Amazing

Resplendent Quetzal
Resplendent Quetzal (Pharomachrus mocinno)Spanish name: Quetzal (ket-saal')
 

places I've been spotted:

Braulio Carrillo National Park
Chirripo National Park
Juan Castro Blanco National Park
Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve
Poas Volcano National Park
Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve

Habitat

The Quetzal prefers damp mountain forests, and is most active in the canopy and edges; it may survive in heavily deforested areas, but only if there remain woods with adequate feeding and nesting trees. 

Range

This bird persists from southern Mexico to western Panama, at elevations between 1,500 and 2,500 m; in Costa Rica they may be found from 1,300 m to 3,000 m in elevation. 

National Parks

Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve, Volcan Poas National Park, Braulio Carrillo National Park, and Chirripo National Park. 

Physical Description/Interesting Biology

With stunning, inimitable plumage and grace, the Quetzal is named for its splendor. The Aztec word, quetzalli, was used for this bird's tail feathers, and also meant "precious,' or "beautiful.' This shy trogon is the national bird of Guatemala, and is also popular in Costa Rica. In every part of its range, this bird is endangered because the cloud forest on which it depends has been extensively destroyed. 

Alone, in pairs, or in a small flock after breeding, the Quetzal forages in fruiting tries, sallying to snatch fruits or very small animals before returning to the nest. They sing with distinctly smooth, deep, melodious calls that may echo far through the forest. They are usually in the canopy, but during courtship the male may chase the female lower and through the forest. In another impressive courting display, the male spirals high above the canopy before plunging back to the female in the canopy, his long tail feathers rippling behind him.

These legendary tail feathers that can be a meter long are one of the salient traits of the male Resplendent Quetzal. Adult Quetzals have a grey and black striped tail, and are covered in shimmering green on the head, back, and wings, so they blend into the wet foliage of the cloud forest. The females have somewhat similar plumage, but lack the green crest and bright red breast of the males, as well as the elongated tail feathers.
The parents work together to carve nest holes out of decaying trunks or they enlarge holes made by woodpeckers, toucans, or other animals. They depend on finding dead wood because their beaks and claws cannot penetrate live wood. The pair shares the work of incubating the 2 eggs and later feeding the chicks, as well as defending the territory around the nesting tree. 

Finding sufficient nesting trees is the main direct limitation on Quetzal survival. It is naturally difficult for them to find trees with wood soft enough for nest excavation, because such trees usually decay before falling. Habitat destruction compounds the challenge to find nesting sites. Humans in Central America are devastating cloud forest area for timber, charcoal, cattle pasture, agriculture, or shifting slash-and-burn agriculture by native farmers. There are already reserves in Costa Rica and Guatemala in which the Quetzal still survives, but if the Resplendent Quetzal is to endure, it would be most beneficial to have a system of cloud forest parks from Mexico through Panama. 

Diet

The Quetzal mostly eats fruits of the avocado family, as well as figs. Its diet also includes insects, small frogs, snails, and lizards. It drinks water from the bases of bromeliads. 
Height/Weight

This bird as an adult weighs 210 g and has a body 36 cm long; the male's tail streamers may add up to 64 cm. 

Brief Taxonomy 

Order: TrogoniformesFamily: Trogonidae 

source:http://www.anywherecostarica.com/flora-fauna/bird/resplendent-quetzal

Poas Volcano National Park

Poas Volcano National Park

Considered by most to be one of the most breathtaking sites in the entire country, the Poas Volcano sits high above 14,000 acres (5,666 ha) of various habitats and life zones which make up Poas Volcano National Park (Parque Nacional Volcan Poas). Rising up to 8,885 ft (2,708 m), Poas remains one of Costa Rica's largest and most active volcanoes. This fact alone is enough to attract thousands of visitors per year.

source:http://www.anywherecostarica.com/attractions/national-park/poas-volcano

Sleep over

Color your life

Don't let your past steal your future. MOVE ON...

Life is like a boat.. Move forward

Been there!!

 I dare you to tell your story.. Share your experience.. Let it all out.. Don't apologize for being you.. co'z you are the only one who really know's your self..

