Isla San Esteban & Isla Rasa
When asked why we return to the Gulf of California year after year, the simple answer is the abundance and diversity of wildlife found in land, air, and sea surrounding this magical peninsula. Although Baja California is a natural continuation of the west coast of North America, very few Americans know or appreciate the richness and variety of animal life found here. The last twenty-four hours for us illustrates this point.
Late last night as the full moon watched, Humboldt squid by the thousands migrated from the inky depths toward prey illuminated by moonlight. A fishery built around this vertical migration exploits the phenomena and is an economic institution in the small town of Santa Rosalia. We were privileged to watch fishermen haul in squid hand over hand to the cheers and applause of all on board the National Geographic Sea Lion. But the squid did not give up easily, thrashing and squirting jet propelled water in the air as they were boated by the pangeros.
Our morning began early today, as the blood-red full moon set in the west over the Baja peninsula. This morning’s animal encounter was of a different sort altogether, rather than ten-armed marine animals we concentrated our efforts on finding four-legged reptiles on Isla San Esteban. The San Esteban chuckwalla was once a highly sought after exotic species in the pet-trade industry and is now considered endangered. The spiny tailed iguana has the curious habit of climbing cardon cactus and eating the fruit and flowers. Isla San Esteban offers a desert oasis to these two endemic reptiles surrounded by the deep waters of the Gulf of California.
Perhaps the greatest abundance was encountered on tiny Isla Rasa, home to 260,000 Heermann’s gulls, 14,000 royal terns, and 200,000 elegant terns during the breeding season in the spring and early summer. We have timed our arrival with the first returning gulls from British Columbia and the returning terns from the west coast of South America. The cycle begins here on this isolated island where for more than thirty years researchers have observed patterns and collected data now used to monitor the health of sardine and anchovy fisheries.
Whether by land, air, or sea the sheer abundance of life along the Baja Peninsula is staggering. Very few places on earth hold this much treasure, and we are privileged to have it in our own North American backyard. Along with this privilege comes great responsibility.
When asked why we return to the Gulf of California year after year, the simple answer is the abundance and diversity of wildlife found in land, air, and sea surrounding this magical peninsula. Although Baja California is a natural continuation of the west coast of North America, very few Americans know or appreciate the richness and variety of animal life found here. The last twenty-four hours for us illustrates this point.
Late last night as the full moon watched, Humboldt squid by the thousands migrated from the inky depths toward prey illuminated by moonlight. A fishery built around this vertical migration exploits the phenomena and is an economic institution in the small town of Santa Rosalia. We were privileged to watch fishermen haul in squid hand over hand to the cheers and applause of all on board the National Geographic Sea Lion. But the squid did not give up easily, thrashing and squirting jet propelled water in the air as they were boated by the pangeros.
Our morning began early today, as the blood-red full moon set in the west over the Baja peninsula. This morning’s animal encounter was of a different sort altogether, rather than ten-armed marine animals we concentrated our efforts on finding four-legged reptiles on Isla San Esteban. The San Esteban chuckwalla was once a highly sought after exotic species in the pet-trade industry and is now considered endangered. The spiny tailed iguana has the curious habit of climbing cardon cactus and eating the fruit and flowers. Isla San Esteban offers a desert oasis to these two endemic reptiles surrounded by the deep waters of the Gulf of California.
Perhaps the greatest abundance was encountered on tiny Isla Rasa, home to 260,000 Heermann’s gulls, 14,000 royal terns, and 200,000 elegant terns during the breeding season in the spring and early summer. We have timed our arrival with the first returning gulls from British Columbia and the returning terns from the west coast of South America. The cycle begins here on this isolated island where for more than thirty years researchers have observed patterns and collected data now used to monitor the health of sardine and anchovy fisheries.
Whether by land, air, or sea the sheer abundance of life along the Baja Peninsula is staggering. Very few places on earth hold this much treasure, and we are privileged to have it in our own North American backyard. Along with this privilege comes great responsibility.
