat)

Glossophaga commissarisi (Commissaris's Long-tongued Bat)

Carollia subrufa (Gray Short-tailed bat)

Carollia sowelli (Sowell's Short-tailed bat)

Carollia perspicillata (Seba's Short-tailed Bat)

Sturnira lilium (Little Yellow-shouldered Bat)

Artibeus lituratus (Great Fruit-eating Bat)

Artibeus intermedius (Leaf-nosed bat)

Artibeus jamaicensis (Jamaican fruit bat)

Artibeus inopinatus (Honduran Fruit-eating Bat)

Artibeus phaeotis (Pygmy Fruit-eating bat)

Uroderma bilobatum (Tent-making Bat)

Uroderma magnirostrum (Brown Tent-making Bat)

Platyrrhinus helleri (Heller's Broad-nosed Bat)

Centurio senex (Wrinkle-faced Bat)

Desmodus rotundus (Common Vampire Bat)

Myotis elegans (Elegant Myotis)

Rhogeessa tumida (Black-winged Little Yellow Bat)

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Amphilophus chancho

2012-01-10T13:31:00.002-06:00

The Midas cichlid (Amphilophus) species flock is composed of several species, and the research group at Estacion Biologica has been working on describing new species in the group. The largest of the Midas cichlid complex found in Laguna de Apoyo is the mojarra chancho, Amphilophus chancho Stauffer, McCrary & Black 2008. It is named after the Nicaraguan local name for pig, for its corpulent appearance.

Mojarra chancho in breeding coloration. Photo by Adrianus Konings.

Like other cichlids in Nicaragua, the mojarra chancho find mates near breeding areas, then establish a breeding site with a natural or dug hole. They usually make nests at between 12 and 25 meters depth, in areas of massive nesting. The parents are sequentially monogamous, with both male and female staying on nest to care for the fry around forty days after free-swimming.

Juvenile mojarra chancho. Photo by Adrianus Konings.

The mojarra chancho can be as large as the large-mouthed predator in the lake, the jaguar cichlid (Parachromis managuensis). Its only habitat is Lake Apoyo, Nicaragua, where it evolved sympatrically with a least five other members of the Midas cichlid species complex. This species is distinctive among the crater lake cichlids for its size and behavior: notice two of the fishes in the photo below, looking at the photographer with both eyes!

Schooling mojarra chancho in search of prey. Photo by Adrianus Konings.

Breeding is common from November through March. When not breeding, the fish may form monospecific schools and maraud the lake for prey. One of their most notable prey is the eyes of fish that have become blind by cataracts.

Mojarra chancho female with fry. Photo by Adrianus Konings.

Our SCUBA diving program has helped us determine that this is indeed a distinct species and to develop information about its ecology. We see several individuals each time we dive, and nests are not uncommon during the height of nesting season. By diving with us, you get to see some of the most interesting of animals in Nicaragua, in the water! If you are a certified open water diver, you can participate in a dive with us and help us learn more about the endemic fish species in Lake Apoyo. For more information on how to help us study this fascinating fish, please contact us.

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Sympatric Speciation Demonstrated Among the Midas Cichlid Species Complex

2012-01-09T08:47:00.000-06:00

The Midas cichlid, Amphilophus citrinellus, was once thought to extend throughout the entirety of the San Juan River basin, including throughout both the Nicaraguan Great Lakes and many volcanic crater lakes along their western shores. Thanks to work published by our research group in the past several years, two crater lakes are known to have multiple species, each endemic to its respective lake. More recently we have studied chromosomal and mitochondrial DNA profiles among the Midas cichlid forms found throughout much of its range, in which we found that each volcanic crater lake has its own group of species, suggesting dozens of species among this group yet to be discovered. Matthias Geiger, Jeffrey McCrary and Uli Schliewen demonstrated and interpreted the DNA profiles in "Not a simple case – A ﬁrst comprehensive phylogenetic hypothesis for the Midas cichlid complex in Nicaragua (Teleostei: Cichlidae: Amphilophus)" in Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. This article confirms our suspicion, that the Midas cichlid species complex consists of dozens of species not yet discovered, in addition to the eleven currently recognized species.

Each isolated stock of Midas cichlids, particularly those in volcanic crater lakes, formed its own species flock by sympatric speciation. The inhabitants of each lake are evolutionarily closer to each other, than to any of the Midas cichlids in any of the other bodies of water.

Amphilophus astorquii pair with fry. Photo by Ad Konings.

The implications of the publication mentioned above are great. The ranges of each fish species are very limited, meaning threats to their populations can be very high. One species from this group, the arrow cichlid (Amphilophus zaliosus), has been classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List. By extrapolation, we can expect many species to be ranked as Endangered or Critically Endangered when their conservation status is finally evaluated.

