This summer, Hannah Floyd helped us to document the wildlife present in the SWAROVSKI OPTIK Rainforest. She was fascinated by the large variety of insects, birds, plants, mammals, and reptiles roaming through the Osa peninsula and gladly documented her findings on iNaturalist. Dive into her adventure: I spent two weeks at the magical SWAROVSKI OPTIK Rainforest over the course of this past summer, and during this time I helped to increase the number of documented species on the iNaturalist project to over 1,200! The rainforest that is being protected by SWAROVSKI OPTIK holds an incredible amount of biodiversity, and the most exciting thing for me was the fact that through iNaturalist, I could be a part of discovering the untold magnitudes of insects, birds, plants, and more that live in this remarkable place.
How does someone find so many new organisms in such a short time frame? For me, that meant spending a lot of time in a small amount of space. The rainforest has many layers, from the delicate leaf litter to different tropical plants to the tallest trees of the canopy, and in every nook and cranny, there is a new occupied niche.
Pre-dawn, we would check our moth sheets. Then I would spend my early mornings birding because this is one of their periods of heightened activity. As the sun rises higher in the sky, the butterflies and other insects become more active. I loved walking along the many senderos (trails), looking for iguanas and anoles on the tree trunks, sidestepping winding lines of leafcutter ants, and listening to all of the birdsong that filled the forest.
Hannah Floyd’s work in the SWAROVSKI OPTIK Rainforest perfectly aligns with the message of the Generation Nature campaign—an initiative that seeks to unite both young and old through a shared love for nature. The campaign highlights that a passion for the natural world transcends generations, bringing people together through this common bond. By documenting over 1,200 species through iNaturalist, Hannah has contributed to showcasing this powerful connection, inspiring individuals of all ages to take action in preserving our planet’s biodiversity. There is so much more to discover in the SWAROVSKI OPTIK Rainforest.
About the author
Hannah Floyd
Hannah Floyd is a sophomore at Princeton University majoring in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology with a certificate in Spanish Language and Culture. Passionate about marine ecology and community science, she actively contributes to platforms like iNaturalist to drive conservation efforts. Hannah has authored articles on ornithology and nature, presented at conferences like the Western Field Ornithologists' convention, and collaborates on scientific research. She is also the Events Chair for the Princeton Conservation Society and teaches ESL in Trenton, NJ.
We wish her all the best!
And don't forget to take a look at her wildlife images on Instagram @hannahzfloyd or check out her sightings on iNaturalist!
