Bona and Otoque Islets, Panama
A later start than usual was welcome news after our New Year’s celebrations and a rather bumpy night. At 9 am we lowered our anchor just off the shore of Bona Island. This is the location of our last outing on the Pacific Ocean, since later on in the day we were to begin our crossing of the Panama Canal.
We explored the shoreline of Bona and its neighboring islet of Otoque. Those islands are the sites of great nesting colonies of magnificent frigate birds, brown pelicans, and brown as well as blue-footed boobies.
Although everybody enjoys the sight of those beautiful birds and some may like one better than another, most of us were amazed at the wicked ways of the magnificent frigate bird. A perfect thief! A bird living and depending of the ocean, yet that cannot get wet!
This unique bird uses the peculiar behavior known as Cleptoparasitism to provide itself with food and nesting material. The frigate bird chases and harasses other birds, thus making them drop or throw out their recent catch and enabling the pirate to pick it up, usually before it reaches the water. Therefore frigate birds actually steal their catch from other birds, which makes them parasites – what a way of making a living, they seem to have it made! In a world where there is no such a thing as a bird police force, being a thief can have its advantages; I guess crime does pay after all!
The frigate bird may be magnificent in the air and a master of the skies, but it seems like these extra skills it has in the air, it lacks on water and land. The frigate bird can land and take off but cannot walk, and although it can spend days in the air it cannot get into the water like pelicans and boobies do. If a frigate bird were to fall in the water, it is almost certain that it would drown. The frigate bird has a wingspan of up to 7 feet but weighs only about 2.5 lbs, which is not strong enough to break the surface of the water.
After our exploration of Bona we got back on board and, after lunch, prepared to watch David McCullough’s video “A Man A Plan A Canal, Panama” which prepared us mentally for the crossing of the Panama Canal.
Around 6 pm, as we enjoyed the great combination of sunset, ceviche and cocktails on the top deck, our canal pilot came on board and the Sea Voyager started approaching the first set of locks. When entering the Panama Canal all captains must surrender their ship to the canal pilot, who will command the ship during the entire passage. Once we reached Gatun Lake, our pilot anchored the ship where we spent the night.
Thus our first day of the year 2004 brought us two works of engineering to admire: one was nature’s wonderful design of the frigate bird and the other man’s ingenuity in the construction of the Panama Canal. May all the days of this New Year bring us many more reasons to marvel at the wonders of nature and the capacity of mankind in overcoming obstacles.
A later start than usual was welcome news after our New Year’s celebrations and a rather bumpy night. At 9 am we lowered our anchor just off the shore of Bona Island. This is the location of our last outing on the Pacific Ocean, since later on in the day we were to begin our crossing of the Panama Canal.
We explored the shoreline of Bona and its neighboring islet of Otoque. Those islands are the sites of great nesting colonies of magnificent frigate birds, brown pelicans, and brown as well as blue-footed boobies.
Although everybody enjoys the sight of those beautiful birds and some may like one better than another, most of us were amazed at the wicked ways of the magnificent frigate bird. A perfect thief! A bird living and depending of the ocean, yet that cannot get wet!
This unique bird uses the peculiar behavior known as Cleptoparasitism to provide itself with food and nesting material. The frigate bird chases and harasses other birds, thus making them drop or throw out their recent catch and enabling the pirate to pick it up, usually before it reaches the water. Therefore frigate birds actually steal their catch from other birds, which makes them parasites – what a way of making a living, they seem to have it made! In a world where there is no such a thing as a bird police force, being a thief can have its advantages; I guess crime does pay after all!
The frigate bird may be magnificent in the air and a master of the skies, but it seems like these extra skills it has in the air, it lacks on water and land. The frigate bird can land and take off but cannot walk, and although it can spend days in the air it cannot get into the water like pelicans and boobies do. If a frigate bird were to fall in the water, it is almost certain that it would drown. The frigate bird has a wingspan of up to 7 feet but weighs only about 2.5 lbs, which is not strong enough to break the surface of the water.
After our exploration of Bona we got back on board and, after lunch, prepared to watch David McCullough’s video “A Man A Plan A Canal, Panama” which prepared us mentally for the crossing of the Panama Canal.
Around 6 pm, as we enjoyed the great combination of sunset, ceviche and cocktails on the top deck, our canal pilot came on board and the Sea Voyager started approaching the first set of locks. When entering the Panama Canal all captains must surrender their ship to the canal pilot, who will command the ship during the entire passage. Once we reached Gatun Lake, our pilot anchored the ship where we spent the night.
Thus our first day of the year 2004 brought us two works of engineering to admire: one was nature’s wonderful design of the frigate bird and the other man’s ingenuity in the construction of the Panama Canal. May all the days of this New Year bring us many more reasons to marvel at the wonders of nature and the capacity of mankind in overcoming obstacles.
