One detail I see myself learning is the different structures of the cacti. I find it amazing that some of the cacti have numerous ridges that are sometimes close together. They allow the cactus to expand in size and store large sums of water without bursting. It's always a surprise to me to view different aspects of nature and to see how well it adapts to the environment surrounding it. That's just one of the many things I have learned and experienced in my time with all the wonderful and kind people on this ship.
Tiffany Peterson, Lindblad Expedition's Kids-at-Sea program
Among the diverse birds inhabiting Isla San Jose, the Red-tailed Hawk and the Turkey Vulture caught my attention. When comparing the two as they soared high above me, I could identify strong differences between them. When I got a good look at their silhouettes, I observed the wings and tail feathers of the Red-tailed Hawk as being fan-like and spread out, while the Turkey Vulture had a narrower tail, and their wings had narrow finger-like projections. With this information I have learned, I can now identify these magnificent birds.
Flora Gonzalez, Lindblad Expedition's Kids-at-Sea program
Learning is a life-long experience as we all discovered today. The sun painted the sky with a fiery red curtain and then parted the drapes only so slightly to reveal a flash of green within its form before it bestowed a crimson glow on the steep layer-cake rocks of the Sierra de la Giganta mountain range. It disappeared at the end of the day behind these same steep cliffs, towing in its wake the orb of an almost full moon.
Sandwiched between, in the light of the day, we explored the entrenched meanders on Isla San Jose and the playa flats on Isla San Francisco. We paddled on the still waters of Half Moon Bay and peered into its hidden depths. Looking back and analyzing the theme that revealed itself in the course of time, today's lesson plan must have been "a study in bird nutrition".
Surprise is a word that barely describes our reaction to the sudden appearance of an Ash-throated Flycatcher plunging into a mat of coral vine just inches from our feet. It was even more of a shock to discover that it had skillfully snatched, not an insect secreted there but a lizard, fully three inches long. Perched between the thorns of a palo adan, this eight and a half inch long bird rapidly turned its prey and head first, swallowed it whole.
A scream in the sky, a descending keeeeer, echoed from the arroyo walls and drew our eyes upward to search for its source. Two Red-tailed Hawks soared, circling around, one in pursuit of the other. Was it courtship or play or a territorial display? Binoculars glued to our eyes, we watched as one bird gripped a large snake in its talons. It tried to land time and again. It stooped and dove in a downhill race. Persistently the second followed, its legs outstretched and claws at the ready to snatch this delicacy away should the other bird relax its vigilance ever so slightly. Fifteen minutes later, we were the ones to leave, the battle still going on.
As we sat on the beach devouring a barbecue meal, the turquoise waters of Half Moon Bay were broken by plumes of smoky darkness beneath. Millions of tiny fish milled in balls and flowing columns fractured consistently by the plunging of pelicans from on high. Grace was lacking in these stocky birds as they seemed to crumple and tumble headfirst into the sea. It was almost clear enough to see their huge gular sacs expand like fishing nets as they scooped their prey. Popping to the surface they were greeted by their faithful companions, the Heermann's Gulls greedily pleading "me, me, me" as they waited for rejected scraps from the Brown Pelican's bills.
Tiffany Peterson, Lindblad Expedition's Kids-at-Sea program
Among the diverse birds inhabiting Isla San Jose, the Red-tailed Hawk and the Turkey Vulture caught my attention. When comparing the two as they soared high above me, I could identify strong differences between them. When I got a good look at their silhouettes, I observed the wings and tail feathers of the Red-tailed Hawk as being fan-like and spread out, while the Turkey Vulture had a narrower tail, and their wings had narrow finger-like projections. With this information I have learned, I can now identify these magnificent birds.
Flora Gonzalez, Lindblad Expedition's Kids-at-Sea program
Learning is a life-long experience as we all discovered today. The sun painted the sky with a fiery red curtain and then parted the drapes only so slightly to reveal a flash of green within its form before it bestowed a crimson glow on the steep layer-cake rocks of the Sierra de la Giganta mountain range. It disappeared at the end of the day behind these same steep cliffs, towing in its wake the orb of an almost full moon.
Sandwiched between, in the light of the day, we explored the entrenched meanders on Isla San Jose and the playa flats on Isla San Francisco. We paddled on the still waters of Half Moon Bay and peered into its hidden depths. Looking back and analyzing the theme that revealed itself in the course of time, today's lesson plan must have been "a study in bird nutrition".
Surprise is a word that barely describes our reaction to the sudden appearance of an Ash-throated Flycatcher plunging into a mat of coral vine just inches from our feet. It was even more of a shock to discover that it had skillfully snatched, not an insect secreted there but a lizard, fully three inches long. Perched between the thorns of a palo adan, this eight and a half inch long bird rapidly turned its prey and head first, swallowed it whole.
A scream in the sky, a descending keeeeer, echoed from the arroyo walls and drew our eyes upward to search for its source. Two Red-tailed Hawks soared, circling around, one in pursuit of the other. Was it courtship or play or a territorial display? Binoculars glued to our eyes, we watched as one bird gripped a large snake in its talons. It tried to land time and again. It stooped and dove in a downhill race. Persistently the second followed, its legs outstretched and claws at the ready to snatch this delicacy away should the other bird relax its vigilance ever so slightly. Fifteen minutes later, we were the ones to leave, the battle still going on.
As we sat on the beach devouring a barbecue meal, the turquoise waters of Half Moon Bay were broken by plumes of smoky darkness beneath. Millions of tiny fish milled in balls and flowing columns fractured consistently by the plunging of pelicans from on high. Grace was lacking in these stocky birds as they seemed to crumple and tumble headfirst into the sea. It was almost clear enough to see their huge gular sacs expand like fishing nets as they scooped their prey. Popping to the surface they were greeted by their faithful companions, the Heermann's Gulls greedily pleading "me, me, me" as they waited for rejected scraps from the Brown Pelican's bills.
