Boca de Soledad, Magdalena Bay
One of the major themes of Magdalena Bay is that of migration. The main focus of today were birds and whales, some of which are residents; others are seasonal visitors.
We had been seeing the blows of gray whales ever since we arrived in San Carlos and embarked the M. V. Sea Lion the previous day. As we proceeded northward this morning, occasional resident bottlenose dolphins accompanied us. These two cetacean species are the only whales regularly seen in Magdalena Bay. This is the southernmost gray whale calving area along the west coast of the Baja California Peninsula to which the gray whales migrate during the winter. It is a safe and protected place for young calves as well as for the older whales that may be involved in courtship and mating. With the exception of nursing calves, the whales eat little or nothing while they are here but return to rich feeding grounds in the Arctic for the summer. These animals made enough of a recovery after severe whaling during the last two centuries to warrant their delisting from the Endangered Species List in 1994. But it is important for both their summer and winter habitats to be protected for the species to continue to thrive.
Our concentration temporarily switched from whales to birds as we entered the narrow, mangrove-lined Hull Canal in order to transit to the upper section of Magdalena Bay. The whales do not enter the canal, but we know that we will see more on the other end. Out on the deck with our binoculars, we started seeing various wading and shore birds, including white ibis, great, snowy, and reddish egrets, green, tricolored, little blue and great blue herons, as well as willets, whimbrels, and long-billed curlews. There were also many double-crested cormorants, brown pelicans, western gulls, and magnificent frigatebirds. Many of these birds remain in the area throughout the year, where there is plenty of food, but others return to nest on the tundra in the far north. Not only is it necessary to preserve both seasonal habitats, but also the area in-between, to ensure safe passage.
More whales and dolphins were seen between the top of the Hull Canal and our anchorage at the northern end of Isla Magdalena. After lunch we had the opportunity to get a closer look at the whales from our Zodiacs, which is always a thrill. They did not disappoint us today. The naturalists provided information about these mammals while cows with their calves casually swam nearby. They often appear to be as curious about us as we are about them and will approach the boats. Since this is a protected area, our behavior around the whales is strictly regulated. So they must take the initiative to interact with us. This way we know that they are there because they want to be and something compels them to seek the company of other beings. To encounter such a large yet seemingly innocuous, trusting, and unassuming creature in close proximity is an awe-inspiring, emotional, and powerful experience. Often words and pictures cannot do it justice.
Many people also chose to explore the dunes and vegetation by foot with a naturalist on a small portion of Magdalena Island. It was nice to get ashore to stretch our legs and examine the few species, or evidence of species, that are able to survive and make a living in this harsh land. Consistent and persistent winds create a difficult and ephemeral existence for plants, animals, and the dunes themselves.
From a distance, we noticed a group of white pelicans gathered on a sand spit. They are winter visitors to a few areas along both coasts of the Baja California Peninsula. They nest in summer on freshwater lakes and streams, mostly in the western United States and parts of Canada. These, their brown relatives, and several other bird species seen in Magdalena Bay were once imperiled by the activities of humans. Our awareness is heightened and our luck and privilege are recognized when we are still able to see and experience, as we did today, species that were so nearly obliterated from the planet.
One of the major themes of Magdalena Bay is that of migration. The main focus of today were birds and whales, some of which are residents; others are seasonal visitors.
We had been seeing the blows of gray whales ever since we arrived in San Carlos and embarked the M. V. Sea Lion the previous day. As we proceeded northward this morning, occasional resident bottlenose dolphins accompanied us. These two cetacean species are the only whales regularly seen in Magdalena Bay. This is the southernmost gray whale calving area along the west coast of the Baja California Peninsula to which the gray whales migrate during the winter. It is a safe and protected place for young calves as well as for the older whales that may be involved in courtship and mating. With the exception of nursing calves, the whales eat little or nothing while they are here but return to rich feeding grounds in the Arctic for the summer. These animals made enough of a recovery after severe whaling during the last two centuries to warrant their delisting from the Endangered Species List in 1994. But it is important for both their summer and winter habitats to be protected for the species to continue to thrive.
Our concentration temporarily switched from whales to birds as we entered the narrow, mangrove-lined Hull Canal in order to transit to the upper section of Magdalena Bay. The whales do not enter the canal, but we know that we will see more on the other end. Out on the deck with our binoculars, we started seeing various wading and shore birds, including white ibis, great, snowy, and reddish egrets, green, tricolored, little blue and great blue herons, as well as willets, whimbrels, and long-billed curlews. There were also many double-crested cormorants, brown pelicans, western gulls, and magnificent frigatebirds. Many of these birds remain in the area throughout the year, where there is plenty of food, but others return to nest on the tundra in the far north. Not only is it necessary to preserve both seasonal habitats, but also the area in-between, to ensure safe passage.
More whales and dolphins were seen between the top of the Hull Canal and our anchorage at the northern end of Isla Magdalena. After lunch we had the opportunity to get a closer look at the whales from our Zodiacs, which is always a thrill. They did not disappoint us today. The naturalists provided information about these mammals while cows with their calves casually swam nearby. They often appear to be as curious about us as we are about them and will approach the boats. Since this is a protected area, our behavior around the whales is strictly regulated. So they must take the initiative to interact with us. This way we know that they are there because they want to be and something compels them to seek the company of other beings. To encounter such a large yet seemingly innocuous, trusting, and unassuming creature in close proximity is an awe-inspiring, emotional, and powerful experience. Often words and pictures cannot do it justice.
Many people also chose to explore the dunes and vegetation by foot with a naturalist on a small portion of Magdalena Island. It was nice to get ashore to stretch our legs and examine the few species, or evidence of species, that are able to survive and make a living in this harsh land. Consistent and persistent winds create a difficult and ephemeral existence for plants, animals, and the dunes themselves.
From a distance, we noticed a group of white pelicans gathered on a sand spit. They are winter visitors to a few areas along both coasts of the Baja California Peninsula. They nest in summer on freshwater lakes and streams, mostly in the western United States and parts of Canada. These, their brown relatives, and several other bird species seen in Magdalena Bay were once imperiled by the activities of humans. Our awareness is heightened and our luck and privilege are recognized when we are still able to see and experience, as we did today, species that were so nearly obliterated from the planet.