Isla Santa Catalina/Puerto Gato
Baja Forever! This is the name of the program that Lindblad Expeditions has set up to help protect and preserve the Baja Peninsula and the islands of the Gulf of California. It includes several projects, one of which is the adoption of Isla Santa Catalina. Many of the islands have non-native species that have been introduced and can be harmful to the environment and the native plants and animals. Our intention on this beautiful island is to help eradicate the invasive species, such as rats and feral cats.
Isla Santa Catalina is an older, isolated granitic island that supports very interesting flora and fauna. As we started up the gravelly arroyo, melodic birdsong greeted us and many species were spotted. Besides the wonderful giant barrel cactus (Ferrocactus diguetii) and the exceptionally large cardón cactus (Pachycereus pringlei), the reptilian species are also of great interest. They were everywhere on the island this morning, having recently emerged from hibernation. Not far from the beach someone spotted a rattleless rattlesnake (Crotalus catalinensis). This animal is found only on this island.
Three species of endemic lizards were also seen today, including the emerald-tailed side-blotched lizard (Uta squamata). Each island in the gulf has a species of side-blotched lizard, all having radiated from the same parent species. The one on Isla Santa Catalina is found nowhere else and sports a beautiful green tail. They would scoot out from underfoot and stop and pose for photographs. If Charles Darwin had visited these islands instead of the Galápagos, he may have come to some of the same conclusions about evolution and had these lizards named after him instead of finches.
Also unique to Isla Santa Catalina is a species of desert iguana (Dipsosaurus catalinensis) (pictured here), a large lizard that is active during the daytime and can allow its body temperature to reach 115 degrees Fahrenheit before it must take action to cool itself. The stealthy Catalina whiptail lizard (Cnemidophorus catalinensis) could be seen and heard rustling through the dry leaves under the shrubs as it hunted for food.
Snorkelers reveled in the refreshing water by “Elephant Rock” which guards the bay. Many species of fish and invertebrates were seen in the colorful underwater world. It was a very full and satisfying morning.
During lunch the Sea Bird repositioned westward to a point on the Baja Peninsula known as Puerto Gato, where we had another chance to try kayaking and also take walks to compare the plants on the peninsula with those on the islands. It was a great beach for swimming, which the kids especially enjoyed in an impromptu cooling-off session on this warm afternoon.
This evening a sumptuous barbecue dinner was set up on a lovely secluded beach, surrounded by marvelously sculpted red sandstone rock, which glowed in the late afternoon sun. The younger set delighted in climbing around on these rocks, both before and after their meal. Roasting marshmallows and eating s’mores kept some of them busy as it got dark.
The nearly-full moon rose over the sandstone cliffs and we peered through the telescope at the features of our planet’s lone satellite. Bryan took a large contingent on a night stroll in search of owls and other nocturnal creatures. Stories and songs around the bonfire concluded this very pleasant day.
We hope that Baja remains forever!
Baja Forever! This is the name of the program that Lindblad Expeditions has set up to help protect and preserve the Baja Peninsula and the islands of the Gulf of California. It includes several projects, one of which is the adoption of Isla Santa Catalina. Many of the islands have non-native species that have been introduced and can be harmful to the environment and the native plants and animals. Our intention on this beautiful island is to help eradicate the invasive species, such as rats and feral cats.
Isla Santa Catalina is an older, isolated granitic island that supports very interesting flora and fauna. As we started up the gravelly arroyo, melodic birdsong greeted us and many species were spotted. Besides the wonderful giant barrel cactus (Ferrocactus diguetii) and the exceptionally large cardón cactus (Pachycereus pringlei), the reptilian species are also of great interest. They were everywhere on the island this morning, having recently emerged from hibernation. Not far from the beach someone spotted a rattleless rattlesnake (Crotalus catalinensis). This animal is found only on this island.
Three species of endemic lizards were also seen today, including the emerald-tailed side-blotched lizard (Uta squamata). Each island in the gulf has a species of side-blotched lizard, all having radiated from the same parent species. The one on Isla Santa Catalina is found nowhere else and sports a beautiful green tail. They would scoot out from underfoot and stop and pose for photographs. If Charles Darwin had visited these islands instead of the Galápagos, he may have come to some of the same conclusions about evolution and had these lizards named after him instead of finches.
Also unique to Isla Santa Catalina is a species of desert iguana (Dipsosaurus catalinensis) (pictured here), a large lizard that is active during the daytime and can allow its body temperature to reach 115 degrees Fahrenheit before it must take action to cool itself. The stealthy Catalina whiptail lizard (Cnemidophorus catalinensis) could be seen and heard rustling through the dry leaves under the shrubs as it hunted for food.
Snorkelers reveled in the refreshing water by “Elephant Rock” which guards the bay. Many species of fish and invertebrates were seen in the colorful underwater world. It was a very full and satisfying morning.
During lunch the Sea Bird repositioned westward to a point on the Baja Peninsula known as Puerto Gato, where we had another chance to try kayaking and also take walks to compare the plants on the peninsula with those on the islands. It was a great beach for swimming, which the kids especially enjoyed in an impromptu cooling-off session on this warm afternoon.
This evening a sumptuous barbecue dinner was set up on a lovely secluded beach, surrounded by marvelously sculpted red sandstone rock, which glowed in the late afternoon sun. The younger set delighted in climbing around on these rocks, both before and after their meal. Roasting marshmallows and eating s’mores kept some of them busy as it got dark.
The nearly-full moon rose over the sandstone cliffs and we peered through the telescope at the features of our planet’s lone satellite. Bryan took a large contingent on a night stroll in search of owls and other nocturnal creatures. Stories and songs around the bonfire concluded this very pleasant day.
We hope that Baja remains forever!
