Gulf of Panama, Boná Island & The Panama Canal
As we got closer to the engineering masterpiece of the Panama Canal we were able to visit the Island of Boná, one of the favorite resting and nesting places for pelagic birds.
Due to upwelling currents, the water is rich, filled with fish which represent an advantage to the birds. We took off on the Zodiacs for animal observation in Panamanian waters. Among the species observed were the brown- and blue-footed boobies.
The boobies are birds constructed almost like a torpedo with strongly structured beaks and eyes protected by shock absorbing systems, allowing the individual to enter the water with force. Once it gets deep in the water they “hunt” for fish on their way up. The fish become disturbed when the booby goes down into the water; as the booby goes up to the surface, the disturbed fish are watching upward allowing the booby to get their meal.
This strategy changes from species to species.
We also saw many brown pelicans. These animals do what is called plunge-diving; they dive into the water with their eyes opened (so they can see what they are fishing) and hit the water. This behavior has a catch: later in time when the brown pelican get older, they develop a cataract in one of their eyes (the one that goes into the water and takes the impact); this will spoil the perception of depth for the pelican and will damage its ability to fish. The result of this is that either they die of hunger or crash by accident into a rock.
Finally, one of the most magnificent birds, as its name says. We saw magnificent frigatebirds! These were displaying their inflated red pouch to the females and moving their head from side to side as females literally ignored them.
It was a great visit and when we came back from this excursion Captain Adames positioned the ship to watch for a whale. It came out of the water just enough to get a glimpse of it. After observing the fin shape and its location on the whale’s back, the color, the absence of tail display, the naturalist staff decided it was a Bryde’s whale (Balaenoptera edeni). It was a male because it was alone. Females are normally seen with their calves as they nurse them to develop the inches of fat they need for their cold home.
As we approached the area of Flamenco, right at the entrance of the Panama Canal, we could see the Bridge of the Americas. This bridge led our way into the first set of locks, the Miraflores Locks, which initiated our transit through the Canal. Followed by the Pedro Miguel Locks and the Gailliard o Culebra Cut, our transit went on without any obstacle.
As we got closer to the engineering masterpiece of the Panama Canal we were able to visit the Island of Boná, one of the favorite resting and nesting places for pelagic birds.
Due to upwelling currents, the water is rich, filled with fish which represent an advantage to the birds. We took off on the Zodiacs for animal observation in Panamanian waters. Among the species observed were the brown- and blue-footed boobies.
The boobies are birds constructed almost like a torpedo with strongly structured beaks and eyes protected by shock absorbing systems, allowing the individual to enter the water with force. Once it gets deep in the water they “hunt” for fish on their way up. The fish become disturbed when the booby goes down into the water; as the booby goes up to the surface, the disturbed fish are watching upward allowing the booby to get their meal.
This strategy changes from species to species.
We also saw many brown pelicans. These animals do what is called plunge-diving; they dive into the water with their eyes opened (so they can see what they are fishing) and hit the water. This behavior has a catch: later in time when the brown pelican get older, they develop a cataract in one of their eyes (the one that goes into the water and takes the impact); this will spoil the perception of depth for the pelican and will damage its ability to fish. The result of this is that either they die of hunger or crash by accident into a rock.
Finally, one of the most magnificent birds, as its name says. We saw magnificent frigatebirds! These were displaying their inflated red pouch to the females and moving their head from side to side as females literally ignored them.
It was a great visit and when we came back from this excursion Captain Adames positioned the ship to watch for a whale. It came out of the water just enough to get a glimpse of it. After observing the fin shape and its location on the whale’s back, the color, the absence of tail display, the naturalist staff decided it was a Bryde’s whale (Balaenoptera edeni). It was a male because it was alone. Females are normally seen with their calves as they nurse them to develop the inches of fat they need for their cold home.
As we approached the area of Flamenco, right at the entrance of the Panama Canal, we could see the Bridge of the Americas. This bridge led our way into the first set of locks, the Miraflores Locks, which initiated our transit through the Canal. Followed by the Pedro Miguel Locks and the Gailliard o Culebra Cut, our transit went on without any obstacle.