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Escuela Heroes y Martires de Xiloa

2012-01-04T11:25:00.005-06:00

FUNDECI/GAIA works in several locations in Nicaragua, although our most intense activity is in Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve. We have conducted research on the fishes of Laguna de Xiloa, in Peninsula Chiltepe Nature Reserve, just northwest of Managua, for several years. While discovering new fish species, we also recognized great human needs in the area of the reserve. A rapidly growing community on the edge of Lake Xiloa developed after Hurrican Mitch, its children without basic services like a school. We worked together with the local community and the Municipality of Mateare to identify and prioritize needs in the area, and the consensus was that basic education was the greatest unmet need. We applied for and obtained funding from the Japanese Embassy in Nicaragua to finance the construction of a six room school, and later obtained financing for a small school library as well. This work required identifying a location to build a school, work with an attorney and the municipality of Mateare to declare the property public domain, have the property registered as state property in the national land registry, and then have the land title passed to the Ministry of Education. Meanwhile, we hired a construction company and supervised its daily activities six months while the buildings went up, and we coordinated between the Japanese Embassy, the Municipality of Mateare, the Ministry of Education, the local community and the buildor all the relevant activities. The school was inaugurated in December, 2006, with the Minister of Education and the Japanese Ambassador present for the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The resulting Escuela Heroes y Martires de Xiloa was made a dream come true for the impoverished, rural community of the edge of Lake Xiloa and surrounding farms. We named the school in memory of the victims of a terrible massacre conducted by the Nicaraguan Guardia Nacional during the Somoza dictatorship. Most of the children come from illiterate, indigent parents, many of whom moved into a makeshift settlement in the aftermath of Hurricane Mitch. These children now have, for the first time, a safe, clean structure to attend school, and the teachers and school lunches now provided by the Nicaraguan Ministry of Education ensure that more elements of the basic necessities of these children are met to ensure they have a chance at a happy, fulfilled life.

Here, we share some images from a recent visit to the school by students of Apoyo Spanish School. This demonstrates how we consider our commitment to the Nicaraguan people.

These children today have a brand new, well-equipped school, thanks to FUNDECI/GAIA, and assured nutrition thanks to the school lunch program the Ministry of Education has begun there. Photo by Belen Camino.

This school benefits the children of Laguna de Xiloa and surrounding areas, among the poorest sites in Managua department. Photo by Belen Camino.

Children from the Escuela Heroes y Martires de Xiloa chat with students from Apoyo Spanish School. Photo by Belen Camino.

The school director and the president of the local community organization meet with students of the Escuela Heroes y Martires de Xiloa and of Apoyo Spanish School. Photo by Belen Camino.

The rural area around Escuela Heroes y Martires de Xiloa includes Lake Xiloa, where several endemic fish species are found. Photo by Belen Camino.

The children of Peninsula Chiltepe Nature Reserve now have a beautiful, safe school, thanks to the efforts of FUNDECI/GAIA and the local community and autorities. Photo by Belen Camino.

Conservation in protected areas in Nicaragua requires the involvement of the local population, which in turn requires resolving their basic needs. By assisting in the basic requirements of the local population, we have also been able to improve their organizational capacity, and their consciousness toward the natural resources in their midst. The protection of Lake Xiloa and its endemic fish must involve these people on the front lines.

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Animal Rescue VII: Keel-billed Toucan

2011-12-31T23:18:00.004-06:00

Tookie the Toucan was conscripted to the pet trade. His last owner wanted him to live as close to nature as possible, so we have taken him to Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve. He is a male Keel-billed Toucan (Ramphastos sulfuratus), and his natural habitat includes the forests behind Estacion Biologica. Although these toucans are among the most attractive animals in Nicaragua, they have a delicate disposition and strict dietary requirements. We are dedicated to keeping Tookie as close to nature as possible-the species is native to our area-and we are evaluating the possibility of releasing him to the wild.

We think wild animals should not be put in cages to humor human beings. We can learn to appreciate them in the forests by birdwatching instead of placing them in cages. Toucans are not adapted to be pets as are dogs, so living in a cage is appropriate.

We would like to release Tookie and make him part of the wildlife of the Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve. Tookie is getting fed papayas and bananas, along with native fruits from the forest, and a supplement designed for the toucans. Keel-billed Toucans are part of the native wildlife of this area, and we often see them, particularly on the western side of the lake. Three years ago, a nesting pair of Keel-billed Toucans nested just outside Estacion Biologica. We are gauging his willingness to eat native, wild fruits, with the intention to release him if feasible.

Would you like to help us take care of Tookie? Please contact us if you would like to volunteer or make a donation to help us care for him.

Tookie is a male Keel-billed Toucan. Photo by Jeffrey McCrary

The Keel-billed Toucan diet has a delicate disposition and must be fed a restricted diet. Photo by Jeffrey McCrary

Although the Keel-billed Toucan is beautiful, it can be very aggressive and does not tame easily. This species is native to the forests of Nicaragua. Photo by Jeffrey McCrary.

Tookie enjoys papaya! Photo by Jeffrey McCrary.

The sounds of nearby wild birds enchant Tookie. The Keel-billed Toucan bill serves him well to make him a fearsome predator. Photo by Jeffrey McCrary.

Aura and Rachel admire Tookie in the first moments after his arrival to Laguna de Apoyo. Photo by Jeffrey McCrary.

Rachel befriends Tookie, who enjoys taking food from his hand. Photo by Jeffrey McCrary.

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Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve gets a management plan

2011-12-26T14:18:00.009-06:00

The Apoyo volcano and lake were made part of the national protected area system in May 1991, with Decreto 42-91. Nonetheless, the Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve spent the next 19 years without a management plan to inform and guide the government, landowners and visitors. A contract to develop the first management plan was awarded in 2005 to Liga de Cooperativas de Nicaragua, with Jeffrey McCrary as the coordinator of the team. Our staff at Estacion Biologica performed most of the technical work, including flora and fauna surveys, socioeconomic analysis, and logistics.
Five long years later, Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve has its plan approved, which is by far the most ambitious of any of the management plans approved in Nicaragua. Hundreds of people from all the associated communities were involved in a participative process using a Logical Framework approach to identify the problems, needs and solutions. A vocal minority of investors and landowners, principally non-Nicaraguans, opposed the entire process of development of a management plan, but eventually, all opposition was overcome, and the plan was approved in 2010. Articles in the newspapers regarding the plan can be reached by clicking on the pictures below.

