The Sea Bird dropped anchor off the south shore of Isla San Esteban at first light this morning. On shore, we were greeted by a raucous welcoming committee of yellow-footed gulls. Aptly named, these large gulls have a dark mantle of feathers and bright yellow legs. Originally considered a race of the ubiquitous western gull, the yellow-footed gull is actually a distinct species that nests only in the Sea of Cortez.
Located in a shallow depression on the rocky shorelines above the reach of high tide, the nests are typically constructed out of seaweed or other plant material. Two to three olive-colored, mottled eggs could be seen in most of the nests. Later in the summer, when nesting is completed, many of the gulls migrate a short distance north, across the desert to the Salton Sea, in southern California. The yellow-footed gull is a unique species that reminds us of the special character and diversity that has evolved here in the Sea of Cortez.
