Gulf of Panama, Boná Island and the Panama Canal
As we approached 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 within the Gulf of Panama. Due to upwelling currents the water is nutrient rich and filled with fish. Their abundance makes this area advantageous for birds. We took off on the Zodiacs for animal observation in Panamanian waters.
Among the species observed were the brown and blue-footed boobies, brown pelicans and magnificent frigatebirds. The boobies are birds constructed almost like a torpedo, with strongly structured beaks and eyes protected by shock absorbing systems, allowing them to enter the water with force. Once they get deep into the water they “hunt” for fish on their way up. The fish become disturbed when a booby enters the water, as the booby returns to the surface, the fish are still looking upward allowing the booby to catch their meal. This strategy changes from species to species.
We also saw many brown pelicans (Costa Rican Air Force). 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 life as the brown pelicans get older, they develop cataracts in one of their eyes (the one that goes into the water and takes the impact); this spoils the depth perception of the pelican and will damage its ability to fish. This causes them to either die of starvation or accidently crash into a rock.
Finally, one of the most magnificent birds we saw (as its namesake clearly states), was the magnificent frigatebird. This species lives to be approximately 35-40 years old. Since they have very few muscles in their wings seaman never hunted them for food. An interesting fact to know is that if you place all of their feathers on one side of a scale and their bones on the other, the feathers will be heavier than the bones. Today, the males were displaying their inflated red pouches to the females and moving their head from side to side. The females literally ignored them.
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. These were followed by the Pedro Miguel Locks and the Gaillard or Culebra Cut and the fabulous Centennial Bridge. Our transit went smoothly.
As we approached 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 within the Gulf of Panama. Due to upwelling currents the water is nutrient rich and filled with fish. Their abundance makes this area advantageous for birds. We took off on the Zodiacs for animal observation in Panamanian waters.
Among the species observed were the brown and blue-footed boobies, brown pelicans and magnificent frigatebirds. The boobies are birds constructed almost like a torpedo, with strongly structured beaks and eyes protected by shock absorbing systems, allowing them to enter the water with force. Once they get deep into the water they “hunt” for fish on their way up. The fish become disturbed when a booby enters the water, as the booby returns to the surface, the fish are still looking upward allowing the booby to catch their meal. This strategy changes from species to species.
We also saw many brown pelicans (Costa Rican Air Force). 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 life as the brown pelicans get older, they develop cataracts in one of their eyes (the one that goes into the water and takes the impact); this spoils the depth perception of the pelican and will damage its ability to fish. This causes them to either die of starvation or accidently crash into a rock.
Finally, one of the most magnificent birds we saw (as its namesake clearly states), was the magnificent frigatebird. This species lives to be approximately 35-40 years old. Since they have very few muscles in their wings seaman never hunted them for food. An interesting fact to know is that if you place all of their feathers on one side of a scale and their bones on the other, the feathers will be heavier than the bones. Today, the males were displaying their inflated red pouches to the females and moving their head from side to side. The females literally ignored them.
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. These were followed by the Pedro Miguel Locks and the Gaillard or Culebra Cut and the fabulous Centennial Bridge. Our transit went smoothly.