Click on the photo for article in EL NUEVO DIARIO 13 Sept. 2005.

Click on the photo for article EL NUEVO DIARIO 21 August 2006.

Click on the photo for article EL NUEVO DIARIO 26 August 2006.

Alcaldes lanzan SOS por Laguna de Apoyo END 26 Abril 2006.

MARENA ratifica caida de muros en Laguna de Apoyo END 21 August 2008.

Laguna de Apoyo con Plan de Manejo La Prensa 7 April 2010

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Volcano Masaya National Park

2011-12-26T08:31:00.009-06:00

Any nature-loving tourist in Nicaragua must visit Volcano Masaya National Park. It lies west and north of Masaya, practically adjacent to the Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve.

Lava flows over two hundred years old still have not been overtaken by vegetation. The process of ecological succession can be noted according to the ages of the earth surface layer. Photo by Henyrk Madsen.

The Masaya volcano is composed of three craters. One of them erupted twice during the past five hundred years of recorded history. Lava flows are stark, with only islands of vegetation, mostly grasses which burn every few years during the dry season.

Lake Masaya, seen in the distance, lies inside the caldera of Volcano Masaya, which is several kilometers wide. Our staff at Estacion Biologica is conducting a study of potentially new fish species in the lake. Photo by Henryk Madsen.

One of the larger well-protected patches of tropical dry forest in Nicaragua lies in the Masaya volcano caldera. Soils over the volcanic scree are thin and water drains from them easily. so that in some areas, where grasses take hold, trees may not be able to withstand the periodic fires which burn through the vegetation.

Two volunteers at Estacion Biologica, Helen and Simone, prepare their cameras for some spectacular views. Photo by Henryk Madsen.

The Santiago crater emits large quantities of smoke. The glow of red-hot lava is usually visible during the night tour of the volcano. Photo by Henryk Madsen.

Along the steep banks of this crater, parakeets nest. How they survive the acrid smoke is not understood. Photo by Henryk Madsen.

The stark Santiago crater of Volcano Masaya presents a variety of colors. Photo by Henryk Madsen.

The eastern edge of the Santiago crater is tourist-friendly, given the prevailing westward winds in Nicaragua. Photo by Henryk Madsen.

Skinks are among the commonly seen fauna in the dry tropical forest habitats of Volcano Masaya National Park. Photo by Henryk Madsen.

The San Fernando crater contains a remote forest beneath steep crater walls. Phto by Henryk Madsen.

Hiking trails at the top of the craters provide great views both of the craters and the park, and also of Managua, the Great Lakes, and Masaya. Night visits to the park are possible, in which visitors penetrate a cave, as the bats are departing for their evening activities.

Smoke emanates from the Santiago crater at Volcano Masaya National Park, Nicaragua. Photo by Henryk Masden.

This Ficus near the entrance of the park awaits your visit. Photo by Henryk Madsen.

An evening excursion to Volcano Masaya includes a lava tunnel visit. Photo by Tammy Cameron.

A mural in the interpretive center depicts the confrontation of religions with the lava-filled crater. Photo by Tammy Cameron.

For a day trip, plan about three hours while there for a day trip, and spend at least one-half hour in the interpretive center. Take sunscreen, a hat, and something to drink.

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Estacion Biologica-the biological research station of Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve

2011-12-25T15:39:00.008-06:00

Welcome to our humble place, near the shore of Laguna de Apoyo. We work with the local community, the civil society and government to advocate the protection of Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve. We provide lodging, birdwatching tours, SCUBA diving, lunch, and Spanish language instruction to individuals and groups.

Volunteers from Goshen College painted this mural during their study abroad semester. Photo by Jeffrey McCrary.

Estacion Biologica is operated by the Nicaraguan Foundation for Integral Community Development (FUNDECI). We are a not-for-profit organization registered by the Nicaraguan government since 1973. The first project of FUNDECI, construction of a small settlement on the edge of Leon, benefitted displaced people from the devastating 1972 Managua earthquake. FUNDECI works throughout Nicaragua today, with principal projects in Santa Teresa, Leon, Matagalpa, Managua, and our project in Laguna de Apoyo, which is divided among seven municipalities.

Our mascot, Heinz, is a rescue animal. He is a White-throated Magpie-Jay. He enjoys our kitchen and dining area, and often comes back to visit with us. Photo by Henryk Madsen.

The facilities at Estacion Biologica are found in a set of properties along the shore of the crater lake, Laguna de Apoyo. All the houses we occupy were built before the area was officially designated a Protected Area by the Nicaraguan government. There is great conflict in Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve regarding the rights of landowners, particularly non-Nicaraguans, who want to clear their land of wilderness and place a house on it. Of all the many threats to this protected area, this one is the greatest.

Simba and Bela serve as our welcoming committee for new arrivals to Estacion Biologica. Photo by Henryk Madsen.

Inside Nicaragua, our group is well-known as the premier research team on biodiversity issues. Our group has published dozens of scientific research reports on several taxonomic groups. We have discovered several species of fish in the lake.

