A walk through the mangroves in the wildlife refuge adjacent to my site provides a shady respite from the fuerte sun that beams down every day. The Refugio de Vida Silvestre La Barqueta was created to protect the fragile mangrove ecosystem, including the migratory bird species that come to rest in the trees´high branches for months at a time. Right now, hundreds of elegant, long-necked white egrets crowd the mangroves and the nearby rice fields. Other bird species include a variety of hummingbirds, ducks, hawks, vultures, pelicans, and yellow-breasted songbirds that sing fantastically.

Monkeys also reside in the mangroves and nearby forests. A friend of mine spotted one yesterday on the way home from a meeting. Locally known as the "cariblanca" (white face), this cute monkey was swinging from the branches as we drove by its tree. Stopping the car to watch for a moment, the driver compared the appearance of the monkey with norteamericanos. The driver then proceeded to explain that it was a very intelligent species, often chastised for stealing bananas and other delicacies off of occupied tables. I think they may also throw things at people, although I`ll have to ask a friend of mine to testify to this fact (he was attacked by a crap-slinging group last year). The driver may have been more correct about the white-faced monkey than he could have fathomed.