Panama Bay Islands, Panama
This morning we were greeted by our first sunrise within the Central American Pacific Ocean. As the sun rose, our faithful Zodiacs were lowered from the sundeck and we set off on one of several cruises we’ll make during the week. Around the farallones or tall and rocky islands inside the Panama Bay known as Bona, Otoque and Estiva, we went in search of what the Bay is well known for: large numbers of sea birds. The seasonal upwelling that occurs within the Bay of Panama causes the waters to be nutrient rich and thus can support large bird populations. Innumerable quantities of brown pelicans, magnificent frigatebirds, and brown and blue-footed boobies, some of them with white, downy chicks as large as the parents, sat on flat unadorned nests. For many of us that had never seen such numbers of animals, the overwhelming feeling of nature around you can change your way of thinking.
After the Zodiac rides, we weighed anchor and started moving southwest heading towards the second destination of the day: Iguana Island Wildlife Refuge. The name is a bit misleading, as it is not iguanas it is protecting, but a phenomenal population of magnificent frigatebirds. Once ashore, we could chose between several activities, swimming, snorkeling, and walking towards the frigatebird colony. Those who went to the walk were so close to the birds that we could see the male’s inflated pouches, their expanded wings and hear the clicking sound of their bills as they tried to attract the females. But what else is new, males competing against each other for access to females and the females choosing among the males. Does it sound familiar?
Well, coming back on board by six in the evening, we moved further west towards our own Devil’s Island, Isla Coiba.
This morning we were greeted by our first sunrise within the Central American Pacific Ocean. As the sun rose, our faithful Zodiacs were lowered from the sundeck and we set off on one of several cruises we’ll make during the week. Around the farallones or tall and rocky islands inside the Panama Bay known as Bona, Otoque and Estiva, we went in search of what the Bay is well known for: large numbers of sea birds. The seasonal upwelling that occurs within the Bay of Panama causes the waters to be nutrient rich and thus can support large bird populations. Innumerable quantities of brown pelicans, magnificent frigatebirds, and brown and blue-footed boobies, some of them with white, downy chicks as large as the parents, sat on flat unadorned nests. For many of us that had never seen such numbers of animals, the overwhelming feeling of nature around you can change your way of thinking.
After the Zodiac rides, we weighed anchor and started moving southwest heading towards the second destination of the day: Iguana Island Wildlife Refuge. The name is a bit misleading, as it is not iguanas it is protecting, but a phenomenal population of magnificent frigatebirds. Once ashore, we could chose between several activities, swimming, snorkeling, and walking towards the frigatebird colony. Those who went to the walk were so close to the birds that we could see the male’s inflated pouches, their expanded wings and hear the clicking sound of their bills as they tried to attract the females. But what else is new, males competing against each other for access to females and the females choosing among the males. Does it sound familiar?
Well, coming back on board by six in the evening, we moved further west towards our own Devil’s Island, Isla Coiba.