The facilities at Estacion Biologica are integrated into the environment. Photo by Henryk Madsen.

We have lodging for individuals or groups of up to twenty people. We serve breakfast, lunch and dinner daily, and great coffee is always on hand.

A view of the forest in Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve. Photo by Henryk Madsen.

Inside the volcanic crater, there is tropical dry forest, in which rain is concentrated during the months May to November, and the remaining months have almost no rain. Trees and wildlife must have strategies for their water needs during the dry season.

Lake Apoyo, Nicaragua. Photo by Henryk Madsen.

The lake spans four kilometers and reaches nearly two hundred meters deep. Animals in the lake are isolated from other aquatic habitats, and several species of fish have evolved during the existence of the lake.

A howler monkey travels through the yard at Estacion Biologica.

Wildlife is abundant in the area. Among the more common mammal sightings are howler monkeys and variegated squirrels. Both can be seen in the yard most days. Also to be seen for the keen eye: paca, agouti, jaguarundi, grison, capuchin monkeys, white-tailed deer, nine-banded armadillo, virginia opossum, Central American woolly opossum, and numerous bats and smaller rodents.

Dragon fruit is called pitahaya in Nicaragua, where it is native. The pitahaya plant is an epiphytic cactus, living on rocks and branches of trees. This one is in the yard of Estacion Biologica. Photo by Henryk Madsen.

The towering trees of the forest extend into the yard of Estacion Biologica. Our property enjoys the shade of about twenty tree species native to the forest of our Reserve. We grow and plant native trees in the deforested areas of the reserve, and we encourage the appreciation of native trees among land owners and the government.

Among our work is rescuing wild animals in need of intervention. This bird was one of our rescue animals. He now lives in the forest, but returns to visit us often. Photo by Henryk Madsen.

We at Estacion Biologica work closely with the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment, the municipal governments, and the National Police to keep Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve wild and natural, and its community prosperous.

Volunteers from Estacion Biologica enjoying a visit to Masaya. Photo by Henryk Madsen.

Please visit us! We look forward to meeting you and discussing what we do.

Birdwatching at Laguna de Apoyo III

2011-12-16T09:44:00.013-06:00

Here are a few more great reasons to go birdwatching at Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve, with thanks to Romain de Jaegere. This set of photos is of the more common birds, which you are almost sure to see in a few hours of birdwatching.

Under appropriate lighting, the male Canivet´s Emerald (Chlorostilbon canivetii) seems to glow. Its nest is a cup measuring no more than about four centimeters across, often placed not even one meter above the ground. This is the smallest of the ten hummingbirds recorded in Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve. Hummingbirds eat very small flying insects and spiders, and drink nectar.

The Orchard Oriole (Icterus spurius) is present from October through May. It will be near trees with juicy fruits and flowers with nectar, in the canopy of trees or actively feeding on flowers, although it will take insects as well.

Another migratory bird commonly seen in Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve is the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher (Tyrannus forficatus). Like most kingbirds, they can be seen making forays to catch insects on the wing. In the late afternoon, large flocks amass and move toward roosting areas, allowing views of dozens at a time. Although insectivorous, they may be seen pecking at fruit with the dry season is at its peak.

Migrant warblers fill the forest canopy with chipping sounds, but the forest is not empty when they have moved northward. The Lesser Greenlet (Hylophylus decurtatus) is resident here in Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve, but commonly forms loose feeding flocks with migratory insectivorous birds, Summer Tanagers and other warblers and vireos. It tends to stay at midlevels under forest canopy. While not uncommon, it is less conspicuous than most insectivorous birds and is easily missed.

The squirrel cuckoo (Piana cayana) lurks in midlevel vegetation, and hops from branch to branch with movements that suggest a squirrel, from which it gets its name. This resident bird is common in Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve and ranges throughout the tropical and subtropical habitats from Mexico to Argentina. Although many other cuckoos are brood parasites, this species builds its own nest and provides parental care to its offspring.

The male Painted Bunting (Passerina ciris) stands in dramatic contrast to the female, whose yellow-and-green coloration provides excellent camouflage as it feeds on grassy seeds in undergrowth in open areas. It breeds in the southern and eastern US and northern Mexico, and migrates our way as a winter resident. Intensification of agricultural practices in the southern US have reduced its habitat so much that it is now listed as Near Threatened on the Red List. They are common enough in Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve that we have captured several in our bird monitoring program.

The Chestnut-capped Warbler (Basileuterus delattrii), considered by some to be a subspecies of Basileuterus rufifrons, is our only resident warbler in Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve. Unlike the migratory birds, its bill is relatively thick. A pair drinks from our water tank daily, and will land within ten meters of a quiet observer.

These species all provide plenty of opportunities for nature photography. The birds here have something to offer to scientists and nature tourists alike. All the pictured birds are likely seen in a single day of birding in appropriate conditions. Estacion Biologica can provide a skilled guide to lead a nature walk to see these birds and more.

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Birdwatching at Laguna de Apoyo II

2011-12-13T21:31:00.008-06:00

The following photos by Romain de Jaeger show just how wonderful birdwatching and wildlife photography can be in Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve. Here are photos of some of the more common birds seen by birders in the area. Of Nicaraguan birdwatching locations, Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve is among the more accessible and productive. Nature photography at its finest!

