Where the Desert Meets the Sea: Las Islas Del Golfo

As the breeding season is in full swing, I have been out in the field about 4 days a week. There are so many birds to survey in so many areas that you really need 4 people working full time to cover it all! I try to get to all my sites once a week which can be challenging due to weather and the fact we only have one working car right now. However, every time I do get out, I am amazed. A few weeks ago I noticed that the Brown Pelicans were hovering slightly off their nests, not quite in their usual incubation position. I kept the scope on one nest for a few minutes during my usual fast count, and was rewarded by seeing a tiny grey head poke up from under the pelican's wings. I jumped with excitement when I realized I was staring at a newly hatched pelican chick. After that, I spotted them all over the colony. Most nests had 2 or 3 chicks, or a parent still incubating. The chicks are so funny looking because the are featherless, round, and wobbly. To me they resemble a plucked chicken about to go into the oven (hope that makes you not want to eat chicken!). The best part is that despite being so small, they have their big beak with the pouch. Unfortunately, they were too small to capture on camera the first week, but the pictures below show them at a few weeks old.

Brown Pelican Colony

Pelican chicks, roughly 2 weeks old

chicks and parent

Also present on Isla Alcatraz are Reddish Egrets which are an endangered species. They are in their breeding plumage now and will start nesting soon!

Two Reddish Egrets and a Yellow footed gull

The ospreys here nest in Cardon cactus, but also on the cliffs of the islands.

Cliff nesting osprey on Isla Datil

Yesterday I went out with the marine bio class to visit Isla Tiburon. I love getting off the boat and being able to explore uninhabited islands. As I walked the wrack line, I found all sorts of cool creatures dried up like various kinds of starfish, shells, and bones. We also visited this site where a Sperm whale skeleton was found a few months ago. We collected some bones to bring back to the center for an educational display we are working on. Despite our group of 17 people attempting to lift up the skull, we weren't even able to get it off the ground!