BPBO’s Nicaraguan Intern Returns Home

Norlan has made it back to his home on Ometepe Island in Nicaragua on October 13, 2011.  His 4 week stay was a real success!!  Norlan made two visits to the primary classrooms at St. Edmund’s School, in Tobermory, where he spoke to the boys and girls about his bird education and environmental conservation efforts on Ometepe Island.  He brought gifts from primary students on Ometepe, and went home loaded down with messages and gifts from our students.  Norlan visited Bruce Peninsula  National Park and toured its operations, as well as attending a meeting of the Bruce Peninsula Environment Group.  During this busy time, Norlan worked hard at improving his identification skills of fall migrating birds at the Cabot Head Research Station, which BPBO operates.  Despite the cold temperatures (about 20 degrees cooler than Ometepe Island this time of year!!), Norlan had a great time.

Norlan Zambrana, BPBO’s 27 year old volunteer intern from Isla de Ometepe, Nicaragua, arrived at the Cabot Head Research Station after a grueling 21 hour journey over two full days.  Although quite jet-lagged, Norlan was excited to have finally reached the station.  While here until October 13, Norlan will be assisting with the migration monitoring program at CHRS, and also learning some new techniques and skills in bird identification and banding.  This is valuable experience for Norlan, as about 30% of “our” birds migrate to, or through, Nicaragua in Central America.

Norlan has been very active in his home community of Media, Alta Gracia, working a great deal with local children, especially the younger ones.  Isla de Ometepe (Ometepe Island, for more information, click here) was declared a world biosphere reserve in July of 2010, and joins the Bruce Peninsula in that special group of international locals.  Nicaragua’s environment is currently under extreme pressure, and Ometepe is an important area to preserve.  A major thrust in its protection is through education, and by educating young children they can form a positive environment ethic at an early age.  They will also, hopefully, educate their own families as well.

While volunteering at the station, Norlan will be interacting with several groups of students at the Bruce Peninsula’s two schools, as well as students visiting the Cabot Head Research Station.

Classes from Grade 1 to Grade 12 will have a chance to hear him speak about birds and his Ometepe Island home.  Norlan will also be visiting the Bruce’s national parks and local environmental groups while he is here.

We are very fortunate to have Norlan visiting us, and we look forward to him becoming known in the local community.

Welcome , Norlan!