Birding Among The Whales
In case you thought all there was to do in Laguna San Ignacio was whale-frolicking, let me assure you that you are quite wrong. For part of our morning boat trip on Wednesday, we crossed the lagoon and entered an area of mangroves. This was fascinating to me, not only because it was so beautiful, but also because a lot of the environmental projects Marina has worked on in Mexico have involved protecting mangroves from development.
Entering the channel of the mangroves is to leave the choppy, dramatic water of the open lagoon, and to feel everything slow down and shift.
Water flows around the roots of the mangroves, creating caves for fish, and dramatic views, as well as excellent habitat for birds. We saw birds drying their wings in the sun, another bird balancing on a thin branch emerging from the water while he waited for prey, and schools of young fish of various sizes.
We even saw a rare Mangrove Warbler, spotted by Marina by a quick flash of color.
It was a nice moment of reflection on the myriad ecosystems to be found, and it underscores why developers cannot be allowed to do whatever they want. The cost must be considered, and not just in terms of a loss of a vibrant place of life. Mangroves also serve to prevent erosion, among other benefits.
Here are some of my favorite photos from the mangrove expedition:
Entering the channel of the mangroves is to leave the choppy, dramatic water of the open lagoon, and to feel everything slow down and shift.
Water flows around the roots of the mangroves, creating caves for fish, and dramatic views, as well as excellent habitat for birds. We saw birds drying their wings in the sun, another bird balancing on a thin branch emerging from the water while he waited for prey, and schools of young fish of various sizes.
We even saw a rare Mangrove Warbler, spotted by Marina by a quick flash of color.
It was a nice moment of reflection on the myriad ecosystems to be found, and it underscores why developers cannot be allowed to do whatever they want. The cost must be considered, and not just in terms of a loss of a vibrant place of life. Mangroves also serve to prevent erosion, among other benefits.
Here are some of my favorite photos from the mangrove expedition:
posted by Devin at 4:17 PM
1 Comments:
What kind of bird is that black fellow with spreading wings? Nice photo! And I love this:
Entering the channel of the mangroves is to leave the choppy, dramatic water of the open lagoon, and to feel everything slow down and shift.
I could feel that as I read it...
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