The Northern Oriole (Icterus galbula) is also known as the Baltimore Oriole; the adult male (shown above) is nothing short of spectacular, with a bright orange contrasting with black and white. Males, females and juveniles can be seen in flocks of up to twenty-five conspecifics, between September and early April, when they are winter residents of the tropical dry forest of western Nicaragua. They indulge in sweet fruits and nectar of flowers. A flowering macuelizo (Tabebuia rosea), for instance, almost guarantees numerous orioles nearby; in fact, there may be an important association between the two, as the winter range of the bird is very close to the native range of the tree. All members of this species in Nicaragua leave flying northward in April and May to nest.

In contrast to the Northern Oriole, Blue Grosbeaks (Passerina caerulea) are present year-round. A pair nested very close to Estacion Biologica this year. During the dry season, they visit our water tower, to drink from water which spills from it when it is filled. In addition, we likely receive migratory birds, which are known to winter as far south as Costa Rica. Is the pictured bird resident or migratory? Who knows!

The Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) winters in great numbers in Nicaragua, along with other swallows. Their center of abundance is in the cattle farms of Rivas, but many can be seen in Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve, too, especially from the edge of the crater, in Catarina. This bird tends to congregate in open areas with few trees, but it will fly in flocks over forest canopy as well. The Barn Swallow is the most widespread of the swallows, with populations on all human-populated continents.

The Green Heron (Butorides virescens) is a common resident in Nicaragua and a few are found on Lake Apoyo. This species was recently split from another, also recently documented in Nicaragua but much less common (Butorides striatus). Migratory Green Herons may also be found in our area, although no specific information regarding the populations in our area exists.

The most common passerine bird in Nicaragua is the Great-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus). This noisy, boisterous bird can be found in almost any urban area or human-altered environment, or along rivers and lake shores. Although common, they are majestic, as is seen in the photo of this male. Nonetheless, they are not forest birds. We do not find them in our monitoring activities in deep forest.

Rarely seen but often heard in Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve is the Lesser Ground-Cuckoo (Morococcyx erythropygus). This resident bird utilizes tall grass in open areas and secondary growth, rarely reaching even two meters above the ground. It produces a shrill, monotone whistle, reminiscent of a police whistle. Locals call it the clock bird (pajaro reloj), and suggest it may call on hourly intervals. The blue, featherless sere around the eye gives the bird a unique appearance.

Another very common Nicaraguan bird is the Great Kiskadee (Pitangus sulphuratus), also a member of perhaps the most common of all families, the tyrant flycatchers, Tyrannidae. Almost all the tyrant flycatchers are expert predators of insects on the wing, and they have bristles along the gape of their mouths to help guide prey toward their mouths. This species is active and loud throughout the day, allowing ample opportunities for viewing among neophyte birders. It is a year-round resident.

The Long-tailed Manakin (Chiroxiphia linearis) is, perhaps, the prettiest of all birds in the tropical dry forest habitat of Lake Apoyo Nature Reserve. At least regarding the adult males, which are nothing short of specatular. This female, however, is far more subtle, with a drab green background. The bright orange legs of male, female and immature alike, however, facilitate species identification in dark areas under canopy, where they stay. They tend to pluck small fruits in flight, and eat them after perching again. This resident bird is the most common of the birds we encountered by mist netting, although we see far fewer when birdwatching.

Would you like to go birdwatching with us? Estacion Biologica can arrange a bird conservation professional to take you on a birdwatching excursion. Please contact us to make a reservation.

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The little Apoyo cichlid, Amphilophus astorquii

2011-12-12T12:22:00.010-06:00

The most common cichlid fish in Lake Apoyo is the little Apoyo cichlid, Amphilophus astorquii. It was officially discovered as the culmination of years of study in Estacion Biologica, in a publication in 2008. About three-quarters of the cichlid fishes seen in Lake Apoyo are this species. They breed from December through February, as is shown in the photograph below.

When breeding, thin, light bars appear over a bluish-black background. The dark coloration emerges from dark dorsolateral spots which remain when the fish is not breeding. The males are always noticeably large than the females in any given breeding pair. The breeding pairs form over a hole and utilize a hard surface such as a rock to attach eggs, which are cared as they hatch to form wigglers which later detach to swim freely. The parental units stay actively care for the fry until they are free-swimming approximately forty days. If parental protection is lost, the fry will be eaten by predators within minutes.

An important component of the diet of the little Apoyo cichlid is snails (Pyrgophorus coronatus). During 2011, two volunteers collected data on the snails of the lake, in an effort to understand better the food webs which must be protected for these fish. These volunteers studied Spanish while working with our staff to collect field data. SCUBA divers collected samples of snails in different habitats and then analyzed them.

Males often develop nuchal humps as the one in this photo, as a secondary sex characteristic. This fish is in nonbreeding coloration, showing a light, neutral background color, and dark dorsolateral spots. Vestigial dark vertical bars can be seen faintly above and below the spots. When the fish begins its transformation to breeding coloration, these bars will darken and thicken, including the head, leaving the light coloring on the fish limited to thin regions between the bars.

