Last week in Belize was hands down one of the best experiences I've ever had. In my special topics biology class, I learned a great deal about the ecology, culture, and history of the newly founded country. Not to mention I gained a new respect for ornithology and a new interest in birds. As large as Manhattan and with a population of nearly 350,000 people, Belize is home to an astonishing 500 species of birds. We were able to spot 135 bird species during our stay and also learned about some mutualism relationships. One of the largest mutualistic relationships is that between ants and megaphone acacias. The ants live in the hollows of the megaphones and protect the tree, making sure there is no vegetation to damage it. In return, the acacia creates nectar and Beltian bodies, the yellow, protein-rich leaf tips, for the ants to eat and thrive. It is quite possible that both parties live separately; however, ants and acacias thrive when they are together. Another mutualism between trees and ants is the Cecropia (trumpet) tree and Aztec ants. The ants will protect its host and the tree will provide food and shelter in its hollow internodes. Additionally, the Cecropia tree is favored among many birds. It also grows a meter a year and is an early successor tree. Furthermore, strangler figs are an interesting plant and have their own ruthless methods of survival. As the name suggests, figs will strangle the host plant and take over. The host plant may die and leave an empty space inside the strangler fig. They bear fruit all year round and their seeds are poisonous and spread by birds. The devil's gut cactus also does the same thing by closing on a host tree. They are called so because of their part... in the center of the card... shaped like a cow, and more closely related to a horse and a rhino. Mahogany is the national tree, a large tree of great height and does not mature until 60-80 years of age. The black orchid is the national flower, it has a unique shape and the flowers last a long time. There were several species that I was able to see and learn about. I was able to learn to correctly identify keel-billed toucans, magnificent frigatebirds, and great-tailed grackles. Additionally, I gained a great deal of knowledge from the class and created new connections with other talented and dedicated students. I brought home not only souvenirs and photos, but also a new awareness of birds. Their calls, appearances and behaviors are all very unique and my goal is to be able to recognize the birds in my area. This class was an unforgettable experience and expanded my interests and knowledge about the beauty of nature.