La Entrada / Bahia Magdalena
Leaving behind the Gulf of California, Sea Lion made its way north, from Cabo San Lucas to Bahia Magdalena. We accessed through La Entrada to gray whale territory, the wintering grounds where these gentle giants mate and give birth to their calves. At the entrance, we could see at port side the old whaling station, a remnant of the old days in which grey whales were taken by the thousands in their breeding grounds. A few hundred whales survived the indiscriminate harvesting. Mexico started protecting the gray whale in 1948, and placed Bahia Magdalena under protection in 1972. In 1996, the gray whale was removed from the endangered species list, a successful conservation example of which all Mexicans should be proud.
Later in the day, we welcomed our local friend, Alejandro Camacho, the second generation driver that has taken Sea Lion through the shallow Hull Canal with his knowledge and experience. Here we witnessed the vibrant bird life that thrives in this diverse mangrove ecosystem. We saw numbers of shorebirds feeding on the exposed sand bar, using their special feeding strategies and different anatomies to capture invertebrates that are vulnerable during ebb tide.After cruising the canal, we took a nice walk over the sand dunes of Isla Magdalena. Some of us crossed all the way to the Pacific side to discover millions of jewels washed away by the ocean, and some interesting bones of marine mammals. Others walked in a leisurely way, just appreciating the beauty of the sand dunes.
Leaving behind the Gulf of California, Sea Lion made its way north, from Cabo San Lucas to Bahia Magdalena. We accessed through La Entrada to gray whale territory, the wintering grounds where these gentle giants mate and give birth to their calves. At the entrance, we could see at port side the old whaling station, a remnant of the old days in which grey whales were taken by the thousands in their breeding grounds. A few hundred whales survived the indiscriminate harvesting. Mexico started protecting the gray whale in 1948, and placed Bahia Magdalena under protection in 1972. In 1996, the gray whale was removed from the endangered species list, a successful conservation example of which all Mexicans should be proud.
Later in the day, we welcomed our local friend, Alejandro Camacho, the second generation driver that has taken Sea Lion through the shallow Hull Canal with his knowledge and experience. Here we witnessed the vibrant bird life that thrives in this diverse mangrove ecosystem. We saw numbers of shorebirds feeding on the exposed sand bar, using their special feeding strategies and different anatomies to capture invertebrates that are vulnerable during ebb tide.After cruising the canal, we took a nice walk over the sand dunes of Isla Magdalena. Some of us crossed all the way to the Pacific side to discover millions of jewels washed away by the ocean, and some interesting bones of marine mammals. Others walked in a leisurely way, just appreciating the beauty of the sand dunes.