The little Apoyo cichlid is only found in Lake Apoyo, as is confirmed by a recent phylogenetic study conducted by Matthias Geiger, Jeffrey McCrary and Uli Schliewen, in coordination with Estacion Biologica. They are easy to observe, and our monitoring project gives us lots of opportunities to watch them year-round. Other members of the Midas cichlid species complex in Laguna de Apoyo are: Amphilophus chancho, Amphilophus flaveolus, Amphilophus globosus, Amphilophus supercilius, Amphilophus zaliosus. In addition, the jaguar cichlid, Parachromis managuensis is found in the lake; the molly, Poecilia sphenops; and the silversides, Atherinella sardina. Recent introductions of Gobiomorus dormitor and the Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus, can be found as well.

You are welcome to join us in a SCUBA dive to see these fish in their natural environment.

All of the above pictures were taken by Ad Konings, and copyrights are preserved. Ad is a great colleague and friend, and we are grateful that he has taken interest in the cichlid fishes of Nicaragua. Please do not use these photographs without permission.

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Salvin´s Spiny Pocket Mouse

2011-12-04T08:00:00.007-06:00

Among the biodiversity in Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve, Nicaragua, are some little creatures that are often overlooked. Under cover of darkness, while others sleep, the forest floor becomes the scene of activity of rodents and other creatures. The most common of the small rodents in the tropical dry forest ecosystem of our reserve is Salvin´s Spiny Pocket Mouse (Liomys salvini). We have been monitoring rodent populations on the forest floor for a few years, and in most sites in the reserve, this one is found.

The mouse lives in tiny burrows, often under rocks. There are several subspecies which vary slightly in size and coloration. Like all Liomys mice, its belly is white, and its characteristic pouches in the jaws facilitate food gathering for later consumption. When we capture them, they often drop seeds from grasses from their jaws. They may be important vectors in seed dispersal for some plants, thus acting directly on the biodiversity of their habitat.

The variety in Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve shows a distinct reddish margin on the brown upper parts.

Volunteers on our monitoring project use Sherman traps to capture the animals, measure and note their condition, and then release them where they were found, without harm.

The mice are most easily handled inside a ziplock bag with a few holes to permit air exchange. The mouse gives a few minutes of his time to our volunteers, then they go back to the forest floor.

The hindfoot of this mouse is poking through a hole in the plastic bag, facilitating hindfoot measurement and analysis of the callouses. The callous arrangement is unique to each species.

We recently learned that this species is quite sensitive to pesticide use, as a neighbor sprayed some pesticide and the blowover reached two nests of this species, which promptly abandoned the location!

Nature and wildlife lovers take note. We need more assistance in gathering information about the rodents and other fauna of Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve. If you would like to help, whether as a scientist, student or volunteer, please let us know.

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Estacion Biologica - the people

2011-10-30T19:42:00.014-06:00

We have an incredible staff at Estacion Biologica. Here they are in photos. We hope to see you at Laguna de Apoyo soon!

Aura works in almost everything we do. She cooks and cleans (well, we all do, but she maintains a regular and heavy responsibility); she teaches Spanish in Laguna de Apoyo Spanish School; and she contributes to our studies of birds, moths and butterflies. Even the squirrels like her!

Juana is our cook and resident abuela to all of us. She is an institution in Laguna de Apoyo. If you study Spanish, do volunteer work, or just visit our hostel, she will be here to help you.

Simba is the real boss, and if you don´t think so, just ask him.

Lorenzo teaches Spanish, dives, repairs cars, counts birds.... he does it all.

Pablo is our administrator, with much organizational work, but that does not keep him out of the forest. Here he is waiting for the moth trapping to finish.

Elmer knows his plants, and so much more. He takes care of whatever is needed, any time, and he assists in monitoring of fauna as well.

Lorenzo shows us his skills at charming the Blue-crowned Motmot.

Next time we will include pictures of the other dogs. Simba tends to steal the show. From all the staff at Estacion Biologica, we welcome your visit, overnight stay, or participation in any of our activities-scuba diving, birdwatching, volunteering, or Spanish classes which Laguna de Apoyo Spanish School.

Lake Apoyo Underwater Cleanup

2011-10-19T08:26:00.007-06:00

Our Third Lake Apoyo Underwater Cleanup was a success! We have conducted this activity three years consecutively, and with each activity, there are new people participating. Estacion Biologica, the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment, Office of the Mayor of Catarina, and Apoyo Dive Center worked together to bring twenty divers with support crew above-water to take the trash out of the lake. Here are some photos of the activity.

Local community members gather during the morning of October 15, with rangers, to help clean the lake.

Tim Roberts from Apoyo Dive Center poses with the SCUBA diving crew from Planta Margarita in Corinto, who offered their free weekend to help clean Lake Apoyo.

Not only SCUBA divers participated: Community children who live in Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve helped clean up trash along the areas near the shore.

Members of the Nicaraguan Navy Special Forces are preparing to enter the water for a dive.

Several local community members in Laguna de Apoyo have mastered the art of snorkeling, and they helped collect trash in the water, as well!

Beatriz Valverde from MARENA looks on as local children volunteer to keep Laguna de Apoyo free of trash.

We were all happy with our efforts, and 62 large sacks of trash were removed by our dive crew. Almost all our effort was placed on the areas directly in front the bars at Los Ranchos, where the clients and proprietors allow lots of garbage to enter the lake. We removed many large plastic soft drink bottles and rum bottles, and we left more behind than what we removed.

