Isla Magdalena
A diversity of oceanic life was laid out on displayed here on Isla Magdalena as detritus washed up on a beach. We found everything from the delicate exoskeletons of millions of pelagic crabs to the dome shaped carapace of a sea turtle. The remnants of a spiny tailed lobster wore the colors of a sunset, pale peaches, flaming oranges, radiant reds and a few highlights of purple. Science lay at our feet with a bleached white dolphin skull, a massive male sea lion skull, and assorted vertebrae, ribs and scapula. Stranded high on the beach was the egg case of a skate with the delightful name of “mermaid’s purse.” Twined amongst strands of kelp known as “dead man’s fingers” were piles of chocolate clams, giant pacific cockles, and even larger iridescent pen shells. Everything came from the same environment, the sea. A very productive sea filled with fascinating, charismatic, remarkable creatures each one finding a niche; to not only survive but to thrive.
We have investigated and learned to appreciate the beauty and diversity of the creatures of the sea as well as the desert this past week. Shared with you now are impressions of this remarkable place and its inhabitants from some of our inspired guests.
A Whale of a Limerick
by Emma Wong, age 10 and her family
There once was a whale from La Paz
Who wasn’t quite sure what he was
He spy hopped to Carlos
Who told him his genus
‘Cuz that’s what a naturalist does.
Whale
By Jack Stellpflug
We watched
Hopeful
Anticipating
Laudable sighting
Ebulant!
Motion
by Kay Stellpflug
Majesty and motion, lots of motion.
Joy between the waves, in the waves, over the waves
Passionate leaders, new found friends.
All sharing, always sharing
Diffusing knowledge, increasing awareness
Oh, the wonder and the joy!
Blue Whale
by Ben Deichman, age 10
Blue Whale
Largest animal on Earth
Living, fluking, breeching, swimming, diving, eating
Searching for krill and other fish
Mammal
Gray Whales
by Ben Deichman, age 10
Many years ago
The first of many whales was born
It was a large beast
It had light gray skin
A very large gaping mouth
And a big blow hole
It caught only fish
Using its large baleen plates
It was a gray whale
Now these animals
Can be seen in the wild
All over the world.
Sea Lion
by Suzanne Bauer
Swimming, playing, barking
Elegant
Adorable
Living free in the Sea of Cortez
Inviting us to play
On a beautiful morning
Never to be forgotten
Sea Lion
by Evan Bauer and Family
Curious, graceful
Lounging, swimming, eating, playing barking, biting
Living free in the great Sea of Cortez
Not seal
A Sticky Tail
by Maryse Sundaresan
A young Mysticeti called Aileen
Used a toothbrush to clean out her baleen
She found krill and squid
But failed to get rid
Of a troublesome hazelnut praline.
She contacted a dentist, emailing
Him that her dentition was failing.
He sent her a bill
Before sharpening his drill
On her baleen; soon Aileen was wailing.
“But I do not have teeth,” she said, paling.
The dentist said “That is plain sailing.”
He gave her a pill
And then increased his bill
“You can keep the old praline” said Aileen.