Mandarin Dragonet

Scientific Name:   Pterosynchiropus splendidus Family:                  Callionymidae Common Names:   Mandarin Dragonet, Mandarin Goby, Green Mandarinfish.                               Stripped Mandarinfish,  Psychedelic fish           Description: The Mandarin Dragonet can simply not be confused with any other fish.  It has arguably the most attractive coloration and pattern of any commonly kept reef fish.  The scale-less body of the fish is a blue or green color which has orange wavy lines across it.  The tail is bright red with blue edging.  Other colors can be found in the pattern as well.  These fish are also sometimes called Psychedelic fish due to its rather bizarre coloration.  The male Mandarin tends to be larger than the female and has a large pointed dorsal fin that is only rarely displayed.  Although commonly called Mandarin Goby, they are in fact not gobies, but rather belong to the family known as dragonets.   Natural Environment: Comes from the Philippine area and westward to Australia.  Found in groups or pairs, often on sandy bottoms between reef crests. Care: Reef Suitability:  Mandarin fish are one of the most commonly sold fish, yet they are unfortunately one of the most likely to perish in the average reef tank.  The reason for this is their very finicky feeding habits.  Many mandarins will only eat live amphipods and copepods (pods) which are found in sufficient numbers only in larger and well established reef tanks.  The minimum tank requirement is generally stated as 55 gallon with 50lbs or more of live rock.  This is based on feeding requirements and not space requirements as the Mandarin is a very slow, docile fish.  Perhaps more important than tank size is how heavily fed and nutrient rich a tank is, since this type of tank will generally support a higher pod population than tanks run under more lean conditions.   Disposition:  Very non-aggressive to other fish and other fish seem to pay them no attention.  2 males will fight, so they should only be kept singly or in male/female pairs.  Mandarins spend their days carefully checking over the live rock and sand looking for tasty tidbits to eat. Feeding: As noted above, feeding can be a major issue with Mandarins.  Some will take foods such as frozen brine shrimp and bloodworms.  Others will refuse to take anything but live foods.  Mandarins are extremely slow and hover, much like a hummingbird using their front fins while looking for food.  Even Mandarins that take prepared foods have a hard time competing with faster fish for the morsels.  One suggestion I have heard that makes good sense, especially in smaller tanks that don't support a large pod population is to build something called a 'pod pile'.  This is a few small rocks stacked into a pile into which small pieces of shrimp or similar food can be inserted every couple of days.  This pile of rocks provides shelter and a food supply for the pods which allows them to rapidly breed and provide food for the Mandarin. Hardiness:  Very hardy under the right conditions when starting with a healthy specimen which is feeding.  They seem to be very resistant to parasitic diseases such as Ick, apparently due to their thick slime coating.  Unfortunately, most Mandarins are kept under conditions in pet stores that cause them to slowly starve.  Look for sunken bellies before purchasing.  Some specimens seem to waste away to the point where they cannot survive, even when put into good conditions.  If possible, select a specimen that is eating fozen food. Temperature: Does well within normal reef tank temperature ranges of at least 76-82°F. Size:  Mandarins can get up to about 3" in length. Breeding:  Mandarins have reportedly spawned in reef tanks. The fry are very small and require a first food which is smaller than rotifers.  The picture above shows a male and female pair.  The male is in full display mode while courting the female.

Source: http://www.reefcorner.com/SpecimenSheets/mandarinfish.htm

Leap Year

It takes the earth one day to complete one spin on its axis. The time it takes the earth to complete one trip around the sun is a year. But these units of time don’t divide evenly, resulting in our calendar year being 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes and a little over 45 seconds long. Every 4 years we take those extra hours and minutes and fit it in an extra day, on February 29th, which we call Leap Day. Every fourth year thus is Leap Year. If we did not have the extra day every 4 years, in 100 years our calendar would be off by 24 days.

2012 is a Leap Year. As was 2008 and 2004 and the year 2000. Normally, a year that can be evenly divided by 100 is not a Leap Year but if it is divisible by 400 then it is. Thus the year 2000 was a Leap Year but the year 1000 was not and neither would be the year 3000.

The Chinese calendar has a leap month about every 3 years and the name of the leap month is the same as the previous lunar month. The Jewish calendar has a leap year 7 times in a 19-year cycle.
The chance of being born on Leap Day in the Gregorian calendar is about 680 out of a million (1 in 1470). Which means little more than 4 million people (out of a world population of 7 billion) have their birthdays on Leap Day whereas on average approximately 19 million people share a birthday every day other than Leap Day. Because Superman always appears so young and because nobody knows for sure how old he is, tradition has it that he is a Leap Year Baby.

Ladies, if he did not pop the big question on Valentine’s Day then February 29th is your day because tradition has it that a woman can propose to a man on Leap Day.

source: http://didyouknow.org/leap-year/