Low-impact, environmentally friendly ecotourism and sustainable fishing
operations benefit local communities of San Ignacio Lagoon economically and
socially. They also benefit the wildlife that depend on this unique ecosystem.
The Laguna San Ignacio Ecosystem Science Program (LSIESP) supports the
maintenance of a marine protected area in the Lagoon.
Achieving this vision requires a scientific basis for management. Reliable
scientific information is fundamental to evaluate development and conservation
options, and to assess their effectiveness.
This past winter, scientists from Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO), in
collaboration with researchers from the Universidad Autonoma de Baja California
Sur (UABCS) traveled to Laguna San Ignacio to study gray whale acoustics. Among
other goals, heir research aimed to track vocalizing gray whales, to match a
particular whale
’s behavior with vocal activity, and to convert call counts into population
estimates. Researchers also wanted to be able to measure the behavioral and
vocal response of gray whales in the presence of boat traffic by recording
their body movements, vocalizations and ambient noise
Searcher Natural History Tours assisted researchers with equipment and personnel
transport to San Ignacio. We are honored to play a small role in the research
of gray whales at Laguna San Ignacio.
LSIEP’s research is supported by grants and gifts from individuals. To know more about
research project results and conservation plans, go to:
www.SanIgnacioEcosystem.org
Both species have remarkable bright orange-red, chisel-shaped bills adapted for
piercing mussel and clam shells with repeated blows until they make a hole in
the shell. Oystercatchers also use their bills to pry limpets from rocks, to
stab crabs, and for probing rocks and cobble beaches to catch worms.
They build minimalist nests on rocky shores
and usually lay three eggs, which both parents incubate. As ground-nesters,
oystercatchers
frequently lose eggs to other avian predators such as ravens and gulls. The
young stay with their parents for as long as a year, learning to feed. They
reach maturity in about four years.
by Peter Gaede, Searcher Naturalist
Using a sketchbook or journal to record what we encounter during a Searcher trip fosters a unique connection to nature as we make exciting discoveries along
the way. Like music, writing and photography, sketching allows us to document
events and experiences. This, of course is nothing new: cultures in the past
have recorded everything from the passage of time, hunting, battle and
exploration. Sea captains have kept logs noting weather, constellations, maps,
and the passing of mammals and birds.
I enjoy creating basic sketches with brief notes of certain things I come
across, using pencil and sketchpad or watercolors. Often times I learn the most
about a subject when I spend time sketching and closely observing: details are
revealed and questions form. Slowing down, a greater appreciation, and
preserved trip memories are all benefits of nature journaling.
Some of my favorite times to sketch in Baja are when we make our stops on the
islands. The desert landscape near the sea, with its unique combination of
plants and animals, is rich in natural history and very inspiring. I enjoy
offering at least one sketching
“class” on a Searcher trip. It’s a great opportunity for those with or without experience to get together and
have fun with a sketchbook.