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Mario Montenegro visits the children of Laguna de Apoyo Part II

2011-10-08T11:17:00.006-06:00

Mario Montenegro sings and tells stories to the children at Escuela Luis Alfonso Velasquez in Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve. He knows how to make children happy!
Estacion Biologica works with our local school on projects of various kinds, including volunteer instructional assistance to the children, educational materials donations, and infrastructure improvement to the school facility. If you would like to participate with us in improving the education of the children of Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve, you can help with a donation or an internship. We are looking for volunteers to work with the school with at least a six month commitment. This could be your best way to learn and contribute to the people of Nicaragua. Please contact us for more information.

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Mario Montenegro visits the children of Laguna de Apoyo Part I

2011-10-07T12:03:00.006-06:00

Mario Montenegro is a local Nicaraguan artist, singer, songwriter, children's story writer, and painter. He was born poor and humble, and he has dedicated his art to themes of the children. As can be seen in the videos here, he has a special communication with children. Estacion Biologica arranged an activity with our local school, Escuela Luis Alfonso Velasquez, where he sang and told stories for the children, with themes that relate to the kids. His music has themes especially for children. Here are a few of the videos we took from the event, more will be loaded soon. We hope you enjoy them.

Mario Montenegro knows how to make the children smile and even to get them jumping. We are appreciative of his attention and care for the poor children of our local school. He was accompanied in his visit by students of the Laguna de Apoyo Spanish Language School and volunteers from Estacion Biologica, who also enjoying his music and stories and the opportunity to share with the children of our area.
When you visit Nicaragua, please remember that many children do not have sufficient resources for a good education. We, like many organizations, channel donations to our local school. We recommend that you bring with you pencils and other school supplies, books in Spanish, and backpacks to donate. We also are seeking a long-term intern to work with the local students in environmental education activities. If you are interested, please contact us.

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Underwater Lake Cleanup 15 and 16 October, 2011

2011-10-04T20:55:00.007-06:00

Laguna de Apoyo is among the most beautiful places I have ever visited. Although most of us respect and care for this magical lake and the land around it as a reflection of our concern and care, some people do not. Trash is an unavoidable part of the underwater scenery, which is the habitat for the lake's very special animals.

We will be conducting a lake cleanup activity with volunteer divers 15 and 16 October, 2011. Certified divers are welcome to join us for either or both days. You will need to bring your own gear and your proof of SCUBA diving certification, and we will have compressors handy for tank refills. Non-divers can help with lots of above-water logistics and management of the waste that will be retrieved, and photodocumentation. This is a great opportunity to provide a small volunteer contribution to give back to the lake which we all love most. Please join us-write for reservations for participation and for rooms if you wish to stay overnight. Our "core group" of active military force divers has already signed on.

For those who can not participate in person, please consider making a donation to offset the costs of this activity. We will be spending hundreds of dollars in fuel consumption, logistics and planning. Your help in any way is greatly appreciated.

Watch Channel 13 VIVA LA VIDA Wednesday, October 5, at 8:30 am when we will be discussing the event.

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Wildlife in Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve, Nicaragua

2011-10-03T12:23:00.010-06:00

We are actively engaged in learning about, teaching about, and protecting wild nature in Nicaragua. Our princpal focus is Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve, where we have executed years of careful study of the birds, fish, and more recently, other creatures of the forests, lake and rivers. Although this place is close-too close-to Granada and Masaya, which facilitates inappropriate and excessive human activity, there is still an abundance of nature here.

The first animal we share with you here is the White-necked Puffbird (Notharchus hyperrhynchus). It was previously considered to range from Mexico into the Amazon, but the South American birds have a smaller bill, and recently, "our" birds have been reclassified into another species, leaving the older names for the southern forms (Pied Puffbird, Notharchus tectus). It's a crazy looking bird! And a real prize for a birdwatching experience. This individual was caught by our field study group by mist nets. This species is much more common in the south-western part of the reserve, than in the northern part, reflecting that it prefers somewhat better forest quality, as the northern part is more heavily degraded.

There is a little-known crab common to Lake Apoyo, known locally as jaiba, without an English common name: Potamocarcinus nicaraguensis. We don't know much about it, except that it tastes good! We have begun to keep counts of crabs in our transects in the long-term flora and fauna monitoring project we conduct in Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve. Locals eat it and it appears to survive the predation pressure just fine. We have recently found it in one of the small streams that flows year round into Lake Apoyo.

A lacustrine crab, Potamocarcinus nicaraguensis. Photo by Balasz Lerner.

Butterflies abound here. We have been observing the butterflies a few years, and already have one scientific publication in which a few dozen new species for Nicaragua were documented. Today, we are focussing on the butterflies that feed on fruits, in a quantitative study of the effects of land use by man on the butterfly communities. Most of the butterflies we observe in this study are from a single family, Nymphalidae. However, we continue to watch and admire all the other ones. The next two pictures were taken of a freshly emerged individual from its coccoon. The wings were beautiful but had not yet taken flight.

Photo by Rachel Lauwerijssen.

Photo by Rachel Lauwerijssen

As a generality which holds quite well taxonomically in this region, we call those of the order (Lepidoptera) which fly in the daytime, butterflies, and those which fly at night, moths. Among the several distinctive features of moths is the antenna which are not clubbed, as in the butterflies, but a variety of other structures such as feathered or segmented. Moths are usually less distinctly colored and patterned than the diurnal butterflies, but there are some beautiful features to them, and in some cases, they can be surprisingly beautiful.

Photo by Pablo Somarriba.

