Gulf of Panama, Iguana Island Wildlife Refuge
Today, after a successful passing yesterday afternoon through the Panama Canal, we are sailing along the Pacific Coast of Panama toward Costa Rica. We stopped this morning at Iguana Island, where we disembarked to enjoy leisurely paced walks to the other side of this small and narrow island. We wanted to see one of the biggest rookeries of magnificent frigate birds in Panama; indeed, flying above our heads by the thousand, and nesting atop the small trees and bushes that along with the coconut palms constitute the predominant vegetation of this dry forest ecosystem.
There were frigatebirds of all ages, fluffy downy newly born white chicks, black headed white-chested females, white-headed juveniles and all black males. The frigates gave us quite a show! Especially the male frigatebirds with their very conspicuous bright red pouches inflated. These red “balloons” contrasted beautifully against the greenery of the few trees that still managed to retain their leaves, among the mostly brown deciduous vegetation.
We were very impressed with their flying skills! Long narrow wings effortlessly suspended in the air, but when required they are also capable of a very acrobatic and quick performance. Proof of this was an individual male frigatebird that even with the obvious handicap that constituted the drag of his totally inflated huge red pouch, managed to repeatedly skim the surface of the ocean, very slightly touching the surface of the water with his pouch. Every time in impeccable fashion! A display of ability, strength and superior genes obviously dedicated to the females of the species!
Today we also took advantage of the ocean waters at Iguana and refreshed ourselves in it. We also practiced our snorkeling skills, watching the fish in their garden of coral adjacent to the white sand beach.
Upon arrival at the beach, we were particularly intrigued to find this normally immaculate beach completely riddled with holes and small mounds of sand. The culprit of this was the Halloween crab (Gecarcinus quadrates), a nocturnal, omnivorous coastal colorful crab, also known as the moon crab, mouthless crab or harlequin land crab. These crabs go through a cyclic seasonal reproduction in which they migrate from inland to the ocean, females will deposit in the ocean hundreds of thousands of eggs that become a pelagic larvae until their return to land.
This was just one of the occasional events of nature that humbles us and reminds us of how much happens outside of our daily life.
