THE Passion of Christ: Catholics around the country reenacted the crucifixion of Jesus Christ during processions on Holy Thursday and Good Friday. Here, procession-goers hold up a cross against a cloudy sky in the town of Llano Grande in Cartago, east of San José.

Costa Rican biologist and saxophone player Arturo Castro has invented special software that recognizes and differentiates between bird calls. His invention is expected to have a great impact on biological studies being carried out in Costa Rica, according to an interview with the scientist published in the weekly El Financiero.

Contemporary Art Exhibit
“Landings 4,” through April 26, Contemporary Art and Design Museum, San José. Info: 257-9370.

Central American Writers' Symposium
Dedicated to late Costa Rican poet Jorge Debravo, April 11-14, Casa Cultural Amón, San José. Info: 257-0470, ext. 105.

Forest fires that last week destroyed 1,800 hectares of national park lands in the northwestern Guanacaste province will cost Costa Rica an estimated $7 million, the daily La Nación reported.

Authorities were alerted about flames taking over the Guanacaste areas of Sitios, Equis Punto and Juanilama on March 30. Two days later, a little more than 1,000 hectares had been burned in four separate forest fires, the daily reported.

Firefighters had gotten the devastating flames under control by Thursday. Minister of Environment and Energy Roberto Dobles told the press damages caused by the fires will not be recuperated for at least 50 years.

Vice-Minister of Environment and Energy Jorge Rodríguez told the daily the estimated $7 million in damages accounts for funds the country has invested in protecting these forestlands during the past 16 years as well as payments Costa Rica receives from developed countries for protecting trees, which helps curb global warming.

Hunters who lit flames to lure animals such as deer away from their homes are to blame for the fires, Dobles said. Rodríguez later announced the ministry's plans to file a complaint before the Liberia Prosecutor's Office against one hunter believed to have been involved in starting the fires.

Officials have yet to evaluate the damage to plants and animals in the area and the impact of the fire on the water supply of the canton of La Cruz, Rodríguez said.

-Tico Times

Scientists have confirmed what many who have witnessed recent gray skies and showers may have already suspected – the transition from the dry season to the rainy season is now under way.

During the next week, cloudy skies and isolated showers are expected around the country, weather “typical to the month of April,” National Meteorological Institute (IMN) forecaster Gustavo Murillo told the daily La Nación.

These isolated showers have already begun in the Central Valley provinces of Alajuela, Heredia, Cartago and San José, he said.

The transition from dry to rainy weather occurs when winds entering from the northeast Caribbean coast lose some of their strength and allow nuclei of clouds from the Pacific to come in, creating more humidity and clouds in the Central Valley, he said.

During the month of April, Costa Rican residents can expect sunny mornings and afternoon showers, but generally, the weather will be unpredictable.

-Tico Times

Costa Rican biologist and saxophone player Arturo Castro has invented special software that recognizes and differentiates between bird calls. His invention is expected to have a great impact on biological studies being carried out in Costa Rica, according to an interview with the scientist published in the weekly El Financiero.

Castro developed the software as part of his studies toward a Masters in information technology at the University of Costa Rica (UCR).

He explained that the program now includes 126 bird calls of five species and that he hopes to expand it to include the calls of 100 more species.

The software “will help to identify the quantity, behavior and location of these species” and could be used in education and tourism in addition to biological studies, conservation and environmental protection, he said.

Castro is designing the software to be compatible with traditional computers, GPS technology and handheld computer devices. He expects it to hit the market in about one year.