http://www.rkwalton.com/podcast.html en-us 2009 Richard K. Walton Critters - Tropics Richard K. Walton Critters - Tropics is a series of video podcasts focusing on nature in the New World Tropics. Even Darwin had difficulty describing the incredible diversity of the tropics. From orchids to oropendulas and from poison dart frogs to fritillaries, the plants and animals are a revelation of evolution's wonderous and varied products. And the lowland rain forests of Belize, Costa Rica, Panama, and Trinidad and Tobego are ideal places for the naturalist to begin their explorations. This podacast is intended as neotropical eye candy. I hope it motivates you to head for the tropics. Critters Video Podcast - Tropics is a series of video podcasts focusing on nature in the New World Tropics. Critters is a collection of video podcasts about the animals, plants, and natural areas of North America and Central America. dwalton@comcast.net Richard K. Walton The dry season in many lowland rainforests occurs during North American winters. This happy circustance lures the naturalist away from the ice and snow to lands soaked by sun. This podcast is an overview of the natural delights awaiting the visitor to the New World Tropics. http://www.rkwalton.com/podcasts/neot/neointro.mp4 http://www.rkwalton.com/podcasts/neot/neointro.mp4 Fri, 1 May 2009 14:30:34 -0400 Tropics - Introduction The dry season in many lowland rainforests occurs during North American winters. This happy circustance lures the naturalist away from the ice and snow to lands soaked by sun. This podcast is an overview of the natural delights awaiting the visitor to the New World Tropics. Here we see the palms, lianas, and epiphytes so typical of tropical woodlands as well as a samplings of the rich fruits and colorful blossoms. This introduction also gives a hint of seemingly endless diversity of birds and butterflies. Hopefully this brief walk in the jungle will ultimately lead you to a stroll along a Belizean beach in search of sea turtles or to a Costa Rican on a quest to find the Resplendent Quetzal. 8:28 tropics, neotropics, nature, New World Tropics, rainforest, jungle, Belize, Costa Rica, Panama, Trinidad and Tobego Dick Walton no This episode comprises four species of cats including jaguar and ocelot, howler monkeys whose vocalizations are a feature of many lowland rainforests, a variety of bats, the group of mammals with the highest diversity in the neotropics, and finally the spider monkey. http://www.rkwalton.com/podcasts/neot/neomam.mp4 http://www.rkwalton.com/podcasts/neot/neomam.mp4 Sat, 2 May 2009 14:30:34 -0400 Tropics - Mammals This episode comprises four species of cats including jaguar and ocelot, howler monkeys whose vocalizations are a feature of many lowland rainforests, a variety of bats, the group of mammals with the highest diversity in the neotropics, and finally the spider monkey. 7:26 jaguar, ocelot, howler monkey,spider monkey, bat, tropics, neotropics, nature, New World Tropics, Dick Walton no This episode includes a variety of trogons from Cenral America, the ocellated turkey, a technicolor relative of North America's wild turkey, two puffbirds from Panama, as well as yellowish and tufted flycatchers. http://www.rkwalton.com/podcasts/neot/neobirda.mp4 http://www.rkwalton.com/podcasts/neot/neobirda.mp4 Sun, 3 May 2009 14:30:34 -0400 Tropics - Birds I This episode includes a variety of trogons from Cenral America, the Ocellated Turkey, a technicolor relative of North America's Wild Turkey, two Puffbirds from Panama, as well as Yellowish and Tufted Flycatchers. 6:12 birds, trogon, puffbird, Ocellated Turkey, flycatcher, tropics, neotropics, nature, New World Tropics, Dick Walton no This episode includes basilisk lizards, iguanas, and the green spiny lizard. Snakes are represented by two non-poisonous species - the boa constrictor and the brown vine snake. Along with the green climbing toad from Costa Rica you will see everone's favorite - poison dart frogs. http://www.rkwalton.com/podcasts/neot/neoherp.mp4 http://www.rkwalton.com/podcasts/neot/neoherp.mp4 Mon, 4 May 2009 14:30:34 -0400 Tropics - Reptiles and Amphibians This episode includes basilisk lizards, iguanas, and the green spiny lizard. Snakes are represented by two non-poisonous species - the boa constrictor and the brown vine snake. Along with the green climbing toad from Costa Rica you will see everone's favorite - poison dart frogs. The "blue jean" pdf and the green and black pdf are featured here. 3:59 lizard, iguana, snake, boa constrictor, poison dart frog, toad, tropics, neotropics, nature, New World Tropics, Dick Walton no The neotropics are a birder's paradise and the lowland rainfoest often rings with their songs and calls. This episode includes a pair of red-lored parrots investigating a potential nest site, a sampling of tanagers representing one of the more diverse tropical bird families, the antics of white-bearded manakins on their lek, a hummingbird know as white-vented plueleteer, and the black guan. http://www.rkwalton.com/podcasts/neot/neobirdb.mp4 http://www.rkwalton.com/podcasts/neot/neobirdb.mp4 Tue, 5 May 2009 14:30:34 -0400 Tropics - Birds II The neotropics are a birder's paradise and the lowland rainfoest rings with their songs and calls. This episode includes a pair of red-lored parrots investigating a potential nest site, a sampling of tanagers representing one of the more diverse tropical bird families, the antics of white-bearded manakins on their lek, a hummingbird know as white-vented plueleteer, and the black guan. 5:18 parrot, tanager, manakin, hummingbird, guan, tropics, neotropics, nature, New World Tropics, Dick Walton no In terms of sheer numbers invertebrates dominate life on earth. This episode features army ants and leaf-cutting ants. A sampling of tropical butterflies add beauty to the mix. For spider-lovers we see three species of tarantulas. Finally a small assemblabe of insects from damselflies to the rhinocerus beetle. http://www.rkwalton.com/podcasts/neot/neobugs.mp4 http://www.rkwalton.com/podcasts/neot/neobugs.mp4 Wed, 6 May 2009 14:30:34 -0400 Tropics - Bugs etc. In terms of sheer numbers invertebrates dominate life on earth. This episode features army ants and leaf-cutting ants. A sampling of tropical butterflies add beauty to the mix. For spider-lovers we see three species of tarantulas. Finally a small assemblabe of insects from damselflies to the rhinocerus beetle. 7:41 butterfly, ant, butterflies, ants, tarantulas, tarantula, beetle, beetles, tropics, neotropics, nature, New World Tropics, Dick Walton no This episode includes motmots and bellbirds, toucans and woodpeckers. Finally, what some consider the most beautiful bird in all the tropics, the Resplendent Quetzal. http://www.rkwalton.com/podcasts/neot/neobirdc.mp4 http://www.rkwalton.com/podcasts/neot/neobirdc.mp4 Thu, 7 May 2009 14:30:34 -0400 Tropics - Birds III Of neotropical birds there seems no end. Birders will do well to seek out trees and shrubs in fruit or in flower. Army ant swarms are another good bet. Ants by the thousands raid along the jungle floor and all living critters flee their advances. Opportunistic birds follow these swarms in search of a meal providing excellent opportunities for naturalists. This episode includes motmots and bellbirds, toucans and woodpeckers. Finally, what some consider the most beautiful bird in all the tropics, the resplendent quetzal wearing the sacred feathers of the Mayans. 4:33 motmot, bellbird, toucan, woodpecker, quetzal, resplendent quetzal, tropics, neotropics, nature, New World Tropics, Dick Walton no