White-faced capuchins (Cebus capucinus) occupy only a few sites in the reserve. There are few, because of poaching for the pet trade, and those still here are wary. Monkeys are not pets! Please do not support the trafficking of wild animals. Here, one looks down on us as we are catching birds by mist netting.

Photo by Lukas Betthausen.

The Mantled Howler Monkey (Alouatta palliata) is more abundant than in past years in Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve, thanks to the increased vigilance of park guards against tree cutting, forest fires, and hunting. We are monitoring monkey populations in the reserve, and we need volunteers and interns to help us. Please contact us if you would like to do some monkey-watching.

Photo by Mark de Graaf.

These photos were all taken in the Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve, by amateur photographers. They demonstrate how beatiful the area is, why we think is one of the leading sites for nature tourism in Nicaragua, and hopefully, contribute to convincing the leaders here to protect it. We need your help. Our studies of the wildlife and projects in repairing the broken forest require money and volunteers. Can you help us at Estacion Biologica? Please write us.

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The Laguna de Apoyo Movie List

2011-10-02T20:36:00.008-06:00

Nicaragua's rich socio-political history is the stuff of movies, and some good ones have come from it. Here we present our list, movies that lovers of Nicaragua should see. Let´s go to the movies!

1. Carla's Song (1996)
A Nicaraguan woman carries the scars of war with her to Glasgow, where she meets a man who helps her face her past and return to her country and love. Set during the contra war in revolutionary Nicaragua. Directed by Ken Loach.

Carla's Song Trailer

2. Alsino and the Condor (1983)
Best Foreign Film Academy Award 1983
Alsino dreams of flying. and his village is visited by aircraft raining destruction. Directed by Miguel Littin.

3. Walker (1987) Directed by Alex Cox
William Walker was a good man gone bad. As he sank morally, he dragged a nation downward with him. Ed Harris plays the lead role brilliantly, in a cleverly constructed retelling of the first US citizen president of Nicaragua. Music by Joe Strummer from The Clash.

Walker-Trailer

3. Under Fire (1983)
Nick Nolte and Gene Hackman are seasoned war reporters, documenting the insurrection against the Somoza dictatorship in Nicaragua. Based loosely on the assassination of ABC reporter Bill Stewart in 1979. Soundtrack by Jerry Goldsmith.

5. La Yuma (2009)
Two sports shine in Nicaragua: Baseball, and boxing. A most unlikely boxing film - about a woman boxer. Directed by Florence Jaguey.

La Yuma (The complete film)

La Yuma-trailer

What is your favorite film about Nicaragua? Please let us know. If we have not included it here, we would like to see it and share your interest with others, too.
Estacion Biologica sponsors and operates the Laguna de Apoyo Spanish Language School. We have the oldest "study Spanish abroad" program in Nicaragua. Please visit us when you are in Laguna de Apoyo.

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Sandino The Movie

2011-09-30T23:07:00.009-06:00

The most iconic figure in the history of Nicaragua is Augusto C. Sandino. The illegitimate child of a poor servant girl, a self-made man, and emphatic defender of sovereignty, died by betrayal when he opted to negotiate for peace. His death launched a single-family dynasty which, not coincidentally, ended at the hands of a new generation of rebels who adopted his name for their movement.

Miguel Littin, a Chilean leftist filmmaker, undertook the auspicious project of tracing the remarkable life of Sandino on film. The result is presented here, broken into parts of about 10 minutes each. This film receives our highest recommendation, because it tells one of the great stories which define why Nicaragua is so special. One can't know Nicaragua, its history, society and culture, without understanding Sandino, and one can't understand Sandino without loving Nicaragua. Patria libre o muerte!

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

Part 7

Part 8

Part 9

Part 10

Part 11

Part 12

Part 13

Part 14

Part 15

The Spanish courses offered at Estacion Biologica include a historical perspective and legacy of Augusto Sandino in today's Nicaragua. The modern term sandinista incorporates concepts of struggle, social justice, sovereignty and national dignity, and a rich history has been played out in which the term has been applied. The term holds both political and broad cultural connotations today in Nicaragua, and our Spanish teachers have personal experience in these concepts, to make your Spanish training directed toward the circumstances found in Nicaragua.

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Revolutionary Music-Nicaraguan Concert for Peace 1983-video

2011-09-28T23:14:00.006-06:00

The year was 1983. The cause was the civil war, seen from within as attacks from outside. Music was the medium. The event was the Concert for Peace, held in Managua, free to all, with musicians from throughout the continent. This is one example that the Nicaraguan Revolution meant something very special troughout the world. Among the performers in this video: Luis Enrique Mejia Godoy, Carlos Mejia Godoy, Amparo Ochoa, Adrian Goizueta, Mercedes Sosa, Silvio Rodriguez.

It's to wake up and break the muzzle and chains,

It's to conjugate and feel the verb “love” without limits,

It's to get the moon to give us its bread and a kiss

When we free the earth of what imprisons our dreams.

It's to write in the people's book with blood and fire,

The names of the anonymous sowers of this field.

It's to talk of hope And the love that costs us

It's to make grow in the womb of history our footprints

It's the reason of the language of man and his freedom,

That, even if he has to kill, love is his objective

That the animal heart of an imperfect man,

Like a bird flying toward love, takes flight to make a nest in your breast.

This is why I must conclude before my guitar sleeps

That no blow is fatal if you don't fear death

That to stay awake while guarding the trenches

Is the task of one of loves even in time of war.

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