Barro Colorado Island, Panama Canal
Today’s expedition goal was Barro Colorado Island, the famous protected island in the Panama Canal, home of a research station of the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI).
Early morning greeted us with gentle twilight over the Panama Canal, while Howler monkeys were calling in the jungle right in front of the ship. Zodiacs transported everybody to the field station where we split up in groups to explore this fascinating rain forest.
Our group, with a focus on photography, took off soon after to walk toward the famous “Big Tree,” a gigantic kapok tree (Ceiba pentandra). But before we would reach this tree, the forest had many surprises to offer. For example, a lucky encounter with the only group of spider monkeys on the island. As we were walking down Thomas Barbor trail, a good dozen animals crossed the trail in the canopy right over us. Along the trail, a gorgeous Gurania (member of the cucumber family) liana was flowering and inspired us to spend a little time discussing how to approach such a macro subject in the rain forest.
Finally Big Tree was in front of us – what an impressive tree. Probably about 250 yeas old, this tree is the highest (170 feet), and probably thickest on the entire island. Noticing that time had been flying, we walked back to the station swiftly, where we arrived just in time to catch the last Zodiacs back to the ship.
