San Esteban and Rasa Islands
Today we had the privilege to visit two of the most interesting islands of the midriff island region; San Esteban and Rasa. After traveling through the southern region of the Gulf of California, we traveled 110 nautical miles north last night to awaken near our anchorage on the western side of Isla San Esteban. We disembarked to take morning walks and hikes through the majestic arroyos of the island. This island has several unique reptile species that only occur here, like the pinto chuckwalla and the spiny-tailed iguana, which we were able to find as they went out to warm up with the sun, or as they hid under the chollas.
We left our anchorage heading bound for Isla Rasa. Shortly before reaching our anchorage, we spotted fin whales and maneuvered the ship to take a closer look to the second largest animals on earth. This island’s name is due to its topography, “Rasa” means “Flat,” and that is a good description of this island that is located in one of the most productive areas of the Gulf of California. Ninety five percent of the world’s population of Heerman’s gulls and elegant terns find the ideal conditions to lay their eggs and raise their young. Half a million birds are nesting at this time of the year, and the first eggs hatched this year on the third day of May.
Dr. Enriqueta Velarde, the researcher that has been studying the breeding population of gulls and terns and is also responsible for the conservation of the island since 1979, greeted us to the island and guided a walk through the island. Later on, she joined us to present a talk about the biology of these birds, the history of this island, the importance of this unique place. As the sun set, a nearly full moon rose over Isla Rasa, silhouetting the thousands of birds circling above this amazing place.
Today we had the privilege to visit two of the most interesting islands of the midriff island region; San Esteban and Rasa. After traveling through the southern region of the Gulf of California, we traveled 110 nautical miles north last night to awaken near our anchorage on the western side of Isla San Esteban. We disembarked to take morning walks and hikes through the majestic arroyos of the island. This island has several unique reptile species that only occur here, like the pinto chuckwalla and the spiny-tailed iguana, which we were able to find as they went out to warm up with the sun, or as they hid under the chollas.
We left our anchorage heading bound for Isla Rasa. Shortly before reaching our anchorage, we spotted fin whales and maneuvered the ship to take a closer look to the second largest animals on earth. This island’s name is due to its topography, “Rasa” means “Flat,” and that is a good description of this island that is located in one of the most productive areas of the Gulf of California. Ninety five percent of the world’s population of Heerman’s gulls and elegant terns find the ideal conditions to lay their eggs and raise their young. Half a million birds are nesting at this time of the year, and the first eggs hatched this year on the third day of May.
Dr. Enriqueta Velarde, the researcher that has been studying the breeding population of gulls and terns and is also responsible for the conservation of the island since 1979, greeted us to the island and guided a walk through the island. Later on, she joined us to present a talk about the biology of these birds, the history of this island, the importance of this unique place. As the sun set, a nearly full moon rose over Isla Rasa, silhouetting the thousands of birds circling above this amazing place.
